Category: Movies

Norman Lear, Just Another Version of You

This biographic and historical documentary about the life’s work of Norman Lear is a joy to watch.  And why not, it recaps a remarkable career of a iconic television producer whose vision of television entertainment literally changed the American culture.

Better yet, this is a truly likable man, with vision, compassion, forward thinking and deep family values.  At first though, some of the early clips from All in the Family and The Jeffersons seem harsh and bigoted by today’s standards but upon reflection of the time and place of those shows were bold and groundbreaking.  They used humor to drive home tough topics.

Directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady skillfully navigate the complex subject matters with a keen focus on Lear as a change agent and ultimately an extraordinary family patriarch.  Do see this film.  It is a joyful reminder of another era and a remarkable man.

Rating  

Don’t Think Twice

This fast paced peek at a small Improv dramedy troop in New York and the challenge they face to grow, compete and thrive.  There is a fair amount of time devoted to showing how they remain creative, inspired and relevant to themselves and their craft.

It is both entertaining, exhausting and heartbreaking at moments.  It is clear these folks rely on one another with close bonds and inter-dependency.  Their creativity is inspiring.  But their competitive tendencies come at a price.

You might love this film if you are a comedy or entertainment industry fan.  The run time is only 90 minutes, but it feel longer.  Not because it isn’t good. It is only because the material comes fast and there is a lot to absorb.

Written and starring, Mike Birbiglia.  All talented Keegan-Micheal Key, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Gethard, Kate Micucci and Tami Sagher round out the troop.

Rating 

Indignation

Set in the 1951 under the cloud of the Korean war, a college bound Jewish son of a butcher from Newark, N.J. goes to the conservative Wineburg College, in Ohio.  It is a Christian school with only one Jewish fraternity on campus.

The young man Marcus, played by Logan Lerman, is intelligent, articulate, a loner and an atheist.  He is captivated by the alluring coed, Olivia, played by Sarah Gidon.  Finally there is a date and a bit more.

There are lots of twists and turns, plenty of social and period commentary but the films stays focused on this young mans journey.  Sad and satisfying at the same time.

Rating 

Suicide Squad

Oh my!  Where to begin.  We were not going to see this movie, it just looked ridiculous at first.  Then we started to hear good things, so we decided give it a look.  Now remember this is based on a 1980s DC comic book.

We have 10 bizzare imprisioned criminals each with a unique “superpower” who are recruited by the government to fight evil spirits threatening our destruction.

Yes, it is goofy, crazy, absurd, but on closer look it is inventive, truly unique, and playful in a goofy, crazy, absurd sort of way.  At first thought:  What is this?  By the end, pretty clever.  Be assured you have never seen anything quite like this.

It has a nice cast: Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Will Smith, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman and, drum roll… Viola Davis!

If you like Superhero/Comicbook films, this may be interesting.  If not, maybe pass on this one.  I liked it much more that John and we are rarely on different pages.

Rating 

Tallulah

What a fascinating film.  It is focused mainly on three women and a baby.  All but the baby are tormented in one way or another.  The poor baby is just there for the ride, sometimes bumpy and tumultuous.

The production is beautifully told and well acted.  Tallulah is played by Ellen Page, arguable in her best roll since Juno.  Allison Janney is the boyfriend’s mother with emotional baggage.  Her performance is brilliant.  Tammy Blanchard plays the baby’s Mom whose marriage with the father is deeply strained.

There are lots of sub plots and just enough angst and tension to hold your attention.  There were some scenes that left the viewer wondering what happened or how did they get to that moment.  Overall though, an excellent film but not perfect.

Rating 

Jason Bourne

I was a bit disappointed to hear the first reviews of the new Bourne movie were less than favorable.  I’m not sure what they were watching but the first Jason Bourne film in 10 years that we saw was awesome.

The older Matt Damon character looked a bit heavier, weary and weathered, by design I’m guessing.  Who wouldn’t after 10 years living off the grid?  But the character is also older and wiser.

The technology has gotten better making it more challenging to escape scrutiny.  Humm, is there a message there?!  In any event, the action, the energy, the twists and turns are all upgraded and classic Bourne.  It was the box office leader this weekend pulling in over $50 million.  If you are a fan of the franchise, don’t miss this one.

Special Note:  We were in Las Vegas earlier this year with some dear friends and stayed at the Aria Hotel while they were filming this movie.  Certain parts of the hotel were closed to the public but  it was a blast to see the shots in the movie where we saw some of the film sets.  What fun that was!

Rating 

Nerve

It was interesting to go see this movie, especially given all the brew ha ha with Pokemon Go of late.  Add to that, we were clearly the oldest ones in the theater that day.  Once again we are reminded we are no longer among most market demographics.

The film is intended to attract teens and 20 somethings for a romp through a real time “game” where the on screen audience is divided into “players” who win money if they succeed and “watchers” who pay to watch.  The lead characters, Vee, played by Emma Roberts and team mate, Dave Franco accept challenge after challenge if only always just barely.  It’s a clever concept that turns dark quickly.

There are lots of twists and turns and the ending is quite powerful but no leaks here.  It’s worth a look on pay per view or a long plane ride.  If your family includes the target audience, it is worth a debriefing just for some insightful learning.

Rating 

The Kind Words

This Israeli film is an intriguing peek into a seemingly average Israeli family and the many modern challenges they face together.  (There are also yummy peeks at Jerusalem, Paris and Marseille.)

There is lots of drama and trauma, anguish and conflict but through it all, this family truly loves each other and remain committed to each other.

The story is somewhat complicated, perhaps a bit challenging for some audiences because the thought processes and cultural values are unique.  But these characters are very likable and you feel what they are feeling.  The ending is ambiguous but ultimately satisfying.

Hebrew and French with English subtitles.  Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes.

Rating 

Cafe Society

This Woody Allen film is all about the ins and outs of the 1930s Hollywood movie industry.  It is mostly focused on the happenings of the successful agent (Steve Carell) and uncle to want-to-be-successful (Jesse Eisenberg) nephew from the Bronx.

First, it is beautifully filmed and generally well acted.  It was intriguing to watch as it hops from character to over indulgence, one after another.  It’s not perfect.  Jesse Eisenberg’s initial dialog is a rapid fire scrabble of words.  The script, no doubt, a cathartic effort by Woody Allen.  That said, there is a great cast of characters in interesting roles.

That said, it is not boring.  It is a wild romp from Hollywood to New York City with a little bit of glam, romance, and a glimpse or two of the underbelly of the time.  We are not generally Woody Allen fans, but this film is worthy of a look.

Rating: 

Star Trek

It is hard to believe this is the 13th movie in the franchise!  It is intelligent, highly entertaining, respectful to its legacy, and fresh in its storytelling.

It is set far enough in the future to play with new film making technology and dazzle audiences visually.  The new plot and characters are consistent with the franchise creator Gene Roddenberry originally created depicting a unified “federation of planets” challenged by some really evil life forms.

It was a fun movie to watch.  See it on a big screen.  Skip the 3D, it is not worth the extra cost.  (For some of us wearing glasses, the 3D glasses are actually more annoying than enhancing.)

Rating: 

Absolutely Fabulous

Based on the hugely popular BBC America TV sitcom of 1992 to 2012, the movie picks up where the series left off.  Not having watched the series, we were put off by the slap stick humor at first.

Eddy Monsoon, played be the show’s writer, Jennifer Saunders, and sidekick Pasty Stone, played by Jane Horrocks, are inseperable pals.  In the movie, the trademark jokes and constant flow of booze and drugs felt a bit tired.  However, the huge cast of characters giving cameo appearances breathed life into the production and make this movie “absolutely” worth the time.

Be advised, this film will not appeal to everyone.  Yes, it’s absurd.  Yes, it’s a slap at fashion and excessive wealth.  But it became funnier the more outrageous it became.  Think Lucy and Ethel on steroids, add a modern Laugh In with a heavy dose of Vodka and Champagne.

Rating: 

The Infiltrator

Here is another movie based on true events during the 1980’s.  US Customs agent, Robert Mazur, brilliantly portrayed by Bryan Cranston, goes undercover and inside the Medellin Drug cartel.

It is a fast paced, high rolling story about money laundering, drug smuggling, violence, suspicion, coercion and deception.

There are more twists and turns than the best roller coasters.  Stellar performances by Cranston, John Leguizamo, Diane Kruger, Juliet Aubrey and a spine tingling role by Yul Vazquez as a creepy money man and killer.

It is not always easy to watch.  There are plenty of scenes that will make you cringe from tension or violence.  It is quick paced and often very suspenseful.  There may be some Oscar material here, just saying…

Rating:

Captain Fantastic

The father of six children sets up home in a remote “off the grid” wilderness where the children are home schooled, taught to think and reason at a sophistacted level well above the norm.  They are each well rounded individuals, extremely physically fit, cultured and worldly even though their exposure to the outside world is quite sheltered.

The news their mother’s death sends shock waves through the family which  ultimately leads to a road trip to the funeral, several states away in the self contained family bus.

The wife’s parents defy the wishes of their daughter and then threaten to take the children away from their father because they object to how the children are being raised.

It is ultimately a story of adventure, family love, fulfillment, forgiveness and perserverence.  It is a unique film, well acted and beautifully produced.  It was our favorite of the week and one of the best films of 2016 so far.

Cast includes Vigo Mortensen, Annalise Basso, George MacKay, Frank Langella and Steve Zahn among others.

Rating:

Our Little Sister

This film is about three twenty-something sisters and the arrival of their half sister following the death of their father.

It is meticulously filmed, capturing the rhythm of life just outside of Tokyo and the life the sisters enjoy.  It is a peek at a different society that most rarely have the opportunity to observe.

Sometimes funny, then sad, then surprising, even silly.  Overall, it is charming and a slowly revealing look at these characters lives.

Note:  We were in Japan last October and it brought back nice memories of small town Japanese life.

Japanese with English subtitles (sometimes very fast).

Rating:  

Microbe and Gasoline

Two very different 14 year old misfit boys become friends through challenges at school and embark on an adventure after building a mini RV that looks like a playhouse, but powered by a tiny 2 stroke engine they salvaged from a junk yard.

With conflict at home, they decide to escape on a road trip dodging the cops, facing bullies and escape to the countryside.  It is clever, charming, touching and inventive.

Microbes Mom is played by the talented Audrey Tautou (of Amelie and DaVinci Code fame).  The boys are played by Ange Dargent as Daniel and Theophile Baquet as Theo.

This is not a unique plot nor a ground breaking production.  But it is an authentic French production and perspective on a coming of age tale told through excellent performances of talented young actors.

Rating: 

The Innocents

A true story of survival and renewal is set in Warsaw 1945 in the aftermath of post WW2.  A Polish nun seeks help from a French Red Cross doctor who refers the nun to the non-existent Polish Red Cross.  Against orders the French doctor follows the nun back to her convent.

The doctor discovers many of the nuns had be raped and pregnant.  The Mother Superior insists the nuns continue their monastic life of prayer and obedience.

This is a powerful film telling the relatively unheard of story.  It is beautifully filmed and directed by Anne Fontaine.  There are heartbreaking scenes of despair and emotional struggle.

There is also an uplifting moment at the end.  Overall, it is an amazing movie that should be seen.  You’ll need to seek this out as distribution is limited.  Polish and French with English subtitles.  115 Minutes run time.

Rating: 

Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates

Mike (Mike Strangle), and Dave (Zac Efron) are young party animals with a history of causing havoc at family gatherings.  With their sister’s wedding on the horizon, the family demands they bring acceptable girlfriends to the planned Hawaii event.

What you get is a juvenile script, with over acted scenes, predicable slapstick, crude humor, characters you don’t really ever care about and just about every other corny cliche you’ve ever heard.

We didn’t care for the trailers when they first came out but one of the best Bay Area critics “raved” saying EVERY SINGLE SCENE was perfect and hilarious.  Total opposite was true.  It was horrific!  Your time is worthy of so much more.

Rating:  

The Secret Life of Pets

The much anticipated Secret Life of Pets was finally released last Friday.  The movie was well made with interesting characteristics incorporated into most of the critters.  And there were a lot of critters.  Good ones and, well, not so good.

It was good solid animated entertainment, often funny, sometimes madcap, sometimes a bit belabored.

It is already a box office sweetheart generating more than a $100 million in revenues during its opening weekend.

We thought it dragged a bit too long too many times to deserve a score any higher.  The preceding Minion short film was a pleasant surprise though.  Overall, good, but not great.

Rating: 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

This movie from New Zealand is fresh, unique, family friendly, visually satisfying, and just quirky enough for high marks all around.

The talented director, Taika Waititi, tilts this story line to a child’s point of view.  That is not easy to do considering the depth of adult topics and situations encountered by the welfare child in the lead role and his would be adopted Dad hiding in the wilds for months from Child Services authorities.

Sam Neill plays the Dad character, arguably his best role in years.  His performance alone is worth the time and ticket.  But this story is so well developed, with so many surprises and subtle messages, it is not to be missed.

This is sure to become a classic.

Rating: 

Swiss Army Man

This is a most unusual film starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe.  It is causing quite the stir by the critics and audiences.  We will admit it is different! Hank (Dano) is at his wits end after being stranded on a small deserted island when he spots a body washed ashore (Radcliffe).

Hank quickly realizes the body is dead but also discovers the body has been adrift for some time and is quite flatulent.  He manages to use the body as a watercraft to get back to the mainland.  (This is the first clue, this is no ordinary story!)

There is a extensive series of adventures and challenges that take place.  At some point the corpse talks so it is easy to assume everything is imagined.  The end is quite powerful, albeit confusing.

See this if you want to view great creative performances or a peek behind the creative mental and supernatural scenes that become rational under the circumstances.  Rated R with good cause.

Rating:

The Legend of Tarzan

First, check out this cast!  Alexander Skarsgard, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, and Djimon Hounsou!

Next, this film cost $180 million in production!  It shows. Layers of special effects, beautiful cinematography, a classic story line and nonstop adventure.  It checks all the boxes.

That said, it is not perfect. There are too many flashbacks and digressions leaving the audience to wonder ‘what just happened?’ or ‘what is this?’.

The film does toggle back and forth in time a bit too much; from Tarzan’s childhood, life long encounters with the animal kingdom and his adult life with wife and his role as Lord back in England.

All that said, it is so well done, any Tarzan fan must give this rendition a look.

Rating:

The BFG

Disney and Steven Spielberg’s debut of The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant) apparently did not meet the industry’s financial expectation over the 4th of July weekend holiday.

No worries, this is still a creative and visual success.  It is a story about Sophie, a 10 year old orphan girl in London who meets a 24 foot giant one night and befriends him.  She travels with him back to his world where she discovers more oddities; bigger giants that love to munch on ‘beans’ (human beings actually).

The production is filled with monumental special effects.  As a whole, it is a visual cornicopia resulting in a stunning movie going experience.  It is not perfect, some of the scenes may be disturbing to young viewers (although our 8 year old nephew seemed undisturbed by it all).

Mark Rylance plays the giant.  Ruby Barnhill is Sophie.  Penelope Wilton plays a hilarious Queen of England.  On the critical side, the script was sometimes difficult to follow due to Giant’s speech impediment and the odd invented words like “fleshlumpeater”, and “bloodbottler”.

Nonethless, this is sure to become a classic in time.  See it on the biggest and best theater available.

Rating: 

The Shallows

It was interesting to read some reviews of this movie AFTER viewing it.  Generally favorable, but those that didn’t like it, really didn’t like it.  On further exploration, it was a surprise to discover many prominent news sources trashed the film.

Oh well, we thought it was well done.  Quiet surfing vacation getaway to a secluded beach to enjoy nature and decompress from some life complexity.

Disaster strikes when a really big, mean ol’ shark spots humans encroaching on his/her whale kill.  The rest you already know…  Surfers get eaten, our star, injured and trapped off shore with no one to help…

That said, it was done well, the right mix of angst and tension, surprise and suspense.  Award material?  Probably not.  But if you like this type of movie, don’t let the smack talk keep you from seeing it.

Rating: 

Our Kind of Traitor

This is a really good film.  It has all the elements of a great espionage novel.  Jaded Russian oligarch Dima is a financial genius at risk when extensive money laundering lands on the doorstep of the British Banking system.

Seeking a way out for himself and his family, Dima befriends an unlikely British man and his wife.  Together they navigate through a very dangerous mine field of corruption and deceit.

There are more twists and turns than a roller coaster.  The pace is tense, riddled with danger and lots of tension.  Somewhere along the ride we grow to care about these core characters.  And that is where it gets even more intense.

It is well acted with Ewan McGregor, Naomie Harris, Stellan Skarsgard and Damian Lewis in the leading roles. Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and drug use.  A very intense 107 minutes.  Beautifully filmed.

Rating: 

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

This documentary about the musical life of Frank Zappa, the famed musician and composer uses old footage to recreate the person, his music and impact on the music industry of the day.

Frank Zappa was fiercely intelligent and brutally honest when interviewed.  He was a skilled classical composer but preferred creating abstract operatic interpretations that challenged his audiences to stray from conformity.

He was irreverent and challenging but also charismatic and inventive.  This film is a rare peek behind the curtain of a truly unique and talented personality.

Personal note:  When younger, I did not care for his music or his persona; however, it was clear he was a master of his craft then.  This documentary sheds light on his life’s work and legacy.  It is well worth a look if you are a music fan.

Rating:

les Cowboys,

This is a unique look at France, social/cultural conflicts and a family tragedy set in the remote countryside.  Screenwriter Thomas Bidegain is the Director of this striking drama.

Apparently the cowboy culture was a strong influence of rural France in the 1990s.  The story is vaguely based on the 1956 John Ford classic The Searchers when John Wayne searches for his niece, Natalie Cole, after being kidnapped by Comanches.

In the French production, the father and son of the kidnapped daughter, apparently abducted by the jihadist boyfriend, search for years to find their loved one.

This film is not always easy to watch.  It is often confusing and difficult to follow. It is also riveting and beguiling.  I will take a chance here and predict you have seen nothing quite like it before.  Much of the subject matter is timely and the run time of 144 minutes seemed to fly by.

Rating: 

Independence Day: Resurgenence

Independence Day: Resurgence is the newest in the film series just released, coincidently, a week before our 4th of July holiday.  Only this time the aliens are coming with a space ship some 3,000 miles wide.

Earth has built extensive defense outposts on the moon (talk about too little, too late?!), and earth’s brave warriors engage the foe in an attempt to thwart the attack.

All the special effects and the few cameo appearances that add a little humor to the ridiculous script are not enough to make lemonade out of this sour fruit.

There are a bunch of new releases that will more than make up for this disappointment.  Save your money.

Rating:

Free State of Jones

This movie is based on true events near the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction.  It is my understanding Director Gary Ross was acutely respectful of history during the making of this film.  Critics are mixed on their satisfaction.  We liked it with a few misgivings.

Most importantly, it is a reminder of our history, in this case, much of it horrific and unimaginable.  But is also a story of hope, tenacity and perserverence.

The acting is quite good and its release is undoubtedly targeted at the current political process and the turbulent cultural landscape.  It’s not perfect but it is pretty darn good.  It is two hours and 14 minutes long.  Good idea to stock up on popcorn and soft drinks!

Rating: 

Tickled

This is arguably one of the most unique documentaries we’ve ever seen.  What began as a lighthearted expose of the on-line tickling phenom and the industry behind it takes a turn to the creepy underworld of adult erotic entertainment and the not nice people behind that.

Reporters from New Zealand seek to learn more and become embroiled in a weird undercurrent where lighthearted fun becomes some sort of mean spirited control including character assassination.

Truly unbelievable film making, storytelling and investigative reporting.  You have never seen anything quite like it.  It is one of those stories where the reality is really stranger than fiction.  Seek this out.  Very limited distribution.

Rating: 

We have not seen a movie worthy of our 4 globe rating since early April.  Finally, the log jam broke this week with the release of several award worthy films.

Finding Dory and the preceding Pixar’s Animated Short film Piper will clearly be early Oscar contenders in their respective categories.

The Conjuring 2

As was the case in the first Conjuring film, The Conjuring 2 is based on real events in 1977, in the Enfield borough North of London.  The Hodgson family, mother and four children, struggle when the family encounter demonic and malicious spirits.

Real life paranormal investigators , Ed and Lorraine Warren are summoned by the church to journey to Britain to help the family.

This movie is well crafted, well acted and is certain to make audience squirm.  While it was often quite tense, it is sure to become another classic.  Do not miss the final revelation just before the credits!

Rating:

Finding Dory

The much anticipated Finding Dory opened this weekend topping the box office charts over $136 million.

Our theater was filled with parents children in tow.  The best surprise, the children were absolutely quiet.  Not a peep until the very end when a toddler announced, “Wow, that was good!” to thunderous laughter.

The youngster was right.  It was not only good, it was exceptional.  The right balance of Dory’s confusion, discovery, and acceptance.  It introduced a bunch of new supporting characters, many will undoubtedly become regulars to the already enormous Pixar/Disney stable.  You can expect to see more of a  new octopus superstar very soon.

Rating:

Genius

I was surprised to discover so many mixed reviews about Genius, a film about the famed Editor Maxwell Perkins (brilliantly played by Colin Firth) and his friendship/guidance with author Thomas Wolfe (portrayed for Jude Law).

The screenwriter, John Logan, shines.  I have a new admiration for Editor’s of the period, and their staff.  Imagine those poor typists with manual typewriters hammering away on thousands of pages of text, most of which would never see print.

It is the amazing cast that really brings this story about complex lives and conflicted relationships to fruition.  Add to Firth and Law; Nicole Kidman as the needy Author’s wife and Laura Linney as the Editor’s spouse.  Guy Pearce as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dominic West as Ernest Hemingway and Vanessa Kirby as Zelda Fitzgerald.

Ultimately, it stimulated my imagination.  What a fascinating time in history.  What interesting people.  What extraordinary perspectives and personalities.

Rating:

Now You See Me 2

Here is another release with mixed reviews.  I’m not sure why.  It was more of what the first release offered, clever concepts, mostly likable characters, an original presentation, and enough twists and turns to compete with a rollercoaster.

Yes, there are scenes that are less than perfect.  Others stretch plausibility to the extreme.  And some scenes make no sense at all, did anybody really believe Daniel Radcliffe as the thug?!

Okay, so less than perfect, but I will say, the 129 minutes run time flew by.

Rating:

De Palma

OH MY!  We were intrigued when we saw the previews and immediately hooked to see this documentary on the opening weekend.  First and foremost, this is a must for all cinephiles.

It is virtually a chronology of Hollywood filmmaking from Hitchcock forward.  At 75, De Palma delivers a ‘no holds barred’ explanation of his life’s work, behind the scenes perspective of how the industry really works and a wild romp through some unforgettable footage you won’t soon forget.

To be fair, at times it seemed like narcissistic rambling but there was so much information flowing out of him one is challenged to keep up and process the data.  What a goofy, crazy, amazing, creative creature.

Rating:

The Lobster

The critics LOVED this film, ranking it in the top 5%.  Audiences apparently really liked it too.  Me, not so much.  Unique?  Yes.  Original?  Absolutely.  Funny?  Some folks thought it was hilarious!  Me, occasionally in a perverse sort of way that would not be regarded as a compliment.

In some other world, single people must go to a pseudo re-education hotel where guests must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice.  Guests can extend their stay by shooting rouge guests with a stun gun to “buy extra days”.

Yup!  It goes downhill from there.  The entire story is delivered a constant monotone by every single character who spoke.  Call me madcap, but I did not get it.  I found it tedious and annoying.

Great cast!  Colin Farell, Rachel Weisz,  and John Reilley.  Let me know what you think if you see it.

Rating: 

Me Before You

This is a romantic drama where an inexperienced working class girl seeks employment as caregiver to wealthy young man paralyzed by an accident.  What starts as a employee/employer relationship evolved into something personal, then more.

His bitterness and resentfulness are slowly replaced by the right balance of struggle and the joy of life.  The banter between these characters is crisp and believable.

The acting is just right.  Emilia Clarke plays the assistant Louisa (Lou) Clarke.  Sam Claflin plays the quadriplegic William Traynor.   The story is based on the best selling novel by Jo Jo Moyes titled the same as the film.

Rating: 

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

This musical comedy mockumentary about a boy band, Conner4Real, and its front man, brilliantly play by Adam Samberg.  The Band hits box office gold with the mega success of their first album.  Boy Band makes good.  Lead singer believes his own hype.  Boy band crashes.  Boy Band breaks up….

It sounds far fetched yet so familiar.  Humm…how many groups come to mind?!  What makes this movie work is it never stops.  The pace is quick, so is the humor, goofy stuff and theatrics.  Think Saturday Night Live on musical steroids.  Some of the scenes are cliché but others are quite inventive.  It is relentless and well crafted.

The last third really brings the story all together.  There is soul searching and the healing of prides and egos.  And…drumroll…a music awards appearance that brings everything together; including funny appearance by Mariah Carey.

It is probably not going to win any awards but it was an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours.

Rating: 

Maggie’s Plan

This drama/comedy is about a 30 something New York single woman , Greta Gerwig as Maggie, who decides it is time to have a child without the help of anyone but a sperm doner, a bit part played by Travis Fimmel, as the local the pickle producer becomes National distributor.

Enter, Ethan Hawke’s character, John, as professor and his wife, Julianne Moore as the tenured Nordic scholar.  Throw in eccentric neighbors, played by Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph and a you have a revolving love triangle involving three children.

The acting is what makes this film work.  It’s not perfect and the premise is pretty flawed but in some respects, its not all that unlike the real world.  (I’m just glad its not mine!)

The Julianne Moore character is the superstar, intelligent, witty, and driven.  Her performance alone is worth the time and admission.

Rating: