The Billion Dollar Franchises Awaken

CREED

SPORTS DRAMA

PLOT:  Retired Rocky Balboa trains Apollo’s son.

                Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is older and alone then Apollo Creed’s son wants to be a fighter and wants Rocky to train him. Soon they form a bond. Michael B. Jordan is great as Adonis Creed and Stallone is fantastic as the now father figure Rocky.  The boxing is brutal!  No two fighters can last as long with the punches they exchange in the movies.  You have seen these kinds of movies before but this one is well made.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

ANIMATED

PLOT:  Arlo is lost dinosaur and will do anything to find his family and meets a young cave boy who    becomes his friend.

                The animation and the music are great.  It had funny moments but this film is frightening for young children!  Bugs are used as musical instruments or eaten!  It is rough stuff so if you do bring your kids be warned.

               

PEANUTS MOVIE

ANIMATED

PLOT:  Charlie Brown and friends are back on the big screen.

                Charlie Brown, that lovable failure is back in 3D animation and it is good.  There is really no story.  It is nostalgia about the characters and situations that made Peanuts wonderful.  All ages will like it and some will love it.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

STAR WARS:  THE FORCE AWAKENS

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  The first of the new Star Wars saga.

                It has been 30 years since the end of Darth Vader and the Empire but there is a new enemy emerging named the First Order led by the evil Kylo Ren to crush the resistance.  If you are not a Star Wars fan you will enjoy this movie!  It is epic and action packed.  If you are a Star Wars fan you love this movie!  Why?    It is new and nostalgia.  Some people will be disappointed because it is not completed in this film but it is the first of a new series.  You will learn more in each film.  Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver are great as new characters to the franchise as well as Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.

Family Faction and Action Gets Traction

SPECTRE

ACTION/ADVENTURE

PLOT:  The 24^th James Bond movie.

                First of all, the meaning of the evil organization named SPECTRE Special Executive for Counter Intelligence Terrorism Revenge and Extortion.  James Bond (Daniel Craig) last as 007.  The group is lead by Blodfeld (Christoph Waltz) and his reason to hurt Bond is professional as well as personal.  It is a great movie if you haven’t seen a current James Bond movie.  The opening sequence is just amazing and the fight scene with former wrestler Dave Bautista (Mr. Hinx) brutal.  There are slow spots helping you with the story.  It is worth to watch.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2

ANIMATED

PLOT:  The sequel to Hotel Transylvania.

                You don’t have to see the first movie to understand this one.  Mavis (Selena Gomez) Dracula’s daughter married a human and Dracula (Adam Sandler) wants his grandson  to be more monster than human.  The movie is very funny, delightful and in a strange way teaching children accepting people or creatures as they are. It is delightful for all ages.

HUNGER GAMES:  MOCKINGJAY PART 2

ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  The final chapter of Hunger Game series.

                Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) knows who the enemy is now and he is President Snow (Donald Southerland) and wants to kill him but is he really the bad guy?  Our heroine has to deal with death, deception and worship.  It is the saddest ending to a franchise I have ever seen.  The trailer is so misleading for the other three movies are a building up and you would expect an action-packed ending and it is not that.  The novels I know are better.  The writer is trying to say something important and does but it is grim throughout.  If you enjoyed the other films you will like this one but if you didn’t  don’t go.

Wars, Witches and Interns

CRIMSON PEAK

GOTHIC ROMANCE

PLOT:  Young female writer marries a handsome but mysterious man of a mansion.

                Director  Guillermo del Toro is a great visionary director.  His imagination is amazing!  He did Blade 2, Pan’s Labyrinth and my favorite Pacific Rim so this is his latest movie.  It is a well-made, well acted Hammer-styled film.  Hammer films like Dracula with the late, great Christopher Lee.  It is too bloody for the romance crowd, not enough blood for the gore hounds so how to sell it?  There are ghost in there but not much, not much at all.  It is a hard sell so marketing sold it as a horror movie and I believe that is why it didn’t make much money.  When people think of horror today they want shocks and blood!  It’s a date movie if you want to see it but if you can wait for video. 

NO ESCAPE

ACTION/SUSPENSE

PLOT:  Husband moves his family to Southeast Asia but is suddenly trapped in a revolution.

                OMG!  I will admit I didn’t think much of the film because it had Owen Wilson who does mostly comedies but this is not funny at all!  He is Jack Dwyer and he moved his family to Southeast Asia to work as an engineer at the company Cardiff. He doesn’t know that the rebels killed the prime minister and they are out to kill ALL employees at the hotel and he and his family go through hell to survive!!  It doesn’t waste time getting to the action either and you understand more of the story in the middle of the movie.  The movie was in theaters for a hot minute but when it comes to video or VOD WATCH IT.

THE INTERN

COMEDY/DRAMA

PLOT:  Retired elderly man works for a young boss.

                Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) is 70 and bored so he takes a job as an intern at first then becomes Jules’ (Anne Hathaway) driver and becomes more of a protector –no romance.  Jules is married with a daughter and is trying to juggle work and family.  It is very tiring but Ben helps her all he can.  It is a very nice movie and the stars make it better than a Lifetime movie.  De Niro is great as an older but still vibrant man who still wants to be in the business world.  Hathaway is cute but determined to make her company succeed.

WAR ROOM

DRAMA

PLOT:  Black family in turmoil find faith and come together.

                Tony and Elizabeth Jordan (T.C. Stallings and Priscilla C. Shirer) are successful couple.  They have a cute daughter, Danielle (Alana Pitts) but they are always arguing and ignore their only child.  Elizabeth meets Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie) as she helps her sell her home and she tells her about the “war room” which is just a closet where she prays and talks to God.  Elizabeth does the same thing and wonderful things happen to them.  It is a good movie if you have faith to others it is just low-budget religious film.  It shows that people can change with the help of the Lord.  It was a hit with black audiences and should be with everyone who believes.

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER

ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  An immortal warrior destroys witches.

                Kaudler (Vin Diesel, Fast and Furious series) is cursed by a Witch Queen to live forever and that is a good thing for he kills the evil beings who are all around him.  He gets a few sidekicks, Chloe (Rose Leslie, Game of Thrones and Downtown Abby) a wisecracking Dream Walker and Dolen 37 (Elijah Wood, Lord of the Rings Trilogy).  It is like a twisted, expensive Sleepy Hollow episode.  It could easily be a series.  It is worth seeming if you like Diesel because he is always a cool badass!  It didn’t make money(US) maybe for it is hard to believe him as an ageless necromancer hunter. 

Drama is Back & Fall Oscar Track

MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS

ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  The sequel to Maze Runner.

                Thomas (Dylan O Brien) and others survive the endless, dirty labyrinth in the first movie now they are in more danger by the mysterious organization WCKD.  At first they seem friendly but soon the gang finds out their true intentions and they escape on the run again.  The film is very exciting.   Read the book because there isn’t much character development because of the all the action.

THE MARTIAN

SCI-FI/DRAMA

PLOT:  Astronaut is left by accident on Mars and has to survive.

                Based on the novel by Andy Weir in 2011 the story is about Mark Watney (Mark Damon) is all alone on Mars and he has to think of ingenious ways to stay alive until he gets help.  He has a good sense of humor, intelligence and sheer willpower.  It has some scary moments but it is not action packed so don’t expect it.  If you like Gravity and I am stretching it- Castaway in outer space you will like this movie.  The cast is fantastic which includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live), Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Kate Mara (Fantastic Four), Sebastian Stan (The Winter Solider) and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

BLACK MASS

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  True story about gangster James “Whitey” Bulger who lived in Boston.

                Johnny Depp (Captain Jack, Lone Ranger) is a grim, intense, controlling criminal.  He has no redeeming qualities except he cares for his brother played by Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek into Darkness), his mom and his son.  Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) is convincing as his wife.  He transformed himself into this horrible human being but really are there any nice mobsters out there?  It is very violent and you don’t know are the cops are just as bad as the criminals!  The cinematography by Masanobu Takayanagi is amazing and the music by Tom Holkenborg is haunting.  The film is good but Depp is great.

         

      

SICARIO

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  An FBI agent joins a military task force to take out a major cartel in Mexico.

                Kate (Emily Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow) is a woman who joins an elite group to destroy a cartel in Mexico.  Her team is Josh Brolin, Daniel Kaluuya and Benicio Del Toro but she realizes she can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys!  Sicario means ‘hitman’ in Mexican and you won’t believe who that is.  It is well made, very violent and very terrifying.  It is not action packed but when it comes it is intense! 

THE PERFECT GUY

SUSPENSE DRAMA

PLOT:  Attractive black woman dates a stalker.

                Leah (Sanaa Lathan, the Best Man, Best Man Holiday) is an attractive, smart woman who wants a family but Dave (Morris Chestnut, TV show Rosewood) is not ready for commitment.  She breaks up with him and after two months she likes Carter (Michael Ealy, About Last Night) who is the perfect guy for awhile.  Okay, this movie could easily be a Lifetime movie but what makes it so different is that black actors and actress are in the lead parts.  Ealy who was also in For Color Girls played crazy before and did such a great job he might be typecast.  It was a hit in theaters and if you like women in jeopardy films you will enjoy this.

BRIDGE OF SPIES

DRAMA/THRILLER

PLOT:  Lawyer in the cold war era exchanges a Soviet spy.

                Let me say this is not a James Bond movie even though it has spies in the title.  It is a talky, intense film.  James B. Donovan ( Tom Hanks) who is a lawyer who defends a spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) in the US in the 50’s.  Most of America wanted the death penalty but he only receives years in jail. The CIA wants Donovan to go under the radar to negotiate to get Abel back to his country for exchange for a US soldier and a student studying economics in Soviet Union.  Hanks is good as usual playing the average guy in extraordinary circumstances and the rest of the cast is amazing.

Action Gets Traction Fall 2015

THE TRANSPORTER: REFULED

ACTION

PLOT:    A reboot of The Transporter.

                These days it doesn’t have to be years before they reimagine or remake a film.  The original Transporter is only 12 years old.  Gone is stoic but can kick-ass Jason Statham but replaced by Ed Skrein (Ajax , Deadpool 2016) is Frank Martin and he helps four attractive women to take a Russian’s kingpin money.  There is lots of action but it is not the same without Statham.  If you like The Transporter movies go but if not wait until video where all the movies are successful.

12 ROUNDS 3: LOCKDOWN

ACTION

PLOT:  Die Hard in a precinct HQ.

                WWE wrestler Dean Ambrose is Shaw a cop who returns back to duty after his rookie cop was killed, he was shot and had to see a therapist for PTSD.  His former partner Burke (Roger Cross, the black guy you see if every SyFy film and series) is a dirty and Shaw has the proof to put him in jail.  Burke and his crooked cops set a fire to the police station to get most of the police out then places it on lockdown hench the title.  You have seen it all before but the ONLY reason to see the film is for Ambrose.  He is an action star!  Not much in the acting side but makes up with badass!  There is many good kills!  Action Hounds please watch!!

AMERICAN ULTRA

ACTION/COMEDY

PLOT:  Stoner finds out he is really an assassin.

                Jess Eisenberg is Mike a loner and stoner who finds out he is CIA assassin when Adrian (Topher Grace) wants to start his own group of elite group of killers from mental patients try to get rid of him because he is a loose end.  Kristen Stewart is his girlfriend and she looks high most of the time.  The movie is good in a strange sought of way.  It’s has funny moments, real dramatic moments and many bloody moments.  If you like the story and the two stars you should see it.  It would make a good TV series.  If you can wait please see this on video or cable.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

MUSICAL/DRAMA

   

PLOT:  The rise of gangster rap group NWA.

                In the beginning there was party rap, the fun stuff then there was message rap, a little more serious and gangster rap where it talked about ghetto life, poverty and the abusive police.  Three young men wanted the mainstream to hear how bad it is and there are Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Easy E.  The movie tells their story. I don’t know how accurate the story is but if you want more information you know where to find it. The positive: the money, the women the bling (gold) and the negative: crooked managers too much drugs and egos.  It is like most dramas about fame and the cost.  It is well made and well done.  All the young actors are great.  The film is about gangster rap so there is a lot of swearing, using women as sex objects, violence and drugs.  You have been warned.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

ACTION

PLOT:  The movie based on the popular TV show in the 60’s.

                Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill, Man of Steel) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer, Long Ranger) are spies from English and Russian team together to find a scientist through his daughter.  Cavill seems to be having a great time playing Solo, Hammer not so much.  The villainess Elizabeth Debicki is beautiful, fashionable and dangerous.  At the end their code name is U.N.C.L.E. - United Network Command for Law Enforcement. The music is good and the action sconces are very good.  If you are curious did they make it better or worse go, if not wait for cable.

  

HITMAN AGENT 47

ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  Scientist makes the perfect solider.

                Rupert Friend (ShowTime’s Homeland) is Agent 47 a genetic engineered man with superhuman strength and stamina.  There is a barcode on the back of his bald head with the last two numbers which is 47.  The government shuts down the project but an evil organization wants to bring it back to life and they need to find the doctor, Litvenko (Ciaran Hinds) who created it and they use his daughter, Katia (Hannah Ware) to find him. Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) is John Smith is more than a CIA agent. It is based on a video game. You have seen this all before but it does have style and a lot of action!!  A sad note Rupert Friend was not first choice to play 47 but Paul Walker who died in a car crash.  If you like mindless action  go see it, if not wait until cable.

Rest of the Summer Wrap-up

POLTERGEIST
HORROR/SUSPENSE

PLOT: Remake of the 1982 film.

This was a weak reimagining of the original movie. It is a family who move into a haunted house. Not bloody, not scary either but at least it shows the dysfunctional family staying together in a crisis. Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2) is good as unemployed father who has to believe all the supernatural occurrences going on in his home. Jared Harris (Mad Men) as Carrigan Burke, a spirit specialist with an Irish accent is also good showing he knows his job and humor with it. See the 1982 film then watch the remake.

TED 2
COMEDY/FANTASY

PLOT: Sequel to Ted about a cuddly cursing, drinking and smoking teddy bear that comes to life.

What makes us human? That’s a deep question for comedy but that’s what the Ted 2 is about. He wants a family and when he tries to adopt the problems come up but that doesn’t mean there is not a lot of raunchy fun in between. Ted (voice by director Seth McFarlane) and John (Mark Wahlberg) his best friend. They make a great dysfunctional comic team. If you like the first movie you will like this –if not wait for cable.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION
ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT: Ethan Hunt and his task force must stop an opposing organization as smart and dangerous as they are!!

This is the 5th Mission Impossible and it is the best!! IMF best agent, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has to prove there is an equal but evil group like IMF called the Syndicate. Hunt has to go through a lot to prove that the Syndicate does exist and it is very exciting and clever. Rebecca Ferguson (Hercules starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) is amazing as Ilsa Faust. She is smart, attractive, can take care of her and you don’t know whose side she is on until the end. Sean Harris as Solomon Lane, the leader of the Syndicate is creepy as hell!! The best part of the film is that it is like the 60’s Mission Impossible where they are a team!!

TRAINWRECK
ROMANTIC COMEDY

PLOT: Young woman drinks, smokes and dates too many guys finds true love.

Amy Schumer is Amy, a writer but she is a “trainwreck”!! She drinks too much, smokes anything and has too many men in her life. It stems from her father Colin Quinn who instilled in her no one is faithful to each other so she takes that in her adult life. It is like a Lifetime movie with a lot of wit and vulgar humor. It’s a chick flick guys would like. It is not your typical romance comedy at all!! All the actors are good and the guest basketball players like LeBron James and Amar’s Stoudemire are excellent!! Wrestler John Cena is very funny as one of Amy’s one night stands and he has a nice body!!! A reason to buy the video and put in Slow Motion!!

PIXELS
SCI-FI/COMEDY

PLOT: Video games from the 80’s come back to destroy the world!!

Three good friends(Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Josh Gad) in their younger days were top of their game- 80’s video games now Kevin James is the president while the other two are losers must join together to stop aliens in the form of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Dojo Quest!! Yeah, it sounds crazy but it is an imaginative idea. It is not just the 80’s video games it was pop culture of the 80’s. It is very good but if you don’t like the old video games or Adam Sandler wait until cable but it is entertaining.

FANTASTIC FOUR
ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT: Another reimagining of Marvel’s super team.

Oh man!! If you are a fan of the comics you will be cursing at the screen!! They changed sooo much. The last two movies were very campy but special effects great but at least it stuck with the origin. This one they are going to another dimension like earth to get resources but most of the dimension looks like a barren area. There isn’t much action in the film either. Josh Trank, the director who did Chronicle didn’t do a great job!! Why? This director has so much promise!! Rumors have it he was intoxicated during production and it could be from all the stress!! There is some good in the movie like Ben “Thing” Grimm. He is CGI and it is good. The movie is very serious. Please, if you love Fantastic Four don’t watch this –wait for CABLE!!

Toys and Robots, Inside & Out

SPY

ACTION/COMEDY

PLOT:  A deskbound CIA analyst dreams of being a field agent.

                Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) enjoys assisting her favorite agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law) but longs to be a super agent and she does and she is very funny, very resourceful and very vulgar. It is good if you like action and there is a lot.  She is a big woman but she gets into fights and has to save the day!!  If you don’t like Mrs. McCarthy you shouldn’t see the film for she is in it mostly.  I was so surprised it was that good!!

INSIDE OUT

ANIMATED

PLOT:  A little girl’s emotions come to life in her head.

                What is in a young girl’s mind?  This delightful movie tries to explain.  All her emotions take a cartoon shape and try to shape her when she and her family has to move to another state and everything goes wrong.  This is the most imaginative film I have seen this summer!!  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

TERMINATOR GENISYS

ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  Kyle Reese has to save Sarah Conner but something has changed.

                This is the fifth Terminator movie and this is the only film I know that YOU have to reboot your brain to understand it!!  It is confusing at least for me but basically the timeline has changed.  Sarah Conner (Emila Clarke, Game of Thrones) is a tough female yet  Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney, A Good Day to Die Hard) still has to save her from an unlikely person.  You will understand the situation more if you watch Doctor Who and Back to the Future films.  The action is very good and so is its star Arnold Schwarzenegger.  I believe it is not doing well because the story is not simple.  I think it will do better on video.

Big Time Monster Catastrophe Movies

SAN ANDREAS

THRILLER

PLOT:  Disaster happens as the famous fault finally falls.

                Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson is a rescue helicopter pilot who has to save his wife and daughter ( Carla Gugino, (Wayward Pines) Alexander Daddario (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) from the earthquakes!!  It is a lot to believe but the actress Daddario is smart and resourceful.  The special effects are terrific and terrifying!!  It is a good summer movie.

JURASSIC WORLD

SCI-FI/ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  After 22 years they finally make a Disney World with dinosaurs.

                I saw Jurassic Park in 1993 and it had the “wow factor” with the special effects and now it is even better!!  The plot not really why you go see this movie but the dinosaurs!!  The scientist makes a new creature with DNA spliced of T-Rex, raptor and other dinosaurs.  Indominus Rex escapes and that when the fun begins!!  It is a wild ride and the ending I didn’t see coming!!  This is a POPCORN movie you will enjoy.  The cast includes Chris Pratt (Guardian of the Galaxy) Bryce Dallas Howard (Twilight Breaking Dawn, The Help), Vincent D’Onofrio (Law and Order Criminal Intent. Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix) and Omar Sy (X-Men Days of Future Past).  Minor spoiler:  Mr. Sy is mentioned for the BLACK MAN LIVES at the end of the movie!!

INSIDIOUS:  CHAPTER 3

HORROR/SUSPENSE

PLOT:  The beginning of the franchise.

               

                Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) is a gifted psychic who helps a pretty teen, Quinn (Stefanie Scott) talk to her mom but an evil entity comes through and her father and friends have to save her.  It is a prequel before the supernatural occurrence of the Lambert family.  It’s okay and you have seen the plat before but I liked the character Elise who became brave to help the girl. LOOK OUT maybe a fourth!!

Towards A Mad, Perfect Tommorrow

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SCI-FI

PLOT:  In the future, in the desert everything has to be fought for.

                Mad Max is back!!  I really don’t know if it is a sequel or a reboot but it is very good!!!  The director of the Mad Max movies George Miller hasn’t lost his touch for action!!  WARNING:  Action starts at the beginning of the film slow down just a bit then amps up at the end!!  Don’t be late!!  Max is now Tom Hardy (Bane, Dark Night Rises) he’ll kill just to survive.  Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) tries to redeem herself by taking Immortan Joe’s(Hugh Keays-Byrne(Toecutter in the first Mad Max)” wives “or sex slaves from him.  She is tough but has a soft side and a back-story. He wants them back and the chase is on.  Nicholas Hoult as Nux (Beast, in X Men First Class)is a War Boy who works for Immortan Joe but then changes his mind when he falls one of the “wives”  He is mentioned because he says the future catch phrase “What a lovely day!”

PITCH PERFECT

COMEDY/MUSICAL

PLOT:  The Bellas are back with songs and problems.

                The ladies are back and they are about to graduate from Baden college.  After a disasterious accident in front of the President at Lincoln Center the singers has to find their “Bellas” sound back and beat the latest cappella international sensation German group DSM.  I didn’t see the first film but it is raunchy, funny crazy but the ending is great!!!  Actress Elizabeth Banks is in the movie and she directed it as well. It is a hit and I don’t know why-maybe a little:  Girl power!!  If you like the first one you will enjoy this one.  It is nice to see a chick movie in the summer among the blockbusters that is making money!!!

TOMORROWLAND

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SCI-FI

PLOT:  A teenage girl discovers a small pin that takes her to another dimension.

                The movie is original meaning it’s not a superhero, not a sequel but about a young woman named Casey (Britt Newton ) who receives a mysterious pin and it takes her to an exciting, future world.  When the girl asks questions there is an action sequence but near the end all is explained.  It is complicated watching it the first time.  It will do very well on video.  The special effects are amazing but try to stick with it when watching it.  Interesting if you want something different.

Aliens and Androids Launch Summer 2015

HOME

ANIMATION

PLOT:  Clumsy alien is taught humanity.

                Oh (Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory) is a lovable but accident-prone misfit.  His species, the Boov take over the earth and Tip (singer Rihanna) shows him what it is to be like to be human while searching for her mom.  It has all the elements like a Disney movie love, laughter, danger and special effects.  It is not bad for kids or adult kids either.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  The Avengers now must fight an android who can think for himself.

                The Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye team up to stop Ultron a robot (created by Tony Stark and Hank Prym, not Stark and Dr Banner) who is changing and decided that mankind is a threat to itself so it must be destroyed.  Not a good idea to the team so they stop it.   They are assisted by War Machine, The Vision Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. This is a popcorn movie to start the summer movie season and it is great!  The action is AMAZING!!  See it when it comes to a theater near you!!!!!

Spring 2015 Movies Get Hard, Fast and Furious

FOCUS

COMEDY CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:    Two con artists are also lovers.

                Nicky (Will Smith) and Jess (Margot Robbie) are two attractive con artists.  Nicky is more experienced but Jess is very willing to learn.  Nicky is getting emotionally involved with Jess so he abruptly breaks the relationship off which makes her very upset.  There is a big con and he is unaware that Jess is dating the bait.  Sounds like a soap opera but it is a good movie with wise-cracking Will on the wrong side of the law.  It is like American Hustle but the couple and the settings are very glamorous. Smith and Robbie have a great chemistry and they will be seen again in Suicide Squad.

CINDERELLA 2015

FANTASY

PLOT:  Servant girl gets her wish to go to the ball and meet the prince.

                Director Kenneth Branagh (Thor) has done it again with this new adaption of the classic fairy tale but he made it feel like Masterpiece Theater!!  It is well made and well acted.  Cate Blanchett is great as the evil stepmother but at least she has a backstory as well as Cinderella herself played by Lily James. Well worth a look.

FAST AND FURIOUS # 7

ACTION/ADVENTURE

PLOT:   The gang is back for one last ride.

                This movie franchise is nothing short of amazing!!!  The group were race car drivers to stealing money and now there are superspies and close to superheroes!! Dom (Vin Diesel) and his team have to capture Ramsey, a beautiful computer expert who made the ultimate tracking device and not trying to be killed by Owen Shaw’s brother Deckard (Jason Statham, Transporter, Expendables) out for revenge.  The action is fantastic-unbelievable but fantastic!!  This POPCORN movie!!  Sit back and enjoy!!!

GET HARD

COMEDY

PLOT:  White businessman prepares himself with a black guy to go to jail.

                Will Farrell and Kevin Hart are rich and poor. Rich Farrell is rich but is framed and has 30 days before he spends hard time in jail for ten years.  Kevin is poor and washes cars for a living.  Farrell asks Kevin to teach him the ropes before he goes to jail and will pay him so Kevin agrees.  The film is very raunchy, stereotypical and very funny at the same time.  Rapper and actor TI is very good too.  It is worth watching if you like the two main stars, if not watch on video.

INSURGENT

SCI-FI/ACTION

PLOT:  The sequel to Divergent.

                Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four(Theo James) along with others are running away from the President(Kate Winslet)  only to capture Tris to get information from a cube because she is a Divegent.  It is very action packed and Ms Woodley is a good actress.  There is a lot of double crossing and sometimes you don’t know who is on Tris’ side. I believe there will be a third film.  If you like the first movie you will enjoy this one.

RUN ALL NIGHT

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  A hit man has to decide who he is loyal to.

                Jimmy “The “Gravedigger” Conlon (Liam Neeson) was a famous hit man know a joke and alcoholic.  His son Mike (Joel Kinnaman, Robocop 2014) is distant from him because of his profession and his best friend is Shawn MacGuire (Ed Harris) is a “straight” businessman and a gangster. MacGuire’s son made a mistake and gets Mike involved and Jimmy has chose to do the right thing. Neeson has done some many action movies you can’t keep up but this one is truly well done. 

He is a hit man but he is human too with serious flaws.  Harris is a good actor but I don’t usually expect him in this kind of film but maybe he wanted to work with Neeson.  What is amazing is rapper turned actor Common as Andrew Price, another hit man out to kill Neeson.  Oh man, I wasn’t used to him as a ruthless assassin but he played it well.  See it in the movies, see it on video just see it!!

Six Shades of Winter Movies

SEVENTH SON

ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT: An aging witch-slayer finds another to take his place.

                This film was based on a novel The Spook’s Apprentice also called Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch in America by Joseph Delaney.  John Gregory (Jeff Bridges) is an aging witch-hunter and searches for another to replace him.  He finds him in Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian).  The main witch (Mother Malkin) is Julianne Moore.  Bridges is great with his gruff sounding voice and Moore is wicked as the witch.  You seen this adventure fantasy so many times before but the special effects are excellent.  If you like this genre go but if not wait.

WILD CARD

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT: A lethal man helps a friend out with violent results.

                Nick Wild (Jason Statham) is a bodyguard who is also a compulsive gambler.  He helps a lady friend who was beaten up badly but doesn’t know the abusive man is mob connected.  The movie is filmed very well and Statham is not kicking ass every ten minutes but when he does it is worth watching.  I guess Statham wants to prove to Hollywood he can act but his fans like to see him beat the hell out of the bad guys.  You should see this on video or on demand.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

EROTIC ROMANCE

PLOT:  Based on the bestselling book novel by E.L. James.

                Anastasia Steel (Dakota Johnson) is a cute, literature student who helps her sick friend out and interviews Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), a handsome rich guy who has kinky taste.  She is hot for him in a romantic way and he wants her in a submissive way.  He follows/stalks her wherever she goes. He smacks her tail when he doesn’t get his way.  He does have a background story which makes sense for his behavior.  It is The Story of O (also written by a woman) with a contract.  It is late night Cinemax with soap opera on the big screen.  Honestly, I don’t know why this film has made so much money. It is a movie for couples who are curious.   If you can wait for cable or Pay –Per- View. There are two more novels which they are going to make.

FOXCATCHER-2014

DRAMA

PLOT: True story of John du Pount who will do anything to win Olympic Wrestling in the 80’s.

                The story begins with Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum ,Magic Mike) is an intense wrestler who wins awards at the real wrestling and John du Pont( Steve Carell, Get Smart, The Office) wants him on his team so he can have a great Olympic team.  They work and play together and they admire each other but when Mark starts to lose he wants his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo The Avengers) as well for his team.  The three male leads are amazing especially Mr. Carell.  He is eerie and eccentric  as du Pont.  Tatum can act when given the right material and Ruffalo is great as his easy going devoted brother with a family.  This is not a popcorn movie; it is slow moving.  It is good because of the acting and directing. Steve Carell is nominated for Best Actor and Mark Ruffalo for Best Supporting Actor.

THE BOY NEXT DOOR

SUSPENSE

PLOT: Sexy separated woman has a one night stand with a psycho stud.

                It sounds like a Lifetime Channel movie?  Because there was!!  This one is steamier and more violent.  Jennifer Lopez is Claire Patterson who is trying to start her life over with her son after finding out her husband has cheated on her.  She meets a handsome student Noah (Ryan Guzman) who just happens to be her neighbor and when her son leaves for the weekend.  Ms Lopez is too talented to do a film like this along with singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth.  People who have seen movies like this know what will happen.  Ms Lopez produced the film and it made money because of her.  I hope she makes better movies than this!!

OCTOBER GALE 2014

DRAMA

PLOT:  A lonely widow finds a shot hunk in her home.

                It sounds cheesy but it is a really a good drama.  Helen (Patricia Clarkson) husband died and she goes to her isolated cottage for some time alone and a handsome stranger William (Scott Speedman) is in her house bleeding from a gun wound.  She is a doctor so she cures him.  He tells her the truth there is a hitman (Tim Roth) after him and he won’t stop until he is dead.  Don’t expect the typical Hollywood thriller because it isn’t!!  It is a realistic thriller if there is such a thing.  The best part is Ms Clarkson remembering her dead husband and how much she loved him.  She is an underrated actress.

Oscar Nominations: Fawning and Yawning

SELMA

HISTORICAL DRAMA

PLOT:  It is about Dr. Martin Luther King determined to secure equal voting rights.

                No, it’s not a biography of Dr. King just a small part of his legacy.  He was trying to make President Lyndon Baines Johnson to sign for all people to vote by peaceful protest and if not blacks would march in Selma.  Director Ava DuVernay showed Dr. King as a human being as well as a noble but determined man that wanted justice.  David Oyelowo (The Butler and Red Tails) is very good as Dr. King. 

Don’t expect the famous speeches he gives, for he doesn’t.  He has doubts but forsakes it is for the greater good for the people.  Carmen Ejogo is beautiful and wonderful as Coretta Scott King.  Tom Wilkinson is great as President Johnson.  He is salty and scheming but wants to be a good man.  The film is nominated for best picture and best song Glory.  I wish it was for best director for Ms. DuVernay did an excellent job.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA

PLOT:  The true story about the physicist Stephen Hawking

                Remember in 2014 when people and celebrities on the internet and TV splashing water over them for Lou Gehrig’s disease?  Well Stephen Hawking has that disease at the young age of twenty one.  The actor who played him Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) is extraordinary.  A brilliant mind in a broken body with a sense of humor is hard to portray but he did it.  Felicity Jones (The Amazing Spider Man 2) is very good as his wife who endures the hardships of taking care of husband with his condition.

BOYHOOD

DRAMA

PLOT: Coming of age movie of a child from 8 to 18.

                What makes this different than other movies that the director filmed this for 12 years with the same cast!!  It makes the film very realistic.   Mason (Ellar Coltrane) is a young child who sees the world differently and it shows as he grows up. Patricia Arquette is so good as the mother who has bad relationships with men but takes care of her kids, graduates college and gets a good job.  Mason’s father is Ethan Hawke and he is equally good as father who cares but not enough to sustain employment.  The movie is long: over two hours and thirty minutes (feels longer) but I believe the director Richard Linklater wanted to show the audience life is slow and mundane. 

BIRDMAN

COMEDY/DRAMA

PLOT:  Actor does a serious play to be taken seriously as an actor.

                Riggan Thomas, (Michael Keaton) who wants to do a dramatic play on Broadway to be taken critically as a talented actor and director.  He was “The Birdman,” a popular superhero and he wants to get away from playing in a successful franchise.  He hears “The Birdman” in his head and this play cost him financially and emotionally. 

This movie is not for everyone.  To tell you the truth it is for actors for actors who are constantly typecast all the time.  They love the attention and the money but they don’t want to be known for that one character that made them famous.  Actors need and want variety.  The writing is very well done-especially between Riggan and the critic for it tells what is wrong with Hollywood today.

CAKE

DRAMA

PLOT: An unhappy woman becomes a pill-popping addict.

                Claire Bennett (Jennifer Aniston) was in an accident and in constant pain.  She goes to therapy, sleeps around and verbally abuses her maid but nothing makes her happy than her pain-medicated pills.  She hides them and even goes to Mexico to get her meds.  She is sad most of the time or viciously funny other times.  Aniston does a good job but she wasn’t nominated but she should have been.  She transformed herself to an average female which is hard for her.  Adriana Barraza as Silvana, her maid should have been nominated as her religious maid who also wanted to be her friend. 

  

WHIPLASH

DRAMA

PLOT:  Apsiring drummer goes to a music school where the teacher drives him to the extreme.

                Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious drummer who goes to a top-notched music school and has to deal with prompt music teacher Terrance Fletcher (J.K. Simmons Spiderman 2002 ).  This teacher curses at you, degrades you, humiliates you to force a great performance out of you. He explains why he does this but is it truly necessary?  Mr. Simmons is very good at being very bad.  It also shows what a good teacher influence can change a student or students lives.  Mr. Teller gives a good performance also as a driven artist who will stop at nothing for perfection.

THE IMITATION GAME

HISTORICAL DRAMA

PLOT:  The true story of Alan Turing , an English code-breaker.

                Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch, Star Trek) is brilliant British  code-breaker but he is also gay, anti-social and arrogant.  He invented what became the modern computer and saved many lives in World War 2.  When Hollywood makes a “true story” it is usually not accurate so you have to read about the subject and draw your own conclusion.  Mr. Cumberbatch is touching as Turing.  You like him one minute, hate him the next.  I don’t care for the actor myself he creeps me out but he is a very good.  Keira Knightley is very good as a smart and amusing as Turing’s further wife.  The movie is humorous in the beginning then it gets slowly serious.

WILD

DRAMA

PLOT:  Based on a true story Cheryl Strayed who walked 1,100 alone.

                Cheryl( Resse Witherspoon) had a reckless life with drugs and wrong men after her mother died so she decides to walk by herself  over a thousand miles in three months to find herself.  She is driven as there are many flashbacks with her sad, abused life.  This story happened in 1995.  She was a brave woman for in many times she probably was going to be raped and killed.  She met good people, bad people and strange people but she continued on to prove to herself she mattered.  Witherspoon is tough!  She doesn’t cry when things go wrong she cruses and goes on.  Worth watching.

STILL ALICE

DRAMA

PLOT:  An educated woman in her fifties develops Alzheimer’s.

                Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) is a professor of language, she a loving husband, three great grown up children and soon to be a grandmother when she is told she has Alzheimer’s.  If you don’t know what Alzheimer’s is it affects your memory and your mind.  It is a terrible disease for it is progressive meaning it gets worse until you die.  It is not a popcorn movie, people.  You see a vibrant woman deteriorate before your eyes.  Moore does an excellent performance.  She is another Meryl Strep.