Big Films for Cold Season

ANNIE

MUSICAL

PLOT:  A retelling of Annie from the Broadway play.

                The film is really cute but some of the songs are misplaced and most of the cast can’t sing too well except Jamie Foxx.  You know the story Annie a black foster child (Quvenzhane Wallis) with a mean foster mother (Cameron Diaz) helps Foxx who is trying to become mayor of New York.  Diaz is good as the evil but comical foster mom.  Bobby Cannavale is Guy his publicity agent who will do anything to get him elected.  It is great for family viewing.

  

HUNGER GAMES 3: MOCKINGJAY PART 1

SCI-FI/ACTION

PLOT:  The 3^rd entry of the successful series.

                Katniss Everdeen played by talented actress Jennifer Lawrence is now the leader and symbol of the rebellion against President Snow (Donald Sutherland).  The film shows how propaganda changes lives and minds and both sides use it!!  Sadly, it is the last film of Philip Seymour Hoffman but he plays his part well.  I read (haven’t read the novels) it is  as close to the novel as it can get which it may be long to some for it has something to say.  I believe the next film will have more action.

  

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS

BIBLICAL/HISTORICAL/DRAMA

PLOT:  Another film about Moses and Ramses.

                When you see this movie forget you have seen the Ten Commandants in 1956 with Charlton Heston for this is director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) version.  It is a different film entirely.  The special effects are awesome but in the climactic scene you wanted to see more.  Christian Bale is okay as Moses.  Joel Edgerton is so-so as Ramses.  To me, I thought the title was for a video game.  It is worth seeming mainly for the special effects.

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE

SATIRE

PLOT:  Four different black students in an Ivy League college.

                It is very funny and insightful but it is not as funny as the trailer.  The question asks “Are we racial free today?”  You answer that question.  It is mostly a cast of unknowns except for Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) and Dennis Haysbert (TV show 24 and All State commercials.)  The film started as a trailer and got backing from kickstart.com.  I hope Hollywood gives director Justin Simien to do movies for they need to tell more black stories other than comedies, crime and slavery.

HOBBIT 3: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

FANTASY/ADVENTURE

PLOT:  The final movie of the amazing trilogy.

                You know who the hobbit is Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the five armies are the elves, the dwarfs, the Orcs, the humans and the eagles.  Those who read the novels or keeps up with the movies know that the dragon Smaug burns Lake Town to the ground before being killed and the only thing left is miles of gold which everybody wants.  Soon it is a showdown of endless fighting and  spectacular special effects.  Director Peter Jackson should be proud to make a wonderful, successful series of J.R.R.Tolkien’s novels.  The films are epic, have great acting and have heart.  Worth watching.

THE INTERVIEW

ACTION / COMEDY

PLOT:  Two idiots have to kill the dictator of North Korea.

                Let me just say the hype is much better than the movie.  It’s the story of two immature guys-Dave Skylark (James Franco) host of entertainment show and his producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen).  The President of North Korea, Kim Jung Un (Randall Park) enjoys Skylark show and then CIA visits them for the two to assonate him.  James Franco is funny as a self-absorbed talk show host who wants to do something better as well as Seth Rogen.  Seth Rogen is not funny to me.  He is better as a producer and writer in real life.  The funniest parts are not the leads but the cameos such as Eminem, Rob Lowe and Joseph Gordon Levitt.  There is a lot of humor but it is VUGLAR for the most part.  If you can wait for video or VOD please do.