Mike Smith, Author at MediaMikes

Film Review: “Masterminds”

Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Kristin Wiig and Owen Wilson
Directed by: Jered Hess
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 34 mins
Relativity Media

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

What do you do if you’re a short, dumpy man with a Prince Valiant haircut that is hopelessly in lust with your hot female co-worker? If you’re David Ghantt (Galifianakis) and that co-worker is Kelly Campbell (Wiig), you agree to steal $17 million from your employer. Piece of cake!

Based on a true 1997 event, “Masterminds” has been sitting in the can for a year while the studio went through bankruptcy. The film is extremely funny at times and features a cast of comedic who’s-who. Galifianakis gives Ghantt a quiet dignity, making him appear to be oblivious to those who would take advantage of him. Wiig is equally sweet. Wilson is part of an amazing supporting cast which also includes Kate McKinnon, Jason Sudekis and Leslie Jones. McKinnon, who stole this past summer’s “Ghostbuster” reboot, does the same here as David’s unsmiling fiancé, threatening to withhold consummation if he continues to eat Googoo clusters.

The script has fun with the film’s premise and setting, which is the late 90’s where everyone in the South hangs out, robs banks and hire hitmen. With every instance you can’t help but be amazed how such a stupid group of people could pull off the biggest cash robbery in United States history. As things get crazy, the setting jumps first to Mexico then to North Carolina where the story climaxes. The gags are hit and miss but when they hit they’re pretty amusing.

Quick note – if the filmmakers could have found a gig for Melissa McCarthy this could have been an un-official “Ghostbusters” sequel. But at least it’s funnier than the real “Ghostbusters 2.”

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: jason sudekis, jered hess, kate mckinnon, kirstin wiig, leslie jones, masterminds, ...

Media Mikes 2016 Fall/Holiday Movie Preview

Labor Day has come and gone, and unless you’re dressing up as a ghost, you better not be wearing anything white! With the end of summer comes the beginning of fall and the start of Hollywood’s “Prestige Movie Push!”

We’ll take a look at what the studios hope are their best bets to fill the multiplexes and bring home the Oscars. Once again, a big thank you to our friends at Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) for some synopsis information. Opening dates noted are subject to change at the whim of the studios. Enjoy!

OCTOBER 7

THE 13th

Documentary
Directed by: Ava DuVernay

The director of “Selma” gives us an in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation’s history of racial inequality.

OSCAR CHANCES: Will surely make the short list.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Starring: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer
Directed by: Nate Parker

Set against the antebellum South, the film follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

OSCAR CHANCES: After last year’s #OSCARSOWHITE controversy, the early buzz on this film almost guaranteed a bounty of nominations. However, it was recently revealed that writer/director/star Nate Parker and his co-writer, Jean McGianni Celestin, were accused of raping a fellow college student in 1999. Though Parker was not found guilty and Celestin had his conviction overturned, their alleged victim committed suicide. Not sure how this news will affect the Academy voters.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Starring: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett and Justin Theroux
Directed by: Tate Taylor

In the film, being compared to “Gone Girl,” a recently divorced woman
takes the train to work every day and imagines the lives of a young couple she
sees every day. Things get weird when the young wife disappears.

OSCAR CHANCES: Blunt is already getting raves for her performance.

OCTOBER 13

MASCOTS

Starring: Christopher Guest, Parker Posey and Jane Lynch
Directed by: Christopher Guest

Simply described as “a look into the world of competitive mascots,” this is the latest opus from the great Christopher Guest. Sadly, unless I missed it, this is the first of Guest’s films that does not include Eugene Levy.

OSCAR CHANCES: Possible screenplay nod.

OCTOBER 14

THE ACCOUNTANT

Starring: Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons and Anna Kendrick
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor

A forensic accountant un-cooks the books for illicit clients. What I like about the trailer is that Affleck seems to be a young genius. Maybe this is his chance to play Will Hunting?

OSCAR CHANCES: Maybe.

KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW?

Starring: Kevin Hart
Directed by: Leslie Small and Tim Story

Kevin Hart performs his comedy in front of 50,000 fans.

OSCAR CHANCES: No.

OCTOBER 21

AMERICAN PASTORAL

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning and Ewan McGregor
Directed by: Ewan McGregor

In 1968, a hardworking man, who’s been a staple in his quaint community for years, watches his seemingly perfect middle class life fall apart as his daughter’s new radical political affiliation threatens to destroy their family. Based on the novel by Philip Roth.

OSCAR CHANCES: Adapted screenplay?

IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE

Starring: John Travolta, Ethan Hawke and Karen Gillan
Directed by: Ti West

A mysterious stranger and a random act of violence drag a town of misfits and nitwits into the bloody cross-hairs of revenge. Ethan Hawke’s second western this season and John Travolta in a cowboy hat for the first time since “Urban Cowboy.” Yee-hah!

OSCAR CHANCES: Sadly Western’s very rarely get recognized.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders
Directed by: Edward Zwick

Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.

OSCAR CHANCES: Director Zwick has helmed three of my favorite films (“About Last Night,” “Glory” and “Legends of the Fall” but only has an Oscar for co-producing “Shakespeare in Love.” It’s about time this man was recognized, though I don’t think it’s going to be for a Jack Reacher film.

A MONSTER CALLS

Starring: Liam Neeson, Felicity Jones and Sigourney Weaver
Directed by: J.A. Bayona

A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom’s terminal illness.

OSCAR CHANCES: Visual effects.

TYLER PERRY’S BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN

Starring: Tyler Perry
Directed by: Tyler Perry

Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens. I’m scared.

OSCAR CHANCES: I’m going to go out on a limb and say “no”

OCTOBER 28

INFERNO

Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones
Directed by: Ron Howard

When Robert Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks, and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot. The second Felicity Jones film in as many weeks.

OSCAR CHANCES: Sorry, Tom, but your nomination this year is coming from “Sully”

NOVEMBER 4

BLEED FOR THIS

Starring: Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart
Directed by: Ben Younger

The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he’d ever walk again, made one of sport’s most incredible comebacks.

OSCAR CHANCES: Both Robert DeNiro and Hillary Swank won Oscars for portraying boxers so never say never. Hell, Stallone got nominated…TWICE!

DOCTOR STRANGE

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams and Mads Mikkelsen
Directed by: Scott Derrickson

A neurosurgeon with a destroyed career sets out to repair his hands only to find himself protecting the world from inter-dimensional threats.

OSCAR CHANCES: Visual effects.

HACKSAW RIDGE

Starring: Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington
Directed by: Mel Gibson

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Mel doesn’t appear in this one but his dead-ringer son, Milo, does.

OSCAR CHANCES: Gibson (Mel, not Milo) already has an Oscar for directing so you never know. I’m sure people have forgotten what all of the hub-bub was about concerning him a few years ago.

LOVING

Starring: Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton
Directed by: Jeff Nichols

Back in the dark ages, Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, are sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married. Apparently they had nothing better to do in Virginia at the time.

OSCAR CHANCES: Acting, picture.

TROLLS

Starring the voices of: Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake
Directed by: Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn

Remember those little plastic things with long hair that you used to put on the end of your pencil? When I was a kid we called them Kewpies but apparently they are Trolls and they have their own movie. Good for them!

OSCAR CHANCES: Maybe best hairstyling?

NOVEMBER 11

ARRIVAL

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

A linguist is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications.

OSCAR CHANCES: Picture, director, acting.

SHUT IN

Starring: Naomi Watts and Jacob Tremblay
Directed by: Farren Blackburn

A heart-pounding thriller about a widowed child psychologist who lives in an isolated existence in rural New England. Caught in a deadly winter storm, she must find a way to rescue a young boy before he disappears forever.

OSCAR CHANCES: Unsure, but young Mr. Tremblay should have been nominated last year for “Room.”

USS INDIANAPOLIS: MEN OF COURAGE

Starring: Nicolas Cage and Tom Sizemore
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles

The harrowing true story of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, who were stranded in the Philippine Sea for five days after delivering the atomic weapons that would eventually end WWII. If you saw “Jaws,” this is the tale that Quint tells. Other “Jaws” related facts: this was the original idea for “Jaws 2.” Also: Mario Van Peebles starred in “Jaws the Revenge.”

OSCAR CHANCES: To me it looks like a “made for TV” movie. How about Emmy chances?

NOVEMBER 18

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

Starring: Hailiee Steinfeld, Blake Jenner and Woody Harrelson
Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig

High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother. Is that weird? When I was in high-school I wanted to date my best friend’s older sister. Hopefully Stevie Nicks got some money from this.

OSCAR CHANCES: Nada

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Jon Voight and Ezra Miller
Directed by: David Yates

The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards 70 years before Harry Potter reads his book in school. Even though Harry Potter and his pals are less than 20 years old it seems like they’ve been around forever.

OSCAR CHANCES: Visual effects, music (the great James Newton Howard)

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Starring: Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan

An uncle is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy’s father dies.

OSCAR CHANCES: Both Affleck and Williams have been nominated in the past so I’m not ruling anything out.

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Starring: Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal
Directed by: Tom Ford

An art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale. November is Amy Adams month.

OSCAR CHANCES: Across the board

NOVEMBER 23

ALLIED

Starring: Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war. Cotillard isn’t married so maybe we can look forward to reading about “Bradarion” soon.

OSCAR CHANCES: Pitt, Cotilliard and Zemeckis have been there before.

BAD SANTA 2

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Tony Cox
Directed by: Mark Waters

Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve.

OSCAR CHANCES: I thought Billy Bob deserved a nod for the first film but I’m going to say no.

MOANA

Starring the voices of: Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk and Nicole Scherzinger
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall and Chris Williams

A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.

OSCAR CHANCES: Animated feature, original song

RULES DON’T APPLY

Starring: Warren Beatty, Lily Collins and Ed Harris
Directed by: Warren Beatty

An unconventional love story of an aspiring actress, her determined driver, and the eccentric billionaire who they work for. Beatty has been wanting to do a Howard Hughes-based film since the 1970s. Not sure if this is what he had in mind back then but, after a 15-year absence, it’s great to see him both in front of and behind the camera.

OSCAR CHANCES: Only two people have been nominated in the same year for acting, directing, writing and producing the best picture: Orson Welles and Warren Beatty. And Beatty did it TWICE!

NOVEMBER 25

LION

Starring: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman
Directed by: Garth Davis

A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

OSCAR CHANCES: Many

DECEMBER 2

LA LA LAND

Starring: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Directed by: Damien Chazelle

From the creator of “Whiplash” comes a film about a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. And it’s a musical!

OSCAR CHANCES: Early film festival buzz say’s this may be the film to watch (both on screen and at awards time!)

DECEMBER 9

MISS SLOANE

Starring: Jessica Chastain
Directed by: John Madden

An ambitious lobbyist faces off against the powerful gun lobby in an attempt to pass gun control legislation.

OSCAR CHANCES: Actress. Madden directed the Oscar-winning “Shakespeare in Love.”

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Starring: Jason Bateman and Jennifer Anniston
Directed by: Josh Gordon and Will Speck

When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand.

OSCAR CHANCES: Zip

DECEMBER 16

COLLATERAL BEAUTY

Starring: Will Smith and Keira Knightley
Directed by: David Frankel

A tragic event sends a New York ad man on a downward spiral.

OSCAR CHANCES: I’ve already had to apologize to Will Smith twice for doubting he’d get nominated for “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.” There won’t be a third. Good luck Will.

FENCES

Starring: Denzel Washington and Viola Davis
Directed by: Denzel Washington

An African American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life. Based on the August Wilson play.

OSCAR CHANCES: YES!

THE FOUNDER

Starring: Michael Keaton and Patrick Wilson
Directed by: John Lee Hancock

The story of McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc. You may look at your next hamburger differently. Keaton is said to be so good that they pulled the film from it’s original release date.

OSCAR CHANCES: Keaton

A KIND OF MURDER

Starring: Patrick Wilson and Jessica Biel
Directed by: Andy Goddard

In 1960s New York, Walter Stackhouse is a successful architect married to the beautiful Clara who leads a seemingly perfect life. But his fascination with an unsolved murder leads him into a spiral of chaos as he is forced to play cat-and-mouse with a clever killer and an overambitious detective, while at the same time lusting after another woman. This will be a day of decisions for Patrick Wilson fans.

OSCAR CHANCES: Don’t see any

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Starring: Felicity Jones, Jimmy Smits and Warwick Davis
Directed by: Gareth Edwards

Or, as I like to call it, “Episode 6.5” The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow. Holy crap! The Death Star, Leia’s family, Darth Vader AND Wicket the Ewok? I’m already in line!

OSCAR CHANCES: Visual effects, make up.

DECEMBER 21

20th CENTURY WOMEN

Starring: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning and Laura Wiggins
Directed by: Mike Mills

The story of three women who explore love and freedom in Southern California during the late 1970s.

OSCAR CHANCES: Can anyone tell me why Annette Bening hasn’t won an Oscar yet? Didn’t think so. Keep your fingers crossed.

ASSASSINS CREED

Starring: Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard
Directed by: Justin Kurzel

When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society. This synopsis seems so crazy considering the cast. I wonder if the two leads made the same mistake Bill Murray did when he thought “Garfield” had been written by one of the Coen brothers!

OSCAR CHANCES: Fassbender elevates everything he’s in so I’m not saying no!

PASSENGERS

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt
Directed by: Morten Tyldum

A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early. It’s so weird to see Lawrence in a movie at the end of the year NOT directed by David O. Russell. Oh well, there’s always next year.

OSCAR CHANCES: Visual effects, technical stuff

PATRIOTS DAY

Starring: Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan
Directed by: Peter Berg

An account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis’s actions in the events leading up to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists behind it. Sounds better than what I thought it was – knowing Wahlberg is a huge New England Patriot fan I thought it was about a day with Tom Brady. The third film by Wahlberg and director Berg and second this year.

OSCAR CHANCES: Oh yes.

SING

Starring the voices of: Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson
Directed by: Garth Jennings

A koala named Buster Moon has one final chance to restore his theater to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.

OSCAR CHANCES: Animated film….maybe.

DECEMBER 25

GOLD

Starring: Matthew McConaughey and Bryce Dallas Howard
Directed by: Stephen Gaghan

An unlikely pair venture to the Indonesian jungle in search of gold. When he was outrageously thin in “Dallas Buyer’s Club” McConaughey still looked good. In this one he’s bald and….dammit!

OSCAR CHANCES: No sir.

WHY HIM?

Starring: James Franco and Bryan Cranston
Directed by: John Hamburg.

A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter’s young rich boyfriend. Based on a story by Jonah Hill. Somebody needed money.

OSCAR CHANCES: I’m ashamed that I have to include those words with this film.

DECEMBER 28

PATERSON

Starring: Adam Driver
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

Set in the present in Paterson, New Jersey, this is a tale about a bus driver and poet.

OSCAR CHANCES: Love Jarmusch. Maybe a witting nod.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines, Movies Tagged With: 2016, 20th century women, a kind of murder, a monster calls, aaron eckkhart, adam driver, ...

“Wild Oats,” starring Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange, heading to DVD/VOD on 10/4

How talented are Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange? Between them they have (12) Academy Award nominations (and three Oscars), (13) Emmy Award nominations (and four awards) and an amazing (36) Golden Globe nods, with thirteen wins. And to put the icing on the cake, I had the great fortune of catching Ms. Lange on Broadway in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and she was BRILLIANT. I tell you this because the two legends have teamed up for the first time in the film “Wild Oats,” which will be released on DVD and Video on Demand on Tuesday, October 4th.

The film, co-starring Billy Connelly and and Demi Moore, is directed by Andy Tenant.

Synopsis: Eva (MacLaine), a widow and retired history teacher, enjoys a quiet life. Everything changes when she receives a life insurance check accidentally made out for $5,000,000 instead of the expected $50,000. At the not-so-gentle urging her best friend Maddie (Lange), Eva deposits the money and the two friends head to the Canary Islands with every intention of living it up. But their fantasy is short-lived when they discover that they have become media sensations overnight. Fugitives from justice, the two are forced to outwit a trio of conmen, led by the local Wine “warlord”, Carlos (Santiago Segura), outmaneuver a dogged life insurance agent Vespucci (Howard Hesseman) who has teamed up with Eva’s daughter, Crystal (Moore), and outrun the law. What they don’t expect is to be good at it.

For more information, head to Anchor Bay Entertainment

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Filed Under: Film Headlines, Movies Tagged With: anchor bay entertainment, andy tenant, billy connelly, demi moore, jessica lange, shirley maclaine, ...

Film Review: “Sully”

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 35 mins
Warner Bros

Our Score: 5 out of 5 Stars

Before I saw this film, this is what I knew about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger: he landed a plane on the Hudson River and then he went to the Super Bowl, heralded as a hero. If only life was that easy.

January 15, 2009. A normal day for all involved, unless you’re a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549. As the world knows now, during take-off the plane met up with a flock of Canadian geese, several of who were sucked into both engines, rendering the plane powerless. Despite initial attempts to return to the airport, pilot “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) decides to set the plane down in the middle of the Hudson River. Miraculously, all 155 people on board survive. Sully is labeled a hero but before he can get patted on the back he is informed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that he is being investigated for possible negligence. Computer simulations show that had he turned the plane around as intended, he could have landed safely at several nearby airports. Did he make the right decision?

Centuries from now, should movies still be being made, film historians will still be talking about Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood. Hanks has two Oscars for his acting and three other nominations while Eastwood has four Oscars – two for directing – and another seven nods. “Sully” is Eastwood and Hanks at the top of their game. Our generation’s Jimmy Stewart, Hanks has excelled in playing the “everyman” who is forced to face impossible odds. Here he is tasked with the emotional weight of the film. “I’ve flown millions of passengers for 40-years and I’m going to be judged by what I did in 208 seconds,” he laments. Sadly, he is right. The airline knows there is going to be lawsuits, and if someone can be blamed, the better off for them. Hanks gives Sully a quiet pride. Even when he’s sure he made the right decision he can’t help but question himself. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, as Sully goes from appearing on David Letterman to having vivid dreams about the plane crashing into the New York skyline.

Eastwood has always been a simple director, letting his camera almost eavesdrop on the action. Here he puts us squarely in the shoes of the title character, to the point where you’re quietly second-guessing yourself. As usual, he stocks his films with top acting talent, including Eckhart (in a sweet mustache) as co-pilot Jeff Skiles and Linney as Sully’s wife, Lorraine. A great group of supporting actors, including Mike O’Malley, Jamey Sheridan and Anna Gunn make up the NTSB group investigating the incident.

A quick note: the film is being released the same weekend America will remember the 15th Anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. The film depicts some troubling shots, via Sully’s dreams, of airplanes crashing into buildings. Though part of a dream, the images are haunting so keep that in mind when deciding to bring a young child along. That being said, if you want to introduce your little one to a true hero, introduce them to “Sully.”

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: aaron eckhart, anna gunn, chesley sullenberger, clint eastwood, jamey sheridan, jeff skiles, ...

Film Review: “The Light Between Oceans”

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 2 hrs 12 mins
Touchstone Pictures

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

The Oxford University Press Dictionary defines “Continuity” as: “the maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a movie or broadcast.”

Sadly, the director of “The Light Between Oceans” has never read the Oxford University Press Dictionary.

The year is 1918. Just returned from four years in “the BIG WAR,” Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) is given a job maintaining and operating a light house off the coast of Australia. He is told the position will only last six-months, as the full-time operator is just recuperating from an illness. As he travels through the town, on way to the desolate island he will soon call home, he meets the beautiful Isabel (Vikander). The two are immediately smitten with each other. He takes her on a picnic and she asks if she can visit the island. He replies that the rules state only the lighthouse keeper and his wife are allowed. “So marry me,” she tells him.

Learning that his predecessor will NOT be coming back, Tom accepts a three year contract and immediately marries Isabel. They try to have children but Isabel proves unable to have children. One day, Isabel spots a boat floating off the coast, seemingly empty. Tom drags it to shore and finds out that it’s not empty. Inside is the dead body of a man and a still-breathing infant. Hmmmmmm.

Full of inconsistent time jumps and heavy handed foreshadowing, “The Light Between Oceans” starts off strong but peters out by the time the film ends…about 40 minutes too late. And the continuity is terrible. The way I saw it, the following happened in a 20 minute period:

Tom buries his miscarried child

Isabel spots a boat

Tom finds the child

And in the next ten minutes:

Tom notifies his employer that Isabel has given birth

People visit

Tom finds a rattle in the boat (BANG! – that’s the sound of foreshadowing hitting you over the head) and tucks it in his pocket

A stranger sees the rattle. Get the idea?

Things go from bad to worse when, on a visit to the mainland, Tom learns that there was a father and daughter who were lost at sea the day before he found the baby. Luckily Tom and Izzy have the baby christened at the same church the grieving widow/mother attends so Tom can stumble on the grave marker. Will Tom’s conscience allow him to continue the charade? What do you think?

Let me take a moment from discouraging you from seeing this film to tell you that, despite all of the script problems, both Fassbender and Vikander turn in fine performances. I read recently that the two are now a couple off-screen and the chemistry is very visible on-screen. Also fine are Weisz as the grieving widow and Bryan Brown, who plays her wealthy father.

OK, back to the things I hated. The film quick-jumps to 1950 quicker than Doc Brown’s DeLorean, wiping out almost three decades of plot, and providing more questions than answers. Speaking of questions, I have one here. IF you live on an island with ONLY your wife around to keep you company, why in God’s name would you EVER lock your front door. WHO are you keeping out? And, if as you’ve maintained, the dead father, who was German, may have been chased down by townsfolk still upset over the war and by his accent, make sure he doesn’t speak with an English accent in flashbacks. And WHY is this film over 2 hours long?

In looking back at my review of the director’s previous film, “The Place Beyond the Pines,” – obviously he likes to either be “between” or “beyond,” I found the following comment:

“Incredibly overlong with a plot twist you can spot from the back of the theatre, “The Place Beyond the Pines” wastes strong performances in a sea of cliché’s and coincidences.”

Sounds like some people can’t change!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: alicia vikander, bryan brown, derek cianfrance, Michael Fassbender, rachel weisz, the light between oceans, ...

Gene Wilder, comedy legend, dead at age 83

Gene Wilder, who went from comic actor to acclaimed writer/director, passed away on August 29th due to complications with Alzheimer’s Disease. His death was announced by his family. The star of such films as “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Producers,” and “Young Frankenstein” was 83.

Born Jerome Silberman in June 1933 in Milwaukee, Wilder began having success on Broadway in the early 1960s. In 1963 he appeared opposite Anne Bancroft in the play “Mother Courage and Her Children.” Bancroft introduced Wilder to her boyfriend at the time, Mel Brooks, and the two began a long association.

After appearing in a small role in the film “Bonnie and Clyde,” Brooks cast Wilder as fussy accountant Leo Bloom in his Oscar-winning 1967 film “The Producers.” Holding his own against the great Zero Mostel, Wilder earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1971 he played the title character in the film he would most be associated with, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Ironically, his co-star was Jack Albertson, who had won the Oscar Wilder had been nominated for.

In 1974, with 48 hours notice, Brooks asked Wilder to take over the role of the Waco Kid in the film “Blazing Saddles.” The actor originally cast, Oscar-winner Gig Young, had long battled with alcoholism and had arrived to the set in bad shape. While shooting the film, Wilder showed Brooks a script he had been writing titled “Young Frankenstein.” The two men collaborated on the script and Brooks agreed to direct it. Wilder had one condition – Brooks could not appear on-screen, as he felt that would ruin the illusion of the film. Brooks consented, though he does “appear” a few times as various sounds, including the cat that screams during the dart game. The film earned Wilder his second Oscar nomination, sharing it with Brooks for Best Screenplay Based on Another Medium.

In 1975, Wilder became a triple threat, writing, directing and starring in “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother.” Surrounding himself with familiar faces like Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman, the film began a successful string of films written and directed by Wilder, including “The World’s Greatest Lover,” “Haunted Honeymoon,” and “The Women in Red.”

Having worked with Richard Pryor on “Blazing Saddles” (Pryor co-wrote the script), Wilder was happy to appear with him on screen. The two co-starred in “Silver Streak” in 1976 and “Stir Crazy” in 1980, the latter film being directed by Sidney Poitier. Poitier also cast Wilder in his next film, “Hanky Panky.” It was on the set of this film that Wilder first met Gilda Radner. The two became quick friends and eventually married in September 1984. They remained together until her death on May 20, 1989. Following her death he co-founded Gilda’s Club, an organization that works to fight ovarian cancer. Each year the families on the block I live in hold a “Marathon” run, selling t-shirts to raise money, which is donated to Gilda’s Club.

Following Radner’s death Wilder began to curtail his work load, making only two feature films and starring in a short-lived television series called “Something Wilder.” He appeared in three made-for-television films in 1999 and a couple episodes of “Will and Grace.” His last acting credit was a voice-over last year in the animated series “Yo Gabba!”

Wilder turned his attention to writing in the late 1990s, beginning with a book highlighting his experiences dealing with ovarian cancer entitled “Gilda’s Disease: Sharing Personal Experiences and a Medical Perspective on Ovarian Cancer,” which he co wrote with M. Steven Piver. In 2006 he released his autobiography, “Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art.” He also wrote four novels: “My French Whores,” “The Woman Who Wouldn’t,” “What is This Thing Called Love?,” and “Something to Remember You.”

Mr. Wilder is survived by his fourth wife, Karen.

Here are my top 10 Gene Wilder performances:

1. Dr. Victor Frankenstein in “Young Frankenstein.” Whether he’s angrily denying his family heritage or fighting for his life while playing charades, this is a performance that deserved an Oscar nomination.

2. Leo Bloom in “The Producers.” From his first appearance, where he tells Zero Mostel, “I’m sorry I caught you with the old lady” to the final scene in prison, his blue blanket clutching accountant is one of the most brilliant characters in film history.

3. The Waco Kid in “Blazing Saddles.” “Little bastard shot me in the ass!”

4. Willy Wonka in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” 45 years later children still love him.

5. George Caldwell in “Silver Streak.” Just an every-man who must rise to the occasion to save the woman he loves. He and Richard Pryor together are comedy gold.

6. Rudy Valentine in “The World’s Greatest Lover.” Though the film is primarily a comedy, there are some tender scenes with Wilder revealing how much he loves his wife.

7. Skip Donahue in “Stir Crazy.” Once again, he and Pryor form one of the greatest comedy teams ever assembled on film.

8. Sigerson Holmes in “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother.” As the younger brother who refuses to accept his sibling is a great detective (he calls him “Shear-Luck”), Wilder pulls off the triple threat of writer/director/star with ease. In honor of this film, when I finish writing I’m going to do the Kangaroo Hop!

9. Teddy Pierce in “The Woman in Red.” As a man facing middle-age, Wilder never seems to be able to catch a break.

10. Avram in “The Frisco Kid.” As the rabbi from Poland who is heading to San Francisco, Wilder and Harrison Ford have a fun time in the Wild West.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: blazing saddles, gene wilder, jack albertson, mel brooks, silver streak, stir crazy, ...

Blu-ray Review: “The Commitments” 25th Anniversary Edition

Starring: Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne and Angeline Ball
Directed by: Alan Parker
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R
Studio: RLJ Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 118 mins

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Can it really be 25 years since that rowdy group of musicians from Dublin, Ireland that called themselves The Commitments first burst upon the scene? Sadly (for me anyway) yes it has.

The film tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Arkins), a young man who longs to be a successful music manager. Check that. Jimmy wants to be the next Brian Epstein. He’s had some hits and misses but he’s set his sights on putting together the greatest soul band ever created. He holds auditions at his home, asking each aspiring performer what their musical influences are. Rest assured, the ones that answer “Barry Manilow” or even Ireland’s own U2 do not get invited in. Eventually he puts together a band that was, to quote “Duck” Dunn in “The Blues Brothers,” “powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.”

Of course, as things begin to go well for the group they also go bad. Infighting, bruised egos and the fact they aren’t making money begins to get to everyone. Finally, they book a major gig and are told that Wilson Pickett, who is currently touring Ireland, will join them on stage. But can the group stay together for that crucial show?

Directed by the great Alan Parker, who surely knows his way around music having directed “Fame,” “Pink Floyd The Wall” and “Evita” among other films, “The Commitments” is full of young musicians with both talent and drive. The only familiar face in the cast is Colm Meaney, who plays Jimmy’s father, an Elvis man true and true. Music fans may also recognize Glen Hansard who, in 2008, co-wrote the Academy Award winning Best Song “Falling Slowly” from the film “ONCE.” In 2012 he co-wrote the words and music for the Broadway musical version of “ONCE,” which won the Tony Award that year for Best Musical. Ironically, Hansard was not nominated for his musical score. “The Commitments” earned an Oscar nomination for Best Editing and swept the BAFTA’s, winning four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The extras on the disc are also pretty impressive and include a commentary by director Parker and a look back with the cast. What amazed me the most was that Andrew Strong, who plays the groups lead singer, was only 16 years old when cast.

If it’s been 25 years since you saw “The Commitments,” I urge you to see it again. If you haven’t seen it yet….what are you waiting for?

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Movies Tagged With: alan parker, angeline ball, colm meaney, glen hansard, michael aherne, robert arkins, ...

“Rock Hall Three for All” Concert Review

Cheap Trick/Joan Jett/Heart
Starlight Theater
August 15, 2016

Our score: 4 out of 5 Stars

This year the good people at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame righted some wrongs by inducting, among others, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett and Heart into it’s realm.

Some brief “Mike” history: I was in a band in high school and the first song we played together as a group was “Surrender,” so Cheap Trick is a band I’ve seen on many occasions. Like me, Joan Jett is a big fan of the Baltimore Orioles so naturally I’d seen here in the past. The only unknown entity on the bill was Heart, a band I enjoyed listening to as a young adult, especially their rocking 70s stuff.

Cheap Trick took the stage first, with lead singer Robin Zander dressed in white (basically wearing the same outfit as the band wore on the “Dream Police” album cover). Zander was in fine form vocally, sounding much better on the higher notes than he did last year. The band played a few songs off of their new album, “Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello” and the crowd seemed to enjoy them. I know I did. They also did some of their classic hits, finishing up with “Surrender.” Musically the band was tight with a special shout out to drummer Dax Nielsen. The son of lead guitarist Rick Nielsen, the drummer very capably filled the shadow left behind by Bun E. Carlos.

Next up was Jett who, at age 58, can still look amazing in a body suit. Like Cheap Trick, Jett and the Heartbreakers played a few new songs as well as some classics, with Jett reaching as far back into her catalog to include “Cherry Bomb,” her hit when with the Runaways. The group finished with a great version of Sly and the Family Stones’ “Everyday People.”

Last but not least was Heart. Ann and Nancy Wilson have been doing this a long time and their rapport worked to their advantage. Too bad their sound people didn’t. For whatever reason, the band sounded terrible. The sound pretty much drowned out Ann’s vocals, which are, of course, one of the reason’s to attend the show. For whatever reason, Ann Wilson’s microphone sounded under-miked, which made it difficult to hear and understand. Oh well, at least if I ever get asked I can say that I’ve “seen” Heart.” Just don’t ask me if I’ve ever heard them live!

Set Lists:

Cheap Trick
1. Hello There
2. Big Eyes
3. California Man
4. Tonight It’s You
5. When I Wake Up Tomorrow
6. If You Want My Love
7. Baby Loves to Rock
8. Stop This Game
9. I’m Waiting for the Man
10. The Flame
11. I Want You to Want Me
12. Surrender

Joan Jett and the Black Hearts
1. Bad Reputation
2. Cherry Bomb
3. Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)
4. TMI
5. You Drive Me Wild
6. Light of Day
7. Soulmates to Strangers
8. Love is Pain
9. Fake Friends
10. Any Weather
11. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
12. Crimson and Clover
13. I Hate Myself
14. Everyday People

Heart
1. Wild Child
2. Magic Man
3. What About Love
4. Bebe Le Strange
5. These Dreams
6. Two
7. Straight On
8. Kick It Out
9. Beautiful Broken
10. Alone, Crazy on You
11. Barracuda
ENCORE
12. The Immigrant Song
13. Stairway to Heaven

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: cheap trick, heart, joan jett, starlight theatre

Film Review: “War Dogs”

Starring: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller and Bradley Cooper
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 59 mins
Warner Bros

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

Who wants a little excitement in their lives? In 2005 the answer to that question was Efraim Deveroli (Hill) and David Packouz (Teller), former high school pals who reunite while attending a friend’s funeral. Via voiceover we learn that our government spends an average of $17,500 per soldier when outfitting them for war. War is recession proof. There are a lot of crazy gun nuts out there, but none as crazy as the U.S. Government. Someone needs to provide them…why not Efraim and David? Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it?

Thanks to some great performances, “War Dogs” rises above similar themed films (for some reason, I kept thinking back to 1983’s “Deal of the Century” as well as 2005’s “Lord of War”). Teller, who is best described as his generation’s John Cusack, gives David a sense of morality. Tired of giving massages to rich people on South Beach, he jumps at the chance to go into business with Efraim. And by the time he finds out HOW the business works, he’s made enough money to convince him that the chances he takes are worth it. On the other side of the spectrum is Hill, who has gone from comedy fanboy to multi-Oscar nominated actor. His performance here is strong, going from humorous to dramatic and back without seemingly breaking a sweat.

The supporting characters, including Bradley Cooper as an infamous gun runner and Ana de Armas as David’s love interest, also make the film enjoyable. Based on a true story, the action keeps the film flowing smoothly without becoming preachy. As one of the last films of the summer season, “War Dogs” is definitely one to watch before you end your summer vacation.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: bradley cooper, david packouz, efraim deveroli, john cusack, jonah hill, miles teller, ...

Fred Williamson Talks About His Film Career and the State of the NFL Today

They called him “the Hammer.” While playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, Fred Williamson was one of the most feared defensive backs in the history of the NFL, finishing his career with 36 interceptions in 104 games. He retired in 1968.

That same year he followed fellow football star Jim Brown to Hollywood, appearing on such television series as “Star Trek,” “The Bold Ones” and “Ironside.” In 1971 he had a recurring role as the title characters boyfriend on “Julia.” He made his feature film debut in the Academy Award winning film “MASH,” and later appeared in several classic “Blaxploitation” films, including “Black Caesar,” “Hell Up in Harlem” and “Three the Hard Way.” He also appeared as a Vietnam vet in an episode of “The Rookies.” A few years later, that character was featured in his own film, “Mean Johnny Barrows.” The story of a troubled Vietnam veteran trying to make it back in the world, the film preceded “First Blood” by six years. The film was also Williamson’s directorial debut.

Since then, he has appeared in such films as “From Dusk ’til Dawn” and “Starsky and Hutch,” as well as a series of films featuring ex-cop turned private eye Dakota Smith.

Mr. Williamson will appear at the Kansas City Comic Con from Aug. 12-14. Prior to his appearance he took some time out to speak with me about his “rules” for making films, the state of today’s action films and why the NFL isn’t what it used to be.

MIKE SMITH: At age 78 you are still working steadily.

FRED WILLIAMSON: I make three movies a year.

MS: Is it as fun and exciting now as it was when you started your career?

FW: It’s more exciting because I control what I do now. Most of my films I direct and I write the stories. I hire three or four writers to write the script and I take the best parts from each writer and rewrite the whole thing myself. It’s more fun and more creative.

MS: Do you still make sure you get the girl and don’t lose a fight?

FW: That’s only two of my three rules. Number three is you can’t kill me either. You can’t kill me, I don’t lose a fight and I get the girl.

MS: I see you have another Dakota Smith film coming out.

FW: Yes, I have a new film called “The Last Hitman.” I also have a film that I made in Berlin called “Atomic Eden” and after that I have a film called “Check Point.” I have three films coming out in the next six months.

MS: You’re coming back to Kansas City this weekend. I assume playing in Super Bowl I would be your favorite memory of your time here. Do you have others?

FW: All the time I spent there in Kansas City contributed to my creative years in football. I had a great time in Kansas City. Kansas City was a challenge. You have to remember that this was in the 1960s, so the racial prejudice was very strong there and in other communities at that time. But for me that was motivation…it was what helped make me as great as I was. Someone telling me I couldn’t do something was an extreme motivator for me.

MS: Looking at the way football is played now – you can’t hit in training camp, only one practice a day, defensive players appearing almost afraid to hit for fear of being fined – do you think the game has gotten better or worse since you played?

FW: The game would be more expensive for me if I played today because I’d probably get a $25,000 fine the minute I stepped on the field. (laughs) The “Hammer” tackle would have gotten me kicked out of the game and fined $25,000. I think the thermometer is if you – the refs – can hear the tackle, it’s illegal. If you can hear the pads hit up in the stands, it’s a 15-yard penalty and a $25,000 fine for unnecessary roughness. It’s the changing of the game. That’s why you don’t see that many hard tackles now. Guys are reaching in and trying to stop them with their arms because they really don’t know how to tackle anymore. And these running backs are gaining more yards because no one wants to hit them. They run through arm tackles because most of them are strong runners so they just run through arm tackles.

MS: Nobody seems to know how to wrap up anymore.

FW: You can’t take a chance anymore. Wrapping up means laying your shoulder into him. You can’t wrap a guy up until you stop his momentum, and you have to stop his momentum by cracking him. But now if you crack him too hard it’s a penalty. How do you stop a guy without being able to hit him first? You can’t stop him with an arm tackle.

MS: How do you feel about the action films of today. Are they better now or worse then your films of the 70s and 80s because of being able to use computers?

FW: Computer things are boring, man. Who wants to see some guy jump out of an airplane and land on a moving car when you KNOW that’s not real? That’s not possible. To me it’s boring. They are losing their audiences because now the special effects are the star of the movie. Why do they pay a guy $20 million when the effects are the star of the movie? They need to go back to the days of Robert Mitchum. Gregory Peck. Richard Widmark. Burt Lancaster. Guys like that. You saw how they walked and how they talked. It wasn’t the fact that they could fly through the air or bounce off of a building or just miss getting run over by a car and then getting up and shooting the bad guy. No, no, no. Let’s go back to reality. There’s nothing real in those films.

MS: Thank you again for your time. I hope you enjoy your time back in Kansas City.

FW: I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a lot of old friends there and a lot of former players that still live there so I’m looking forward to recapturing that experience.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Movies Tagged With: black caesar, chiefs, comic con, fred williamson, from dusk 'til dawn, hell up in harlem, ...

Film Review: “Sausage Party”

Starring the voices of: Seth Rogen, Kristin Wiig and Salma Hayek
Directed by: Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 29 mins
Sony Pictures

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Have you ever thought about the food you eat? Until this morning I didn’t. I’ll explain that comment later.

As the lights come on, signaling a new day at the local supermarket, the various food items sing a song, paying homage to the food Gods and hoping that today will be day they are “chosen” to go into the Great Beyond. Among those singing are Frank (Rogen), one of many sausages in a package, Brenda (Wiig), the sexy bun that Frank pines for and a jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride). Honey Mustard is chosen but later returned. Instead of great tales of the Great Beyond, he begins to tell wide-eyed stories of horrible atrocities. Of course he is not taken seriously, which leads to some pretty tragic – and hilarious – results.

Sidesplittingly funny, the first half-hour of “Sausage Party” is a comedy masterpiece. With great jokes and an amazing musical number, the film delivers on all cylinders. However, when the “chosen” ones realize what the outside world has in store for them, it becomes a hit or miss comedy. And a filthy one. Parents who may think they are taking the little ones to see a family film about a talking hot dog are going to be in for a HUGE surprise.

That being said, there are some great things about the film. The voice cast is perfect. Besides the three mentioned above, you have Edward Norton as a Bagel, in constant conflict with David Krumholtz’s Middle Eastern flatbread, with additional great work from such familiar names as Salma Hayek, Bill Hader, Craig Robinson, James Franco and Paul Rudd. You even get a nice musical montage sung by…wait for it…Meatloaf himself.

The animation is well done and, overall, the film entertains. If you don’t have a problem learning that your bacon may be suffering when you throw it in the pan, I highly recommend it. Which reminds me. Every day I take a snack to eat mid-day to work, usually some raw veggies. This morning, I took some green peppers. And I must admit, I did take pause before I thrust my knife into them and sliced them up. Sorry my crispy, green buddies!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: bill hader, craig robinson, danny mcbride, David Krumholtz, edward norton, james franco, ...

Theater Review: “If/Then” Starlight Theater – Kansas City, Missouri

Starlight Theater
Kansas City, MO
July 26th, 2016

Our review: 4 out of 5 stars

What if? That is the question many of us have asked ourselves. What if, the day we did something that changed our lives, we didn’t. Instead of walking down one street and meeting the woman of your dreams you went the other way and found no one?

That is the question poised, as well as the name of the first musical number, in the show “If/Then,” now playing at Starlight Theater through July 31st.

Our show concerns itself with Elizabeth (Jackie Burns), who has returned to New York after a failed marriage in Portland. While waiting to meet an old friend, Lucas (Anthony Rapp) she meets a new one, Kate (a very funny and talented Tamyra Gray). Each want her to do something different. Each also call her by a different name. To Lucas she is Beth, hard working and dedicated. To Kate, who feels that Beth is the name of a woman living alone with her cats, she is Liz, ready to take on the world and all it has to offer. Liz/Beth also has a chance meeting with Josh, a young soldier just back from a tour of duty. As the show progresses, we often find Liz/Beth being put in a situation where, depending on which way she goes, has an immense impact on her life. What if?

Nominated for two Tony Awards when if first appeared on Broadway, “If/Then” was a perfect show to highlight the vocal talents of the great Idina Menzel. Ms. Burns is up to the challenge of stepping into Menzel’s vocal shoes here. It was nice to finally get the chance to see Anthony Rapp on stage. The only drawback is that his voice is so recognizable, thanks to a little show he did on Broadway two decades ago, that throughout most of the first act I could hear people around me, who apparently didn’t read the Playbill, that he was “the guy from RENT.” Ms. Gray, who you may remember was one of the first people to appear on “American Idol,” was also in great voice. All in all, an entertaining show.

The show continues on to Hartford, Connecticut the first week of August then moves on to Atlanta. For more information head here.

Film Review: “Bad Moms”

Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn
Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 41 mins
STX Entertainment

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Right before I sat down to write this review I watched Chelsea Clinton talk about her mother, Hillary, as she prepared to accept her nomination for President of the United States. Chelsea mentioned many things about the Democratic nominee, but mostly she reminded us that Hillary is, first and foremost, a mom. I hope she’s not a bad one.

Amy (Kunis) is married to a man who works when he wants and relies on her to do everything. Kids, shopping, housework…you name it, it’s her responsibility. She also works three days a week for an idiot who doesn’t appreciate her. When Amy catches her husband in the middle of a very adult on-line relationship she tosses him out the door. She also decides to do some things for herself. Enlisting the aid of fellow overburdened moms Kiki (Bell) and Carla (Hahn), the trio turn things upside down in their small, uptight community.

It makes sense that the film is directed and written by the writers of “The Hangover” because it shares a lot of that film’s DNA. Three people, mismatched at times, decide to cut loose with alcohol and dirty talk. And while the film isn’t as consistently funny as “The Hangover,” it does feature some clever scenes and strong performances by its cast, led by Kunis, who shows not only a strong comedic talent but a slight flair for the dramatic. Bell is sweetly funny as Kiki, woman who is told by her husband that she has to watch the kids because it’s “your job.” Hahn is hoot. I loved her brief work in “Anchorman” and here she is given the opportunity to cut loose. Throw in a supporting cast that ranges from Christina Applegate to Houston Texan star J.J. Watt and you have a pretty entertaining night out.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: bad moms, christina applegate, j.j. watt, kathryn hahn, kristen bell, mila kunis, ...

Film Review: “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”

Starring: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Jane Horrocks
Directed by: Mandie Fletcher
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
Fox Searchlight

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Over two decades and 47 episodes, fans of “Absolutely Fabulous” characters Edina (Saunders) and Patsy (Lumley) lived their lives vicariously through the two ladies grand adventures. Adventures that translated well in half-hour doses. How they fare in a feature length film is quite another story.

When we meet our heroines, Edina has realized that she needs some new clients in her public relations firm, the most “relevant” client currently being 60’s singer Lulu. When she and her friend Patsy discover that famous model Kate Moss is looking for new representation they conspire to crash a party and make a pitch. However a slight mishap leads to Edina being accused of killing the fashion legend. The two go into hiding as the world mourns.

Let me say, as a fan of the “Ab Fab” television show, that I was thrilled to hear a film was on its way. The series was always one of the best written shows on television (co-star Saunders wrote most of the scripts, as she does here on the film). That being said, like the best laid plans of a “Saturday Night Live” inspired film, the bits only work in small doses. Exposing the girls to 90 minutes of screen time leads to a lot of hit-and-miss jokes and outrageous situations.

That being said, it is good to see the girls back together again. And this time they’ve brought along an amazing amount of cameo appearances, featuring everyone from Jon Hamm (as one of Patsy’s many ex-lovers) to fashion designer Stella McCartney, who gets off a great joke surrounding the break-up of the Beatles. Add in the aforementioned Lulu, Baby Spice, Joan Collins and Barry Humphries and if you don’t laugh out loud you will at least smile.

Fans of the series may enjoy the film more than those unfamiliar with it. For those not in the know, may I suggest a trip to the video store to watch a couple season’s worth of “Ab Fab” so you can see what all of the commotion was about.

Film Review: “The Secret Life of Pets

Starring the voices of: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart
Directed by: Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud
Rated: PG
Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
Universal

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

As a long time dog lover (and owner), I would be lying if I didn’t tell you I’ve been looking forward to this movie since I saw the first trailer last year. And while that trailer promised a fun look at what our doggies and kitties do when we leave the house, it’s not all fun and games. In fact, you can say it’s a dangerous jungle out there.

Meet Max (C.K.). A friendly dog who has lived with Katie (Ellie Kemper) since he was a pup. Life is good for Max, who spends his time with Katie snuggling and playing with his ball. His time without her is either spent watching the front door until she comes home or hanging out with his fellow pet friends in the neighborhood. However, things change when Katie brings home Duke (Stonestreet), a big shaggy mess of a dog she picks up at the pound. When Max and Duke find themselves on the run from Animal Control, they must join forces or face the consequences.

First the good stuff. “The Secret Life of Pets” is from the same studio that brought you the adorable Minions from the “Despicable Me” films, and the animation is amazing. One scene finds our two pups in water that looks so realistic you can feel the wetness. The characters are well voiced. Besides the two main mutts, Kevin Hart is perfectly cast as an evil bunny while Jenny Slate, Albert Brooks and Dana Carvey shine as well.

Now the bad stuff. Did you notice above when I referred to Kevin Hart as a EVIL bunny? That’s because he is. When Max and Duke find themselves underneath the street and in the sewers of New York City they come across a group made up of animals that have been flushed down the toilet. They are only accepted when they tell a gruesome story about how the killed their masters. KILLED THEIR MASTERS! I almost fell out of seat. Have we come to a point where it’s o.k. for a cute cartoon bunny to jokingly talk about murder in a PG rated film? And a fellow critic pointed out how weird it was that the soundtrack features the song “Bounce” by System of a Down which, depending on who you talk to, is either about drug use or an orgy. Jeesh!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: albert brooks, chris renaud, despicable me, ellie kemper, eric stonestreet, jenny slate, ...

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Page 39 of 88

Author: Mike Smith

Film Review: “Masterminds”

Media Mikes 2016 Fall/Holiday Movie Preview

“Wild Oats,” starring Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange, heading to DVD/VOD on 10/4

Film Review: “Sully”

Film Review: “The Light Between Oceans”

Gene Wilder, comedy legend, dead at age 83

Blu-ray Review: “The Commitments” 25th Anniversary Edition

“Rock Hall Three for All” Concert Review

Film Review: “War Dogs”

Fred Williamson Talks About His Film Career and the State of the NFL Today

Film Review: “Sausage Party”

Theater Review: “If/Then” Starlight Theater – Kansas City, Missouri

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