April Movie Reviews

Sorry for a bit of absence here. I've been exceptionally tired with many pain flares that accompanies a new path in life that I'm trying to navigate - sometimes thriving, other times, simply surviving. My thoughts have been foggy and when that happens, ability as well as inspiration to write takes a back seat and I focus on self-care.   

I have enjoyed plenty of movies recently that I am eager to write about - I just have to pace myself.  To start, here are a few movies that I would recommend checking out.

To my readers, thank you for the continued various levels of support. :)

Catherine Called Birdy, directed by Lena Dunham, is set in Medieval England, where we get to meet Lord Catherine (aka Birdy).  She's remarkably clever and more than ready to go up against her father who wishes to pawn her off to any wealthy suitor that is available.  Birdy's a little rambunctious in nature and far more rebellious than probably any parents of a teenager would prefer, but her sharp wit gets her through even the most awkward situations, and Bella Ramsey is really perfect here.  She reminded me of a mix of Lady Bird’s Saoirse Ronan and even the sass of Millie Bobbie Brown as Enola Holmes   - mainly as strong female leads. 

There are plenty of darker moments and themes to take note of and although they weren't explored in great detail, we get a good helping of what a male dominant patriarchy society looked like, sprinkled with archaic laws of marriage that you'd really have to hog-tie me down to ever follow. 

The soundtrack is also worth mentioning, as I really enjoyed Misty Miller's groovy take on the song, Alright.  It always gives me flashbacks to Supergrass' version from the 90's hit Clueless.

Birdy is proud of her defiance and as an audience, we are too. Her declaration (spoiler alert) pretty much frames the movie and is a strong message to hold onto in 2023 and beyond:  “You don’t get to decide who we are, where we go, or how much we cost, like we’re just things. We’re not things, we’re people. And we can think, and we can hear, and we can feel!” 

💜Catherine Called Birdy Trailer

With another throwback to the 80’s comes a story about the worldwide hit game Tetris, directed by Jon S. Baird. We meet Henk Rogers (played by Taron Egerton) of Bullet-Proof Software, who is showcasing his newest video game at a convention in Vegas, but then realizes he has stepped on a gold mine when he tries his hand at playing Tetris. Created by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov (played by Nikita Mikhailovich) who works for ELORG in the Soviet Union, Henk is ready to get on the plane to secure a deal to make sure Tetris will be in the hands of every person worldwide. Of course, everyone wants a piece of Tetris, or rather all of the legal rights to Tetris, so the battle begins.

The movie is really enjoyable and keeps you invested in the story. I really felt the bond between Alexey and Henk as their characters evolved and we could see the mutual respect and sacrifices they made for each other. The villains are pretty obvious and might be crafted a bit overly menacing at times, but it just shows the lengths people will go to get what they want.

I liked the use of some nostalgic 8-bit theming throughout the film and what a great soundtrack, especially with a fitting song by Pet Shop Boys; Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money.)

While rumours circulate of inaccuracies to the real life dealings of the Tetris saga, one can still appreciate the journey of this movie from the filmmaker’s perspective, and how revolutionary the game is still to this day. 

💜Tetris Trailer

A Decent Home is a feature length documentary film by Sara Terry that shows what the "American Dream" has become, rather what I would consider more of an "American Nightmare" for many mobile home park residents at Denver Meadows.  It has uncovered some ugly truths, heightened by the pandemic that seems to be a battle that many feel are worth fighting for. It is incredibly disheartening to see a community that is unnecessarily struggling to keep a roof over their heads.  Our hearts ache, hearing their stories, but there is hope in many of the voices who are advocating together to take a stand and keep their homes. 

Developers, investors and other rich moguls have continued to make overwhelming profits and getting rid of the "trash" (which unfairly further stigmatizes individuals living in a mobile home) is a gold mine for opportunity and passing on the wealth to those that already have overflowing bank accounts.  

It's no surprise that caring for the vulnerable is always someone else's problem, and so that IS a problem in itself.  Affordable housing shouldn't be a luxury, it should be a basic human right.  As shown in the documentary, people make sanctuaries of the spaces they have and create cozy and loving environments for themselves their families. They aren't opposed to helping a neighbour in need, or donating time or what little money they can spare to charitable causes. They appreciate all that they have, yet that is still being taken away from them.

All in all, there is always hope especially when we rally together and not apart. Awareness, action and accountability are just the stepping stones, but it's a good place to start.

💜Check out A Decent Home to learn more.

Telling Tales: October Movie Reviews

Ah October is here and not only does that mean crystal balls and flying bats, but iced frapps turn to apple cider and flip flops are exchanged for cozy socks! I'm channeling some nostalgia in the movie world as well as sharing a few new releases and special mentions that you might want to add to your watch-list.

Hocus Pocus 2

The first Hocus Pocus has been deemed as a cult-classic among movie goers, so it had some big pointy shoes to try and replicate that nostalgic feeling again! Initially, I was very hesitant about seeing Hocus Pocus 2, as the trailer made me wonder if this would just be a rehashing of everything in the first.

To my surprise, it was quite enjoyable! Lots of humourish puns, fun dance sequences and a feel-good message. Bette Midler stands out as the dominant, Winifred, and her witchy slightly clueless and submissive Sanderson sisters; Mary and Sarah (played by Sarah Jessica Parker and  Kathy Najimyare) are always a hoot. I also loved Billy, the quirky British zombie boy, played by Doug Jones.   

Spoiler* The only issue that made me roll my eyes was the deliberate product placement of the witches going into Walgreens for “potions”. It made me cringe a bit as I had the flashback from Ghostbusters Afterlife, where Paul Rudd’s character goes into Walmart to buy a tub of ice cream and has a weird encounter with little bitty stay puft marshmallows.

Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy

Get ready for a little Mummy time with comedic duo Abbott and Costello who take on more than they can wrap their heads around in the 1955 classic comedy/horror, Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy. Although it's available in colour, I think there is something really special seeing it in its black and white version. Although this movie was deemed as one of their worst by critics, I don't share that opinion. It's fun, silly and those snake-charmer scenes still give me a giggle.  

Finders Keepers

Find a missing leg pick it up, all day long you’ll have ...

Finders Keepers is a 2015 documentary film by Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel that will be stored into the “woah that was not what I had expected!” movie vault for a long time.

Who wants to fight over a missing limb? This should be a no-brainer, but when John Wood’s amputated leg is found in a grill sold at a North Carolina auction and picked up by entrepreneur, Shannon Whisnant, all hell breaks loose and this is where the story begins.

There is so much to unravel in this doc but I’m not going to spoil too much because it really needs to be seen. At times you cannot believe that human beings are battling over an amputated leg that was left for months in a storage unit. 

As the humour slightly dampens in some instances and turns rather dramatic, there is such a complex story underneath what some would deem as a farce. It’s anything but that. This is where the movie shines in such unexpected ways. The stories of John’s life are a mix of heart-break, redemption and soul-affirmation, but there is a huge impact of his families recollection of these events too. 

Also, with Shannon, the façade of what one would see as just another egocentric, greedy, money-hungry man, he has a jovial spirit but is also deeply wounded in his own ways from childhood well into his adult years, he just carries and delivers the pain differently. 

The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly, raise a glass to a story of friendship, war, politics, media sensationalism, corruption and the complexities of patriotism in The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

John "Chickie" Donohue (played by Zac Efron) is ready to leave his New York roots for a short while to track down his childhood army buddies in Vietnam and yes, deliver them a beer.  Witnessing more than he could ever imagine in the throws of war, Chickie’s views of life are changed in a blink of an eye.

Zac Efron is definitely the heart of the movie and carries the heavy weight in this one. He is such an underrated actor and once again proves his versatility in whatever role he takes on, especially on the dramatic front. I thought it was really well done showing how far a simple act of caring can go, no matter how outrageous it may seem at first. In the end, war has a way of bringing people together even though it can also tragically tear you apart.

💜Have you seen any of these films?  Drop me a note in the comments, or send me an email using my webform on the side and also let me know what you've been watching!

Take It On The Run: Film Reviews

Hello readers! I've compiled another list of films that I've watched recently that I wanted to share with you.

Despite Tom Cruise’s continuous and cringe-worthy religious affiliation with Scientology, on-screen, there is no doubt that he is still top notch in his acting and Top Gun: Maverick adds even more accolades as we can see all his grueling flight training really paid off for this role.

I was a little worried that Top Gun: Maverick wouldn’t be quite as good, especially since the first one had Tony Scott directing. However, I have to say it was incredible in many ways and director, Joseph Kosinski gets a big applause for his talents.

The aviator flight scenes were mind-blowing. Just so visually stunning and I was really invested in Maverick’s friendship with Goose's son, Rooster, played by Miles Teller and of course, the dynamics with Ice Man, played by Val Kilmer.  There was so much emotion with these characters. 

I do have two criticisms of the movie and I think that just goes back to my dire love of the 1980’s because “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin  took my breath away hearing it in the original Top Gun and always will.  

Going to present day,  Lady Gaga took the seat this time around on the lead single for the soundtrack with her song “Hold My Hand”.  People seemed to literally go “gaga” for this song, and after giving it a listen multiple times, while I can appreciate Lady Gaga’s vocal talents and the essence of the song itself, I didn’t feel the same emotion.

The second issue was the love connection, or rather lack of,  between Tom Cruise as Pete Maverick and his romance with Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly.  It felt bland, almost as if they were acting from two very different places. The idea of having a co-pilot in life requires that desire, the romantic shiver that makes your heart beat a little faster and that spark. This felt like an awkward friendship, trying to convince the audience that they should try and be together because the storyline says so. 

In contrast to this pseudo-romance, in the original Top Gun film, Charlie (Kelly McGillis) who played Maverick’s love interest convinced me that they were the real deal and you could feel the chemistry between her and Cruise on-screen each and every time.  That's my take, it's okay if you feel differently.

 

We all have those moments when we feel invisible in our own lives, maybe unheard, unappreciated, or lost.  Mrs Harris Goes to Paris has a way of renewing hope and although there is ugliness in the world, beauty still shines through when we least expect it to.

Directed by Anthony Fabian, the movie is set in the 1950’s, which I adore, plus the British-ness of the film is something I gravitate towards, so I'm already in love with it. 

The story involves a widowed housekeeper, Ada Harris, played by Lesley Manville, who works for the poshest of the posh. One day while cleaning a client's closet, she falls in love with a couture dress by Christian Dior.  Saving all her pennies and with the encouragement of her best friend Vi (Ellen Thomas), she goes to Paris in search of her perfect Dior dress.

I loved everything about this movie. It was so sentimental and joyful. Even the moments of sadness still had a way of making you feel connected to the story and love Ada just a bit more.  I adored the friendship between Ada and Vi too. Sassy together yet still so genuinely loving to each other through all the pains and sorrows of life. I loved the look of the film and the set designs. There were also a few scenes that had me reminisce of the glorious independent movie gem; Amelie.

Sure it’s a predictable story to an extent, but in no way does she ride off with any type of prince charming on a horse scenario.  Since the characters were so delightful and the movie itself just flowed so nicely with its dialogue and all the subtle reminders of how to be a good human, I think everyone wants Ada to get her dress and just be happy.

  

After watching the trailer of Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers, I was really hesitant about seeing this one. It looked like it could be a train wreck with the animation, but then I figured, why the heck not give it a go. My husband and I watch all sorts of movies and maybe we’ll be surprised.  Well, surprises galore! 

Directed by Akiva Schaffer, this live-action film was hilarious with voice-overs from Andy Samberg, Will Arnett, Kiki Layne, Seth Rogan, and so many more! Delving into a lot of internet meme culture, I can’t count how many times I laughed throughout the whole film. There was no lack of puns either. Throwbacks to my childhood (not going to spoil anything here) really made it fun.  Don’t kid yourself though, there are definitely some mature themes/scenes that may go above the young ones heads, but it really has something for everyone. 

Directed by Tom Gormican, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent has actor Nicolas Cage playing himself, Nick Cage, as well as his alter-ego, Nicky.  He’s down and out, just like a lot of celebs who fade out of the Hollywood scene. Double d’s hit; depression and drinking. Then comes an opportunity to make $1 million to show up to Javi’s birthday (played by Pedro Pascal) who turns out is a Cage “superfan” – anyone remember their super-fandom and shrine?  Little does he know though, Nick FU!KING CAGE is going to get roped into more than he had bargained for.

Here we get to see so many iconic characters that Nicolas Cage has played in his 40-year span career, so you may want to do a Nicolas Cage movie marathon prior to watching, if you haven’t seen any of his flicks Con Air, Face/ Off, Moonstruck etc... Otherwise, just go all in for the ride.

I also need to say that we need to start a petition to get Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal to be in more movies together because their banter on screen together is just priceless. They are really the milk and honey, the toast and jam and the Kraft dinner and ketchup of this film, hands down. I could watch them for hours.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a total must-see and probably one that you want to rent again or even own, so that you can share with your friends, and enjoy the absurdity of it all. 

Just in and had to mention it! 

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, Prey is an origin story of the first Predator alien to appear on Earth. If you haven't seen any of the Predator franchises, that's ok, you're still going to be blown away by this one on its own merit. I was definitely awe-struck at how well this movie captured such suspense, a great story and held my full attention for some of the most intense battle scenes.  

Naru, played by Amber Midthunder is a perfect fit. She is a ferocious heroine, showing dedication and strength in her role as a Comanche skilled warrior and protector of her tribe.

Although some criticize saying that tossing in a female lead (as opposed to using someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger) was a bad choice, Amber didn't make me doubt her commitment to the role one bit. She held her own, wielding a tomahawk like a pro, and going head-to-head in a believable way with one terrifying alien that was on her radar.

💜Have you seen any of these films?  What were your thoughts? Drop me a note in the comments, or send me an email using my webform on the side and also let me know what you've been watching!

January Popcorn Flicks To Enjoy!

Here we are again, it’s a new year – 2022, so did you make any New Years Resolutions or are you more just aiming to go with the flow?  Personally, I prefer to take off that extra layer of guilt and pressure and just BE.  

We lost plenty more amazing people in the entertainment industry as the ball dropped to welcome 2022. Comedian, Bob Saget, actress and human/fur-itarian Betty White, iconic Sidney Poitier, and a deep sigh, operatic legend, Marvin (also Michael) Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf.   However, it’s inevitable. Life does not go on forever, but they will surely remain in our hearts.  I’ll be playing the Bat Outta Hell albums, a hell of a lot today. 

Here are a few movies you may want to check out, as we head into some chilly wintery temperatures! 

West Side Story  I absolutely love musicals and so I was quite interested in seeing the Spielberg version of West Side Story that just came out recently.  It didn’t disappoint at all. 

The cinematography by Janusz Kamiński was stunning. The look of the film was beautiful, utilizing different light and shadow techniques. It brought a really ominous feel to the fighting scenes. The choreography was perfect and I loved how they did the song “America” and "Gee, Officer Krupke"  Also the vocal performances were beautifully sung.

“Cool” which is just naturally a really umm...cool song to begin with was envisioned in a completely new, taking place before the rumble, which was an unexpected surprise, but worked well. 

Maria, played by American/Columbian actress, Rachel Zegler and Tony, played by Ansel Elgort (who I may add was phenomenal in Baby Driver) was an interesting pairing. I didn’t feel the love connection right away, but as the movie went on, I could sense a bit more of the romance blooming.  Still...I hate to bring up the original again, BUT the casting of Tony, played by Richard Beymer and Maria, played by actress, Natalie Wood, personally did it for me. Their chemistry exploded on screen. It felt so natural. I believed they were madly in love. 

The only other issues I really had were the placement of “I Feel Pretty” as I didn’t like where it was used in the film. It felt odd.  

Also, the assault scene with Anita was much weaker than expected. I had braced myself for more of a punch (metaphorically speaking) with emotional intensity. I felt like something was being held back throughout the entire scene.

Oh Crappy Day  Written by Jon Lance Bacon and produced by Steven P. Neilson, this is one independent film that I absolutely loved watching.  It hit home on so many levels.

There are many ways that mental health disorders are portrayed in movies and so a fair warning that if you do deal with OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or anything else that is mentioned in the film (I don’t want to really give all that away), this may not be how you are, or it might resonate with you deeply.  

Dating is difficult enough and so searching for love when you are dealing with OCD is even more of a challenge.   We meet Jared, played by Jordan Estes, who is an aspiring film maker. We watch his struggles, his small feats and all the awkward interactions along the way, as there are many!

So things begin to change when he is encouraged to meet a very spirited woman; Katie, played by Jess Barbour, who is looking to meet someone and once disclosed of his rather extreme condition, she’s rather accepting, yet has some secrets to share, but with great hesitancy. This is when the movie just takes off and our hearts are just rooting for them both the whole way, even if they don’t end up together.

I felt so connected to Jared and Katie, both in their dating explorations together, and apart as separate characters. I love the nuanced moments mixed with humour. The acting had a sincerity to it and I just loved the entire film from start to finish.  

The Woman In Red This one was absolutely ridiculous, yet who doesn't love watching Gene Wilder? Sworn that he would never have an affair, Teddy (played by Gene Wilder) becomes absolutely bewitched by a beautiful model (played by Kelly Labrock) that he sees and starts to fantasize about.   This obsession leads to all sorts of schemes that go terribly yet hilariously wrong. Gilda Radner is in this one too, and although her role is small, she gives a great comedic performance.

Bull Durham Definitely a home-run! I haven't seen this in ages. Although the subject is baseball, still well-known today as America’s Pastime, it is far more than that. It’s about everything that goes on off the field, which is the most captivating part when you get such a great cast together. There’s plenty of romance, humour and spirit.  Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon are sizzling together on-screen.  There is also such a genuine friendship between Nuke, played by Tim Robbins and Crash (Costner). Definitely check out the fantastic soundtrack too.  

💜Drop me a note in the comments, or send me an email using my webform on the side and let me know what you've been watching!