Full of Feelings: July Movie Picks

 

July is here and I am back with some more movie reviews to share. Thanks for reading and I hope everyone is having a great summer!

The Covenant directed by Guy Ritchie is one of the best films he’s done.  It is absolutely heart-pounding and definitely not just another Afghanistan war movie. The way the story is told from a war veteran perspective and from the other side of an interpreter’s role is gripping, as we see the consequences with every choice made.  

Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim were a perfect match, as they are strong characters. There is so much emotional depth in this film and the ethical and moral conflicts really heighten the already intense nature of the movie. As an audience, we can feel that powerful human connection and that’s not an easy feat to always translate.

Only recently did I actually see Disney’s animated, The Little Mermaid. While I recall in my childhood bits and bobs of the film, it was interesting to see it again from an adult lens. My favourite song was “Kiss the Girl” as it had that tropical reggae and romantic groove. 

Then I saw the 2023 live-action remake.  The high points were Melissa McCarthy’s deliciously evil role as Ursula and the song “The Scuttlebutt” from rapper, Akwafina. I could immediately feel the lyrical vibes of Lin Manuel Miranda in that one.  

Halle Bailey as Ariel though was pretty forgettable, despite a good voice, something about her didn’t spark a lot of interest. Another downside really was the animation, which felt very dark most of the movie without the vibrancy. Then there’s Flounder and Sebastian, yikes... Their expressionless faces made them more lifeless to me instead of lovable characters.  Going for a more realistic look for them just didn’t quite fit.  The dreamy and whimsical romance was lost, maybe due to the script or just the lack of chemistry overall between Ariel and Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King 

While I’m sure there are kids and even adults all over gushing over this version, I felt it was a flop. 

You Hurt My Feelings is a film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener. Are telling lies actual deal breakers in a relationship/marriage or can there be nuances within? The movie explores this idea when book writer, Beth (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is gutted when she overhears a conversation of her husband, Don (Tobia Menzies) and a friend, where he gives harsh criticism of her new book that she has been struggling to finish. All along, draft after draft, Don had been telling her how much he loved it.

Focusing on a very introspective look at relationships from all angles, there’s no grandiose moments here. Everything is very subtle, yet deeply moving. We get to see how childhood experiences have shaped Beth’s perception of herself and the stresses of life that compound feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. Don is also battling his own crises, as a therapist who is failing to connect with his patients and doubting his vitality, as the clock ticks on in life.  It’s messy, but the problems are not unique, they are familiar, which is the real high point of the movie. There is a genuine connection felt with some excellent performances from Tobias Menzies and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.                                                       

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is directed by Kelly Fremon Craig.

As a fond reader of just about all of Judy Blume’s books, I was really excited to see what they would come up with doing this movie.  Margaret, played by Abby Ryder Fortson, is sweet, sassy, and just a total delight to watch on-screen. She has a contagious energy to her personality and feels so relatable.

Set in the 70’s era, this coming-of-age tale definitely shows the confusion, teenage angst and triumphs of self-discovery and growing up.  There was no shying away from topics either like teen sexuality or skepticism of religious belief, which really added a layer to honour the nature of what can go through adolescent minds when they are figuring out who they are.  There’s plenty of laughter and heartfelt moments too. I love that Rachel McAdams was casted as Margaret’s mom, as she just has that genuine motherly feel to her personality.  I loved this movie and highly recommend seeing it. 

When The Stakes Are High: Movie Reviews

 

Here are some more movie reviews coming your way!

Biopics have become one of my favourite genres of movies. Pinball – The Man Who Saved The Game, directed and written by Austin and Meredith Bragg, is a terrific story of Roger Sharpe, a GQ journalist and pinball fanatic, who in 1976 helped overturn New York City's 35-year ban on pinball, based on the ideas that it was considered a game of chance (a form of gambling) and challenged morality, especially among the youngsters.

The movie is really engaging and the story itself is compelling.  I really liked the cinematography too, with the 70’s vibe coming alive in each scene. There is a ton of humour throughout yet this does carry a serious tone too. Forewarning, you may just get fixated on Sharpe’s distracting, yet epic moustache. 

The younger version of Sharpe (Mike Faist) and then the older version, played by Dennis Boutsikaris are both incredible actors.  There are heart-warming moments too, especially how a game like pinball can offer escapism and fuel a passion so deeply in one person, who is still figuring out his place in the world. 

Proving that pinball is not a game of chance, but of skill is not any easy feat, but unlike the saying “you can’t fight City Hall”, Sharpe’s willing to take the risk.      

💜Pinball Trailer

Honor Society, directed by Oran Zegman, is a film that is full of unexpected surprises.   

High school is almost over and determined to attend Harvard after graduation, Honor (Angourie Rice) spends much of her time, plotting strategies to axe out the other academic competition. Being an overachiever, Honor’s not afraid to stomp on anyone who gets in her way, unassumingly and with a smile. She’s quite an interesting character, narrating her devious plans that involve complex situations that challenge her own conscience and befriending Michael, played by Gaten Matarazzo (known for the tv smash hit Stranger Things) , who is more clever than we give him credit for.                                     

This film definitely has a millennial edge, but it did remind me a bit of Clueless, wrapped in Mean Girls with a dash of Legally Blonde.  While the typical high school tropes (the nerd, the brainiac, the jock, the outcast etc..) are riddled throughout this movie and can be over the top at times, stay with it, as it takes turns that you might not see coming.    

💜Honor Society Trailer

Michael B. Jordan is absolutely brilliant as not only the director but also starring as boxing champ, Adonis Creed in the highly anticipated Creed III 

After hanging up his boxing gloves to start a new life, Adonis is shaken up when his friend and former boxing prodigy Damian (Jonathan Majors) shows up after serving a long sentence in prison and wants to be trained to enter the ring again.  When the gloves comes off, Adonis is haunted by memories he had tried desperately to bury.  As they continue to surface, we know it’s just a matter of time when Adonis is going to be pushed to the edge of his limit.

It’s predictable that Adonis is going to battle against Damian, but that doesn’t matter. What makes this movie so great is how character-driven it is. As they become rivals, the performances from Jordan and Majors are elevated with so many poignant scenes together and apart. The fight scenes are brutal but captured in such a thrilling way. 

Several themes of brotherhood, sacrifice, and honour are key elements that weave together to make this such an impactful film.  While we see Damian as a villain (and a damn convincing one), he is also broken and hurt. We get to experience such vulnerability, especially with males who are in a sport like boxing, where they take every punch till they get carried out.

In the end, the clear message is that in life, you can’t run away from your demons, you gotta face them head on. 

💜Creed III Trailer

Lastly, we have Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the zany yellow blobs are back again with another movie.  This time, we’re going back to when villainous master mind, Gru (Steve Carell), was just a wee young boy, dreaming of what every 11 year old wanted at that age.  No, not a dirt bike, or a life-size dinosaur, but to be part of the most ruthless gang around; the Viscious 6. After they oust their leader -- the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles, Gru gets the once in a lifetime opportunity to audition for them and like we would expect, it goes terribly wrong. Chaos ensues as Gru outsmarts them and now is on the Viscious 6’s target list.  

Humour was lackluster as well, which was surprising as the others gave me some good chuckles.  Many of the scenes felt like we had taken energy drinks and just waiting for that inevitable crash – complete with a headache.

The animation was great, but I felt the Minions were haphazardly thrown about to add in quick gags.  It really missed the mark on the feel good moments too and most of the other characters were forgettable, aside from a solid performance from Wild Knuckles (voiced by Alan Arkin). 

Curiousity got the best of me, as I’ve seen all the other films (Despicable Me & 2 being favourites), but this one was definitely the most disappointing. I’ve had enough of the Minions, but considering this film was not geared towards my demographic in the first place, there’s probably another one around the corner. 

💜Minions Trailer

Last Minute Movie Watches of 2022

A few extra movie reviews to share that you might want to check out before we head into 2023. 

I love a good whodunnit movie, and so the first Knives Out was a total blast to watch with intriguing characters and a great story.  Rian Johnson is back again in the director’s chair to present us with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

We welcome back to the screen, world-famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he travels to Greece this time to solve a new case, involving tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his privileged bunch of has-been socialites. 

This sequel had its moments of enjoyment, mainly thanks to Daniel Craig and Edward Norton’s performances, with a few laughs from others, like alpha-male, Duke Cody (Dave Bautista). Mirroring a lot of narcissism qualities that are abundantly obvious in many leaders and trendy gurus, if you haven’t kept up with the kombucha craze or have any familiarity with cancel culture, you may not laugh as hard as others would.  Despite some twists, the casting fell short for me though, as there wasn’t as many layers to peel back as I would have hoped.

When you mix Home Alone, The Ref, and Die Hard together, you’ll get just a taste of  Violent Night directed by Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola.

No one expects to get a taste of their own medicine on Christmas eve, but one wealthy family is held hostage by a team of mercenaries who are not interested in spreading any holiday cheer. What could have been a total train wreck in this film, turns into a sleigh ride of insanity,  but in the best possible way. 

Without spoiling much, let’s just say Santa (played by David Harbour) deserves all the milk and cookies he wants for his performance. Although the amount of brutal kills were pretty intense and graphic, there’s more to the film than just horror. There’s a beautiful bond between Santa and Trudy (Leah Brady) that might be expected, but still brings a sense of spirit and magic to the screen.

Love Birds is an uplifting New Zealand film that has the right amount of comedy and romance. It’s light-hearted and rather predictable of what we’d witness in a rom-com, but it’s still joyful. When failing at love and floundering through life, it doesn’t seem so bad when a shelduck comes to the rescue.  Doug (Rhys Darby) and Holly (Sally Hawkins) are lovely on-screen together.  With the epic soundtrack of Queen, in the end, we all just need somebody to love. 

Troll is a Norwegian film directed by Roar Uthaug that in some ways could be a template for many mythical creatures who are awakened after years in captivity or due to humans tampering with nature. 

This time we are set-up looking at deep into the beautiful mountain of Dovre, where folklore tales about creatures made of earth and stone (trolls) are shared between father, Tobias (Gard B. Eidsvold) and his daughter Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann).  Fast-forward to 20 years later, estranged from her father, Nora is a leading paleontologist and a sudden explosion awakens a massive troll who is ready to destroy everything in its path.

The movie is action-packed, with some comedic relief added in from Andreas, (Kim Falck) and awesome cinematography to keep the entertainment level high.  Gard is great at story-telling in a way that we can really feel like we’re transported in time, where imagination and the wonder of childhood never gets curtailed by growing up. 

Nora’s rekindled bond with her father is endearing and holds a special place in the film. We watch as she wrestles with conflicting emotions, yet still holding echoing words of her father to “look with your heart, not with your eyes.”

💜Special mention:  Ms. Marvel, created by Bisha K. Ali

My husband binge-watched all 6 episodes and told me that I really need to watch this. 

Episode 1 just grabbed me. "Let's go to Episode 2, then leave the rest for the next day," I said. Well, this mini series was so exceptionally good that I got hooked into all of them in a single evening.

The characters are so layered and expressive in their roles. What a wonderful casting overall, especially Kamala - Ms Marvel (Iman Vellani) and her mother, Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff).  I loved their connection so much.  

I could really appreciate the cultural aspects too, the humour that went along with it, and the emotional scenes that just weaved so effortlessly throughout.   

Every episode is filled with such great dialogue and a lot of self-reflective moments that are very relatable at various stages of life. I don't think this is just inspiring for the younger generations, but also the older ones too. 

Of course, there are some great action-packed battles and superhero moments of awe, as well as a head-bopping soundtrack too.  

We are reminded from a beautiful quote by Sheikh Abdullah in the show that "good is not something you are, It is something you do."

💜Have you seen any of these?  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!

Nowhere Special: Movie Review

 

Nowhere Special is an international film, directed by, Uberto Pasolini. If that name sounds familiar, he is one of the brilliant minds who produced the British comedy, The Full Monty.

In this gentle story of fatherhood, John (played by James Norton) is a Belfast window cleaner and has dedicated his life to taking care of his young son, Michael, but is now on borrowed time. Knowing he will be leaving his son soon, John embarks on a journey to find Michael (Daniel Lamont) a new family, one that will give him all the love that a child needs to thrive in life, which proves to be more difficult than he ever thought. 

As we go through the movie, we see John grapple with his emotions, especially after every meeting with potential adoptive families, each with personal stories of grief and loss, but with a hope to start again. These might be tough to listen to, but it is a window into what reality can feel like for some who are unable to conceive biologically and choose to be a foster parent(s), or have lost a child in one form or another.

While trying to stay afloat in a sea of uncertainty, John’s performance is incredibly touching. Acceptance can be uplifting and teaches us that we do not have to leave with regrets, but in peace. 

The connection with his son is also endearing, and at such a young age, Lamont is a real star in motion here playing such a vulnerable role. With many scenes of only a few exchanged words, or even just silence, the mood is captured eloquently.

We can see as an audience that Michael slowly develops an understanding of life and death through not only a child’s eyes, but somewhat through his father’s as well.

💜Nowhere Special Trailer

 

Get Ready To WIFF at the Windsor International Film Festival

October and into November is an exciting month to experience the sheer pleasure of viewing independent, passionate and visionary film makers at the 2022 Windsor International Film Festival. 

Let's be honest as well, not everything shown will be someone's cup of tea, but I know you'll still find many enjoyable ones from the lengthy list here. 

From the website: WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches community while promoting the creative economy.

DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING - Increasing the exposure of Canadian and international film to all audiences and offering programming which appeals to and is representative of people in our community.

INTEGRITY - Developing and nurturing respectful relationships with each other, our volunteers, audience, partners and the film industry.

EDUCATION -Being a vehicle to increase knowledge of film and the film industry.

QUALITY OF LIFE - Contributing to the quality of life for Windsor-Essex residents that comes from having a vibrant arts community

SUSTAINABILITY - Operating under the highest standards that will ensure the continuance of the festival for years to come

URBAN ARTS COMMUNITY - Being part of a cultural hub and vibrant arts community in the downtown core


Reviews coming soon and will be updated!

The Pez Outlaw

Nowhere Special

Hello, Bookstore

The Phantom of the Open

 

Seasons Of Change: 2022 Halloween Flicks

Hello my Ghoulish fiends! Halloween is just around the corner and whether you are excited for trick-or-treaters, plan to get dressed up in your favourite costumes, or intend to spend quiet time honouring  our spirited souls, it's always good to include a movie or two in the mix!  

I'm excited to share a few new ones that have popped up this year, as well as some old favourites. You can always transport back to my other blog posting that has even more movies and nostalgic series that bring me joy especially during the Halloween season.

With only a run time of 53 minutes, Werewolf By Night was a lovely little homage to many Universal Classic monster flicks, combined with some Twilight Zone eeriness. The monster hunter characters were great, in particular Jack (played by Gael García Bernal) who has an interesting role as a lycanthrope superhero of sorts. This short tale had such fantastic cinematography and black and white effects. It is definitely worth a watch.  I hope Marvel comes out with more of these, in particular something extra vampy.

Halloween Ends...or has it?  If you're not familiar with this horror-ific franchise, I would suggest to watch the other films to just delve more into the saga of Michael Myers. Although in this one, they do a rewind of some pivotal kill scenes, plus a rehashing of the tragedies in the town of Haddonfield,  so you are not going in totally blind. 

There was plenty of suspense throughout the film, a few irritants tossed in, but definitely a lot of brutal scenes that might have you squirm in your seat if you're more of the squeamish type, so stay alert, my friends. 

Was it the best out of all the others? Not in the least, but I think we're all here for Jamie Lee Curtis. She was amazing, reprising her role as Laurie and letting us know that when it comes to her masked-murderous foe, Michael Myers, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Teen Wolf is an 80's comedy and coming-of-age werewolf tale, starring the beloved Michael J. Fox, as Scott Howard, just your ordinary geeky guy who is trying to figure out who he is, with and without the all extra fur. Who doesn't love a werewolf who can play basketball? 

The wonderfully grotesque and pun-worthy Crypt Keeper is back to tell a tale in Bordello of Blood. Although rated poorly by many, I fondly recall this film with its heavy metal and glam soundtrack. It's a terribly corny flick, with raunchy humour, groan-worthy acting, but it's a great one to just sit back and have fun watching. 

Finally, we have The Hunger tv series, created by Jeff Fazio and presented b Tony and Ridley Scott. No one gave me chills down my spine like Terence Stamp, and in this horror anthology; The Hunger, he hosted each short story in a way that would surely tingle all your senses, like The Secret Shih-Than. 

This provocative British/Canadian series opened up quite a new world for me that I never knew existed before, but was incredibly liberating, even though subject matter was rather taboo at the time, and still might be today for certain types of people.   

If anyone remembers, it was aired here in Canada on a tv channel called Showtime - with its tagline Television Without Borders.  Every late Friday evening, they would have "Friday's Without Borders" which had content that pushed the limits for a more mature and rather open-minded audience. Taking over the series was the late, David Bowie, who in my opinion did a good job, but I'm still partial to the British charm of Mr. Stamp.  

💜Let me know what you'll be watching this Halloween or what plans you may have! I love hearing  from you, so drop a comment below, or feel free to privately e-mail me using my web form!

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!

The Human Touch: Film Reviews

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the kind messages regarding my last blog about my on-going battle with post-covid. I know it is important that I continue writing. It has taken me days to do this one because of brain fuzziness and pain, but alas, here I am with some movies that you may want to check out.  

Everything Everywhere All At Once 

If you haven’t seen this film, don’t wait because it’s one of the best of 2022.  Into the multiverse we go, full of hot dog fingers, googly eyes, and bagels! Don’t worry if you have no idea what I am talking about, you will once you see the movie.  

Evelyn Wang (played by the phenomenal Michelle Yeoh) is a struggling laundromat owner who zigzags through life in a blur and is holding onto her family by a thread. When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, Evelyn is launched into universes where she gets to explore other life paths never taken and channels a surprisingly fierce set of superpowers to save the world.

It’s truly bizarre in the most beautiful and creative way, and that is thanks to film-makers, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Kudos to them for casting Ke Huy Quan, the beloved character "Short Round" in Indiana Jones, who is refreshingly brilliant in his role as Waymond, Evelyn’s husband.

There’s tons of martial arts action, wacky comedy, squirmy moments of grotesque proportions and gut-wrenching emotions.  Every little nuance of life that we may not acknowledge has a place here, it’s twisted and if you’ve had any type of existential crisis, empathy weaves in and out at the most unexpected times.

So many messages to take away, so much laundry to probably put away and lives to reconnect with, as there is truly an unlikely hero in all of us.

The Animal Project is a Canadian film directed by Ingrid Veninger that might seem pretty goofy when the trailer has a group of performers parading around Toronto in anthropomorphic animal costumes, but give it a chance because there are so many layers to enjoy.

Aaron Poole is the heart of the movie, playing Leo, the acting teacher who wants to get the creative juices flowing again (and as we see, maybe get him out of his eternal funk) from his students by embarking on a zany experimental exercise entitled The Animal Project, where they would go about a day in their lives with a chosen animal costume and see how they interact with others and the reactions back.

Egos are going to fly and you’re bound to get to know everyone’s deepest wounds and what makes them tick fairly quickly, some in a very aggressive way, others, rather subtly. We also see Leo’s vulnerabilities come through slowly and then we begin to explore the other performers in the group and their stories.  It hits different levels of chaos, some that people can thrive in, and others that people drown in. Every character feels like it needs to be wrapped up in a warm hug and that is translated so well on-screen.  

This film has an indie-vibe of coolness and plenty of raw emotional scenes. The characters are endearing and as you get more invested into the stories, you are rooting for them every step of the way.  

All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records

Do you remember the first record you bought? There is something surreal about picking up an artsy record sleeve from your favourite artist that will never replace just clicking the download button on Itunes. Sometimes it is about the simple things that bring us the most pleasure. 

Directed by Colin Hanks, this documentary on Tower Records was fascinating! It had a really in-depth look into the history of Tower Records, where founder Russ Solomon spent many days and nights building quite the empire. A wee on the eccentric side, but what a creative soul with such a genuine heart. There are some pretty choked up moments throughout as staff reminisce about their crazy years working at Tower Records. 

Like many things in life, nothing lasts forever, but if you’re wanting to be taken on a nostalgic ride from the 1960’s all the way to 2006’s, check out this film and then get head to your local record shop!

 

💜Highly recommend stopping by to see the funky vintage wizard himself, Scott Woodall from Vintage & Vinyl, located in Lasalle and Amherstburg! Check out their Facebook pages below.

Vintage & Vinyl Lasalle

https://www.facebook.com/VintageVinylAmherstburg

*photo credits: Vintage & Vinyl

December Movie Buffet: Pick and Choose!

December is here and I’ve just blown out my candles – 41 to be exact.  It's been a crazy time and I think I have more than 41 grey hairs to match, probably way more, but I think that's relatable. My escape is often movies, just to reset my perspective on issues that I might be dealing with, to find some kind of inspiration amongst the chaos, or  to just be entertained. Laughter is the best medicine, it hosts a ton of benefits and being married to an entertainer, there's always something to laugh about around here and a reason to harvest the joyful moments that catch you by surprise. 

So now it’s time to watch all our favourites again this year like Die Hard (hey it IS a Christmas movie!), Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and probably every single romance tale from Love Actually and The Holiday, to even a few terribly-acted, what-is-with-that-sweater?! Hallmark ones. Most likely, I will watch those ones alone, as subjecting Bill to those might result in divorce papers. (Insert awkward laughter)

I did a full holiday movie list that you can check out here, which has some unique holiday movies you might not have heard of before.

The movies listed below are not all holiday-themed,  but still worth mentioning, just in case you are not really in the jingle jangle spirit or maybe want to add them to your list for future movie-watching.

 

American Hero – Set in New Orleans, the city is riddled with crime, and Melvin, played by Stephen Dorff is part of the problem, engaging in all the behaviours that would rarely be deemed as superhero qualities, even with telekinetic abilities. Underneath the rough facade lies a vulnerable broken man, with a burning desire to see his estranged son, who deserves to know his father.

So adventures ensue and there’s a lot of shoot-ups and a pivotal moment where Melvin’s heart stops and the typical “I’m gonna change after this life altering experience” begins, yet not without its complications.

There are a lot of moments of “that could never happen” so strap yourself in for suspending your disbelief. Aside from an overabundance of profanity and some stuff that might be taken as insensitive/offensive, the bonds of friendship pull you in and keep you invested. Also there are some pretty cool action scenes. 

If you can take anything out of this movie, it would be Melvin’s best friend, Lucille (Eddie Griffin) who is always wheeled by his side (yes he’s in a wheelchair). A great character, yet suffers from similar motivation to change his own circumstances. You need a bestie to hit you with reality checks whenever you get out of line, so I thought these two were paired well together.

Laggies – The word “laggies” translates to “one who lags behind” and so the movie explores life’s journey of unknowns, tapping into emotions once forgotten, yet worth revisiting and maybe even letting go of. Craig, played by Sam Rockwell is once again a delight on screen, add in Megan (Keira Knightly - with an American accent!) and the sensational Annika, played by Chloë Grace Moretz. It also had a wonderful soundtrack, including Ben Gibbard’s achingly beautiful song; It’s Never Too Late.  Absolutely loved it - Bill often picks out some great movies for us to watch together.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople is absolutely weird and wonderful. There is so much to discover in the movie and each character has its own story to tell, especially Ricky (Julian Dennison), who is rebellious but with a huge heart and just wants to belong somewhere, anywhere. Hec, Ricky’s foster father, played by Sam Neill feels just right. He's a guy that marches to the beat of his own drum but with gusto and spirit. I will not forget to mention how breath-taking some of the scenery is too, my longing to visit NZ grows stronger each day.  The movie is incredibly funny and humanly-touching. If you like the humour and style of Taika Waititi who also directed unique films like Jojo Rabbit, What We Do In The Shadows, you'll definitely love this one.

Kiwi Christmas. Materialism on Christmas, you don't say!? Of course that would have anyone running for the hills, or rather this time scooting away from the North Pole. However, Santa's vacation doesn't go as planned, as his trip to New Zealand via his rocket sleigh (yes I said rocket sleigh) breaks down and his cover is blown when two kids find out who he is and tries to help him back to the North Pole before Christmas. 

I loved "Stan" aka Santa, played by Kari Väänänen and sure the predictability factor is smack dab where you'd expect it to be, but it didn't matter one iota. The wacky humour, the joyful spirit captured, the beauty of NZ, and the overall message just makes this a great one for everyone to enjoy.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas  I don’t think I was quite expecting the emotional punch that this movie brought over what seemed like a common holiday premise of trying to bring everyone together at Christmas for the first time after the loss of a loved one. The emotional connection you feel with each character’s “heart song” as they call it, is just so unexpected but powerful.

The film does touch on painful subjects like post-partum depression and the complex feelings that come with grief, loss and bereavement, so considering my personal woes of what I deal with during the holiday season and probably what a lot of people battle with, this one hit incredibly hard.

The choreography was done beautifully too especially in one specific scene with Zoey (played by Jane Levy) and Max (played by Skylar Astin) creating the last tear drop on my face with a beautiful version of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time. The romance had my heart bursting.   

I never knew about the tv series - Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist , mainly because I'm not quite a tv watcher overall, but it might be worth checking out. 

💜As always, I love to hear your comments, so you can leave a message below or e-mail me your favourite holiday or non-holiday films that made your 2021.

November Movie Buffet: Pick and Choose!

Happy November everyone!

I am sitting here at my computer desk, chomping away at the last bits of Halloween candy. Okay that’s a lie, there is a pantry full of candy because we got overly-excited by the higher number of kids trick or treating this year and thought maybe we don’t have enough and no one should come to door and leave empty handed. The influx of kids dwindled though, and so here we are now, just me and the remains of a Swedish berries wrapper.

A bit out of the usual, but instead of just sharing some movies, I am also going to include a tv series that some of my readers might be interested in watching, as well as a comedy special that generated a lot of heat!

Mapleworth Murders - A hilarious 12-episode parody series that follows a murder-mystery writer named Abigail Mapleworth (played by Paula Pell) who solves homicide murders in her small town of New Woodstream, with the help of her socially-awkward, dry-humoured Aussie niece, Heidi, played by Hayley Magnus.

Think of what “Murder She Wrote” would be like in today’s world, if a young millennial Angela Lansbury posted her findings on Instagram Stories/Reels and had no filter in conversing with others. I’m not quite sure what drove me to check this out, but after the first episode, I felt compelled to watch all 12 episodes over two nights. 

Paula Pell is hilarious and such a fun character to watch. She’s a bit saucy, sassy, and bumbles around gathering evidence for the whodunit reveal, while suffering through many terrible double-entendre jokes that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you can get used to the screeching of “There’s been a MAAAHRDER!” then check this one out.

Driving Lessons - Definitely a different role for Rupert Grint, well-known for his role in Harry Potter. A coming-of-age story that offers also a slight coming-out-of-age feel as the young and the wise meet up to discover the world around them in unusual and unconventional ways. Julie Waters, who plays an eccentric alcoholic actress, is quite fantastic and I think really steals the spotlight for much of the movie.

Secret Life of the Long Haul Flight: A Qantas Experience - I've been watching these incredible documentaries on aviation and all the intricate details that go into a single flight experience and they are fascinating. This one was especially interesting showing behind the scenes of the 11,000 mile journey from London, England to Sydney, Australia. It also had a personal element of documenting a few of the passengers' stories on why they were going the long-haul route.

Overboard - Probably not new to any of my 80’s movie fans, but couldn’t leave out Overboard, the original 1987 with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, plus yes the head vampire from the cult classic; Lost Boys – Edward Hermann! Everything about this movie goes...well... overboard, but it’s delightful and sweet and fun, unlike the dreadful remake that I wish was never made.

  

The Closer - The stage is often known to be the safest place for a comedian because they have the mic and the power to say what they want, in the way that they want. There’s often no rules, so you either go in knowing that something is going to offend you, or you stay home (or in this case turn off the tv). Alike many in the show biz industry, especially at the level that Dave Chappelle is at, you never truly know what the comedian is really believing because after all, comedy is often just that...an “act” a performance to cause a reaction from the audience. There are of course exceptions where a comedian/entertainer behaves consistently the same on and off the stage.

After watching, I’ll say that I can see from various points of view of how the joking at the expense of certain demographics and making some comments takes a cheap shot at human decency in general. I think there is a really delicate line when someone says “so you can’t take a joke?”

I know groups that found Dave’s jokes to be spot-on hilarious and others that feel like as they put it to me “he made us feel like we should go back into the closet.” I think too much emphasis was just drilled into the audience on specific points Chappelle wanted to make, but delivered sloppy – in my opinion. Some of his other specials seemed to be crafted better and had more opportunities for laughs.

I didn’t find a lot of the jokes funny at all, in some ways, I was a bit exhausted after the hundredth glory hole joke, and felt he was really lashing out instead of generating some deep thoughts in a way that could be embraced with more heart - less crassness. The ending of course was a mixed bag of emotions and I’m still trying to process that.

Not knowing who Dave Chappelle is underneath the comedian portrayed on stage, from his behaviour since the show, I would still encourage him to seek some counselling. I think there are a lot of unresolved feelings brewing because we all know "tears of a clown, when there's no one around."

💜As always, I love to hear your comments, so you can leave a message below or e-mail me your thoughts!

October Movie Buffet: Pick and Choose!

Are you ready for some October movies?  Spooky season is upon us but this blog will not be about Halloween films. If you're anxious though, you can check out my Fangs For The Memories - Halloween Favourites, as we've been delving into some of our favourites lately. 

Moving along, we’ve watched some interesting flicks lately that I wanted to blog about. Maybe you’ve seen them or perhaps you’ll give them a go. 

I’ll start off with You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.  I was a little iffy when I noticed that Woody Allen was writing and directing this because his style is rather an acquired taste, one that often I don’t care for. However, it looked intriguing enough with a good cast, especially Anthony Hopkins and Gemma Jones.  

With the entanglement of marital distresses, identity crisis, broken authored-dreams, and of course a charlatan doing what they do best – sucking the last pennies out of the vulnerable, the movie pokes fun at a lot of these themes yet delicately also shows the darker side of erupting chaos within the characters. There’s a lot of uncomfortable laughs yet still manages to offer some reflection and optimism of restless situations. 

Next up, 30 Nights, directed by Tom Metz III  The old trope of sex becoming non-existent once your married and have kids is put to the ultimate test in this raw and hilarious independent flick that involves 30 nights of “assignments” to save a marriage.  

I didn’t think this was going to be as good as it was.  Super cast, especially Nick and Willia, played by Johnny Giacalone and Mandy Kaplan.  They had such great chemistry on-screen and every assignment they had to endure, it was passionately ridiculous. I also loved Dan Fogler who played Dr Ling, their zany sex therapist.   

Definitely for mature-audiences, but you may spruce up things in and out of the boudoir a bit after watching this – or you might realize 'good vibrations' are just meant for listening to The Beach Boys, and that’s a-okay too.

Old – M. Night Shyamalan.   Most of the movie was spent “wait, how can that happen? - “that makes no sense at all.”    There is that level of suspension of disbelief, like in practically all the Die Hard movies, but this one stretched the limits.  The characters were uninteresting,  the dialogue was tragic and although I figured out what was going to happen fairly early, I was quite bored, although one scene was so disgusting that I did jolt in my chair for a brief second and had to look away.  The movie wants to go deeper into moral and ethical dilemmas, but never quite makes the leap. 

Don’t You Forget About Me.  A documentary, directed by Matt Sadowski, all about a group of film makers who cultivate a plan to meet their beloved writer/director; John Hughes, who changed the landscape of movie-making forever with classics like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, etc.  

It is fascinating to see clips of past actors talking about their time with Hughes, especially a lot of introspective commentary from well-known actor, writer/director, Kevin Smith.  We also get a glimpse of the impact Hughes had on so many people, including many adolescents today.

Critics are always a reminder of how vulnerable we can be as humans and some are able to take the punches and others disappear never to be heard from again, in order to preserve any dignity they can still hold onto from the past. John Hughes died of a fatal heart attack, so although it was never confirmed, could there be a chance he died of a broken heart?

John Hughes' life remains a mystery and the only thing that appears to be real is the fact that he enjoyed pizza, at least twice a week. I can hear him say “a lovely cheese pizza just for me.” 

Lastly, Freeguy.  Watching the trailer I didn’t really have any interest, but Bill and I were curious to see whether it would be any good, and it was fantastic.  Creative concept, visually stunning effects, great characters, and those pull-at your-heart-string moments that are predictable, but they still just feel right.

Ryan Reynolds was awesome but I will say that  Antwan, played by Taika Waititi was my favourite character.  His razor sharp wit, charismatic weirdness is just unmatched.  If you have no idea who I am talking about, please check out Jo Jo Rabbit or the underrated, What We Do In The Shadows. 

So there you have a bunch of movies that you can watch while you’re chowing down on your Thanksgiving feast (some movies more suitable than others to watch WITHOUT the whole family, but you be the judge on that one)  this long weekend, or really whenever you want. 

💜Have you seen any of these? Leave me comments below, or if you're feeling shy, send me an email using my webform. I always love to hear your comments!