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January 15, 2015

The Imitation Game is legit

World War Two was the single most important (secular) event in history. It altered the face of the world forever, and its’ effects are still felt seventy years later. Perhaps that’s why Hollywood continues to churn out movies about the war, sometimes telling stories that are now only surfacing like The Monuments Men, Unbroken, The Railway Man, and now The Imitation Game, all true stories whose time has come.

My take on 2014’s year in film

Feb. 22 is Hollywood’s big night. The Oscars will be handed out to the best and brightest in all categories. Pundits everywhere are speculating and commiserating on who will or who should win in the various categories.

Rental Recommendations

This column is for the “Netflix/On Demand” devotees among you. If any of these slipped under your radar the first time around, you might consider renting any or all of them for an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

Birdman: A profane flight

I left the theatre slightly confused. I had just seen a terrific ensemble deliver a number of Oscar worthy performances, a highly innovative story line with one surprise after another, and everyone around me was grumbling about how terrible the show was. It was the profanity, so prevalent it was like a nasty virus slowly killing its’ host, and by the end, despite the brilliance, you were glad it was over.

Interstellar: not at all stellar

I was not the only person grumbling on the way out of the theater after seeing this disappointing production. There is a lot of hullabaloo about this movie, the trailers presenting an exciting and potentially rewarding science fiction thriller, an opinion shared by many of the big-time movie critics. Don’t get your hopes too high.

St. Vincent: If you like Bill Murray, take the time

Irreverence is an art form perfected by Bill Murray, which has served him well for decades in the nearly seventy films he has appeared in. The one exception (I can recall) was his portrayal of Bob Harris in the movie Lost in Translation, for which he received an Oscar nomination. In St. Vincent, he continues …

FURY: not for the faint of heart but heartfelt nonetheless

“Ideals are peaceful, history is violent.” So sayeth Staff Sgt. Don Collier, commander of the tank unit named Fury, as they slog their way through the last days of the war in Europe, headed for Berlin.

Gone Girl – where oh where can she be?

Several months back, looking for something to read, I Googled the New York Times best-seller list and up popped the book “Gone Girl.” I’d not heard of it but sales of over 6.5 million copies and months on the list convinced me to give it a try. When I finished reading, I realized that author Gillian Flynn had crafted a mystery quite unlike anything else I had read before.

This is Where I Leave You, and good riddance

The audience certainly enjoyed this movie. Billed as a comedy, there was plenty of laughter throughout from those in attendance. Unfortunately, much of the humor was based on profanity and/or sexual innuendos, which limited the enjoyment for your frequently cynical movie critic.

Magic In the Moonlight: Illusion or not?

Woody Allen excels in three distinct arenas in the world of entertainment. First, as a young man he was as good a stand-up comedian as I have seen, but that goes all the way back to black and white TV. Secondly he writes movie scripts with a distinct and creative flair, almost all of them “out of the box” experiences. Finally, he takes those scripts and turns them into great movies, particularly if he doesn’t act in them, as lately has been the case (thank goodness!).

Boyhood: An unusual look at life

This is an extraordinary film and in many respects worthy of the four star accolades awarded it by most main stream movie critics. Unfortunately Richard Linklater, the creator, writer and director, chose to stuff the story full of unneeded, unnecessary, and useless profanity, which, for many, will diminish this otherwise brilliant piece of work.

The Hundred-Foot Journey – a trip worth taking

It’s been a while since I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face, but it was hard not to after watching this one. Steven Spielberg’s 51st movie continues his remarkable streak of terrific films, and while this one may not rival his mega hits, it is a solid evening’s entertainment.

LUCY: weak minded

“It’s the neuroscience myth that just refuses to go away. No, you do not use only ten percent of your brain. In fact, scientists say most of your brain is active all the time.”

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a post- apocalyptic failure

On April 1, 2014 Oakland University, located in Rochester, Mi., announced a new Bachelor’s Degree in “Post-Apocalyptic Survival Studies,” no doubt driven by the number of major motion pictures depicting that scenario. Fortunately, it was an April fool’s joke, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someday soon, they go forward with it.

‘Jersey Boys’ captures the moment

There are literally dozens of pop musical groups who have made an indelible mark in the world of entertainment and earned their place not only in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but their fans hearts forever. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are one of them. They burst onto the scene in 1962 with the infamous hit “Sherry,” which to this day is still one of the hallmark songs of the 1960’s rock-‘n-roll era.

The Edge of Tomorrow: An out of the box thriller

If you love wild and wooly science fiction, with outrageous plots, lots of action, death and destruction, or if you just happen to like Tom Cruise movies, then this might be a three star rating for you.

Godzilla, buckle your seatbelt

This is a great “popcorn movie.” No social agendas, no lingering concerns, just a great action/adventure film. From the opening moments there is no rest as this story quickly unfolds, and you are hooked.

‘Million Dollar Arm’ – a little overpriced

Two new releases hit the suburban theatres last Thursday, just in time for this week’s column. One of them was Million Dollar Arm, the other was Godzilla. A no brainer right? Well, I’m not sure.

‘The Railway Man’ – a great ride

Several things about this movie before delving into the storyline. First, it is brilliantly produced, written, directed, and acted. The technical details, such as sets, costumes, and cinematography are all Oscar level in my opinion, and they only add to an already impressive production.

‘Heaven is for Real’ – book it

The audience applause at the end of this movie confirmed that I wasn’t the only attendee who appreciated this amazing story. At the beginning of the film the following words appear on the screen: “Heaven Is For Real, Based on A True Story.”

‘Noah’ floods the screen with special effects, little else

There have been countless articles written about this movie, dating back a year or more, most of them about the controversy surrounding the script. Since the biblical account, narrated in the Book of Genesis chapters six through nine, is short on detail, it left the writers a great deal of leeway in building the story.

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ a colorful look at dark comedy

I picked an early Monday afternoon matinee to see “The Grand Budapest Hotel” at a cinema where parking is almost impossible, and the theatre was packed. The cashier told me most showings over the weekend were sold out.

‘3 Days to Kill’ just makes it across the line

I’ve never seen a Kevin Costner movie that I didn’t like, even the ones panned by critics. Somehow his persona on screen makes even mundane movies acceptable – at least to me. This is most assuredly one of those cases.

Unrequited love not enough to warm up confounding ‘Winter’s Tale’

The first 20 to 30 minutes of this movie are difficult to follow. Jumping quickly from one century to another, there seems to be neither rhyme nor reason to what we’re seeing. Things are complicated further by mumbled lines and whispers between the actors, compounded by their British accents.