Reviews On The Run

Get ready for another edition of (sorta) quick reviews of some movies that were recently seen by these eyes over the last few months.  There's a little mixture of everything - Oscar winners, could have been Oscar contenders, a documentary, and a little cult classic thrown in just to make everyone feel a little uneasy.

The Theory Of Everything

When movies are nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, there tends to be at least one reason most people can agree on that makes it worthy of such an honor. It turns out that the The Theory Of Everything had many admirable attributes people appreciated - from the score (that main theme slayed me) to the dreamy cinematography that made every shot worthy of being turned into a gorgeous poster. Oh, and obviously, the little item that will be the films lasting legacy - a hugely effecting and stellar performance by Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking. No one is going to say he didn't deserve that Best Actor trophy.

However, the way the story was told turned out to be partly disappointing. Hawking is one of the most notable people in modern history and while the film focuses generally on the ideas that made him famous, nothing goes too in depth. Normally, I want less of this mumbo jumbo, but in this case, I really wanted to learn more about Hawking's genius. "More science!", has never come out of my mouth during a movie until this one.

Since this bio-pic is based on the book by his first wife, Jane, it instead focuses more on their romance and the debilitating impact of ALS. This is a profound tale to tell, but even this part of the story felt a bit generic at times. More often than not, it was leaning more towards being an average movie drama instead of the extraordinary, unique tale, that I was expecting to see.

Although, this movie wonderfully succeeds in depicting an accurate image of the pain and stress someone goes through while taking care of a loved one, with credit additionally owed to the understated, excellent work by Felicity Jones, who played Jane.


The Take-Away: Can't take your eyes off the screen, but leaves you wanting more.

Whiplash

While the trailers and clips at awards shows made it look like Whiplash is just J.K. Simmons yelling and throwing cymbols, in actuality, it is also quite an interesting story about obsession and dedication, where  equal extremeness is brought by the main character, played by Miles Teller. Well, there is also an awful lot of Simmons channeling the Hulk, which was what kept me from rushing out to see this one, even though I think he's great.

Watching two hours of someone yelling just didn't seem appealing. And now, I'll admit, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Simmons won the Academy Award for bringing the intensity, but boy, does Teller also totally nail a young man who is obsessed with drumming. Bloody hands and sweat pouring out of every pore didn't stop him for a second. There is one surprising scene that, to me, felt extremely far fetched, but if the point was to show just how focused this kid was, than the scene served its purpose, even if it fell out of the actual realm of realism.

All former orchestra nerds and band geeks will relate to the crankiness that any conductor gets before an important competition, but Whiplash shows off the far end of the extreme spectrum. Certainly the world of professional musicians is filled with people like the character Simmons portrays. It's a section of society that takes music more seriously than breathing. Where being the best is all that matters.

The Take-Away: Terrific, high energy movie about passion. Really impressive depiction of musicians in general. J.K. is phenomenal, but so is Teller - their characters sure deserve each other.

Big Eyes

As I've said previously, just by the trailer, anyone could blatantly see that the premise of Big Eyes was a beyond perfect topic for Tim Burton to turn into a movie. There's the retro setting and his vivid eye for finding an interesting way to capture a story. Even the actual paintings by Margaret Keane (whose life story this movie is based on) give off a Burton vibe. Her work is bright and colorful, with a semi eerie darkness thrown in. That alone perfectly describes Tim Burton's unique aesthetic.

Much of Big Eyes is wonderful. Just like the Theory Of Everything, many scenes could be frozen and turned into their own framed art, and the acting by Amy Adam and Christoph Waltz is always perfect. It's just too bad then that the script overall didn't make for a completely fascinating movie from beginning to end.

The details of Keane's life are fascinating. She was a woman who became overpowered by the men in her life and was lead to believe by one of her husbands that he should take credit for her paintings, and he did so for years, even becoming internationally famous for paintings he didn't create. She eventually came to her senses and now everyone knows the truth. With such rich circumstances, it felt that the movie didn't take it far enough, like the plot was only scratching the surface. Even the moment where Margaret Keane finally gets justice felt empty and rushed.

The Take-Away: Even the spectacle of Burton, Adams, and Waltz can't make up for a generic take on a fantastic life.

Finding Vivian Maier

One auction completely changed the life of two people - the man, found what could potentially be his life's work, and the woman, will never know how the discovery impacted her. This is the basis for the documentary, Finding Vivian Maier.

In 2007, John Maloof bid on a box of photography negatives that he thought could be used in a history book he was working on and instead unearthed thousands of photos taken by one woman predominately in the 50s and 60s. They tell the stories of her life and what she saw, but these aren't just your average set of family photos. The woman who turned out to be named Vivan Maier was a master amateur (yeah, that's an oxymoron, but here it just says everything) photographer who excelled in capturing the highs of lows of average people on the street. She was producing the classic caliber of work seen in the pages of Life and Time during their heyday.

Her talent isn't even the most astounding - the extraordinary fact here is that she wasn't getting her photography published. She seemed just to do it all for herself and didn't show her work to hardly anyone. Instead, she spent her days working as a nanny and taking photos for enjoyment.

She is now posthumously famous, never knowing what an impact her photos have had on the world and that she is widely considered a remarkable talent by art critics.

This all really made me think about the world of celebrity - fame is fleeting and not guaranteed, so doing what you love will always be the most important, even if no one else notices.

The Take-Away: How many talented folks out there will never be discovered? Also, we should all go to auctions - who knows what is waiting in someones discarded boxes.

The Hundred Foot Journey

It's a food movie with Helen Mirren and a stamp of approval from Oprah! What's not to love?

The Hundred Foot Journey follows in the great tradition of those flicks that make your mouth water. Every whisk beat and precise sprinkle of spices acted out on screen as every character cooks will put to shame any mess of a snack you decided to consume while watching this movie. Bag of Cheetos = not as good as authentic, vibrant, Indian food.

With a visionary director like Lasse Hallstrom, it was a sure thing that this movie would look extraordinary. From The Cider House Rules and What's Eating Gilbert Grape to another classic in the "foodie" genre, Chocolat, and yes, one of those Nicholas Sparks adaptations, Dear John (I like it - sue me), Hallstrom has never failed to beautifully capture a story. Much like Big Eyes, the visual look and direction of the movie is its biggest strength.

Otherwise, The Hundred Foot Journey, was too long, and left me feeling like it should instead be called The Hundred Year Journey (how many reviews do you think used that line?). All in all, it started strong and turned into a rather predictable, cute movie, that had a plot which fell off the rails in a direction that made sense, but I didn't like too much. It is worth struggling through some sections just for the food though. Cooking show devotees will rejoice.

The Take-Away: Couldn't say it better than my dad did - "Hey, this is just like that Ratatouille...but you know, without the rats." I preferred the rats though. Sorry Mirren.

Magic In The Moonlight

Reader, if you're anything like me, than over the last couple years (or longer) you've been stuck in a tight spot about Woody Allen. Some sort of middle ground in your mind that can't ignore the atrocious things he's been accused of, but still finds joy in many of his movies. Should actors or audiences continue to support his art?

It makes it even more difficult when he casts such films starring some of your favorite people - Colin Firth and Emma Stone - and writes the setting in dreamy locations like Paris, the Côte d'Azur, and Provence.

All of the above aligned in Magic In The Moonlight, so I couldn't resist any longer. Don't make me feel like a terrible person for being rather enamored by this enjoyable little movie. It casts Firth as a stage magician in the 1920s, paired against Stone, who is either masquerading as a psychic or really has the gift. Between their characters begins a semi-battle of wits and words about the importance of "real" vs "spiritual" and "pessimism" vs "optimism".

The story is simple, but rather unique with a little hijinks (of course) thrown in for good measure. Don't forget, this one also includes the same theme many other Woody Allen films focus on - he continues to show his obsession with pondering the meaning of life. Those topics are rather overdone in films in general, but in this case, a batch of talented actors made it feel interesting and new again.

Firth and Stone, the gorgeous setting, and period costumes (endless great hats!) are really all you need to have me love a movie. As much as I think about not supporting Allen anymore - here we are again.

Can we all at least officially agree that Emma Stone is the best? Even though I always like her, for some reason this movie really made me realize how she can sell the shit out of anything. Other actresses playing a "mystic" would have had over the top visions and it would have seemed too campy, but Stone really made you believe she was a psychic intercepting messages from the beyond. Even she made me believe that this was something that could really exist. Maybe Stone's calling is in late night infomercials.

The Take-Away: Emma Stone continues to rule the world - this time with Firth on her arm and a bunch of fun hats (until she drives in a car with the top down, a time when a hat would actually be useful).

The Room

Oh, hi Readers. 

Last week, I took in this spectacle at a Riff Tracks screening held at my local theater. It was one of those Fathom Events that Regal puts on.

Lovingly cheered for at Midnight Movie screenings, basically since the minute it made its debut in 2002, The Room is the ultimate "so bad, it bounces back and is incredible" movies. Thousands or millions of think pieces have been produced trying to explain its insanity, but The Room very much needs to be seen in order to be believed.

Written, directed, produced, and starring an unknown maniac, this is a movie where roughly nothing and EVERYTHING happens. Yes, just like the title alludes, a lot of this movie happens in "The Room", or rather, a tacky, small apartment in San Fransisco. This whole situation all made a lot more sense after hearing that the creative genius behind the movie couldn't decide if it should be a movie or a play. Bonkers.

The Take-Away: How Did This Get Made?



We're getting into the hot summer movie season. There isn't too much being released that is making me feel as excited as a bunch of confetti being shot out of a cannon (besides Inside Out!), but I'll still be out in the theater and I hope you will be too!


Until next time.

Let's Hear It For The Girl(s)!

Two sisters are separated for years simply because of a low down, dirty man.

It only seemed appropriate (yet unintentional) as a lead in to International Women's Day over the weekend  that I checked out the many powerful female characters in The Color Purple for the first time. Well, it was the first time I had watched the movie all the way through - what Oprah fan hasn't curiously checked out some clips while it was playing on TV?

Even having read the novel years ago did not prepare me for the emotional wreckage the movie would leave behind in my living room. Yeah, it's definitely a full on, smeared mascara, audible sob, ugly cry kind of night.

There is not many sights more heart wrenching than watching those young sisters, Celie and Nettie, being dragged apart, down porch steps and through a field, all while they are panicked and screaming. Sisters who have only each other at a time where they are continually beaten down (literally) by the men in an unfortunate world.

It's impossible to not feel inspired by what they overcame to grow into strong willed adults, guided by the influence of the already powerful women they knew, Shug Avery and Sofia (Oprah in all her perfect acting glory).

We all are lucky to have women in our lives - moms, grandmas, aunts, friends - who inspire us daily. I'm a lady who is perpetually seeking answers and motivation from any source I can, even the movies

Early on I was transfixed by any story with confident female characters more than anything else. Maybe they were people I wanted to be like or I just was drawn to their take on the world.

Stories with these types of characters can be found everywhere. I'm sure y'all have your favorites, because I know I've already talked at length about the everlasting influence of Jo March. Even if there is no way to mention them all, here are just a few that stand out in my mind:

Working Girl

Living in a house with Carly Simon and Joan Cusack loving parents, this story of a Staten Island gal hoping to move up the ranks at her office, one large hairstyle at a time, was probably my introduction into the doldrums of working at a job you hate.

Tess Mcgill pounded the pavement on her morning commute in dazzling tennis shows only to switch to heels, but that dedication wasn't enough. "Let the river run" she did - there may have been a couple of lies told in the process, but her wit and smarts is what lands her that promotion in the end.

True Grit

How can you not appreciate a strong willed youngster who seeks out help for avenging the death of her father?

Tough dudes come to her aide, but, just like the title implies, the mission wouldn't have even begun without her gumption.

Contact

When I think of a lady standing up for their beliefs, no other movie resonates more than this one. (I might just have the long list of great old McConaughey flicks fresh in my memory...no, it's definitely the Jodie Foster character.)

After discovering what is potentially the link to another world, the people of our own planet pressure Ellie to proclaim that she should instead embrace something other than science, a "higher power" if you will, but she doesn't back down.

It always surprised me that an "alien" movie developed into something more philosophical - that only makes it much more interesting to watch.

Peggy Olson Takes On The World

She's not from a movie, but this can't go by without a mention to one of the greatest female characters on TV right now and will be a lasting legacy.

Over the years Peggy went after what she wanted and moved up from a quiet secretary to a brassy, tough talking force in the advertising world, who doesn't take crap from nobody. Quite frankly - she's the shit.

The Women Of Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates, never the conventional leading lady, yet all of the characters she plays have real guts - not all actresses can say that. The unsinkable Molly brown! Towanda! The examples could go on and on, but there is one performance in particular that always made my heart break every time I caught it playing on cable. It's one of those I always remember seeing when I stayed home sick from school.

In A Home Of Our Own, Bates played a single mom who takes her bundle of six children on the road to start a new life. They find an abandoned house and spend the rest of the movie making it their own, one wall at a time.

It always struck me how tough this situation would be, but Bates, reassuring both the audience and her movie children at the same time, makes it all look like a breeze with a warm smile and twinkle in her her eye.

The Women Of Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts was on a roll of playing stand up broads. Her characters were always going after what they wanted and almost always succeeding.

By telling an alarming true life tale, she boldly stepped into the life and revealing clothing of Erin Brockovich, who played a large part in stopping a large corporation from hurting and killing the people of  a small town.

Then, in Mona Lisa Smile, she playing a professor who was big on women's lib in the 1950s. She encouraged her students to seek out jobs instead of getting married right away. This was one of the movies that made me excited to go to college and feel privileged to be living in a time when society had bigger expectations for me, and women like me.

Roberts can't be found as often up on the big screen anymore, but the smart, bold women she has played will never go out of style.

Juno

Critics loved and then quickly turned on this story about a pregnant teen. The kitschy dialogue may rub people the wrong way now, but remember the heart of the story!

This strong girl spends most of the film never doubting her situation, all while getting made fun of and judged. It's a movie filled with women who won't let the world take them down.  This is perfectly played by Allison Janney, as she rips a bitchy ultrasound technician a new one.

It's a movie to always appreciate for these merits alone.


There are plenty more bold characters and real life ladies that deserve a mention, so let's leave with name dropping some other cool chicks.

Harper Lee   Tina Fey   Jane Pratt  Neko Case   Diane Sawyer   Hilary Clinton   Jane Austen
Dorothy Parker  Jane Eyre  Emma Thompson  Kate Winslet  Tami Taylor  Bridget Jones
Lucille Ball   Eleanor Roosevelt  Amelia Earheart  Jenny Lewis  Kathi Goertzen  Robyn
Gwen Stefani   Sandara Bullock  Regina Spektor   Carole King  Dolly Parton  Debbie Harry
Cyndi Lauper  Patsy Cline  P!nk  Rachel Maddow  Meryl Streep  Julie Andrews 
Nancy Wilson Rachel Portman Amy Sedaris  Amy Poehler  Emmylou Harris 
Christiane Amanpour  Patty Murray  Michelle Obama  Nellie Bly  Sofia Coppola 
Judy Blume  Helen Mirren


Until next time!

Wednesday Buffet

Some days my excitement for life spills over into a Smörgåsbord of topics that need to be addressed. I can't share just one, so it must all be released in one extravaganza. Today is one of those days.

Oprah's last day. Crafting projects. Spring. This has been a busy week,  and it's only half way through! Here are just some of the things I have been enjoying lately:

Putting the final nail in another craft project.

 (A pair of baby size Mary Jane's as a gift for my new cousin)

Simple pattern for beginners (like me!) and easy to jazz up with pinches of  your own creative genius. Crochet flowers are a blast to make y'all.

"One Last Ugly Cry": A Letter To Oprah

Oprah! Her 25 years on television is longer than my whole life. Literally, I have no idea what the world looked like without Oprah in a magazine, a newspaper, or on a TV screen in my living room. 

Without getting weepy and cheesy, I do owe a tip of my metaphysical top hat to Oprah-watching as a little girl, to now as an adult, she got me hooked on hearing other peoples stories. Simple really, but part of this curiosity and compassion branched into my desire to become a journalist. Oh, and Oprah, I'll always take a job working for you.

This may be her last syndicated moment on television, but she's not going anywhere-didn't you hear, she's Oprah!

Something that truly makes me shed a single tear; no more of Oprah putting her heart and soul into audience participation during musical performances! At 1:10, she really digs her some A.J.

Backyard Spring Flowers

Glee Rebound

Somehow pure enthusiasm, that only a show choir can evoke, was able to transform a forgettable Madonna songs into a rousing NYC production number-that is the magic touch. Also, a Bella Notte serenade and Wicked, yes please!

How did this season turn out to be so excellent in the end? That huge chunk in the middle was giving me serious doubts, and now I wonder-should Glee just be a mini-series? When it's good, it's amazing television, now they just need to figure out how to stretch this excellence into every story, and each episode throughout an entire season. Can they do it? This is still to be seen, but after last night, they are not losing a fan.

Lets Hold Hands: Oprah's Not Going To Be There Forever!

Sure, when Oprah leaves her show after this season, we are all going to miss (most of all) the extravagant audience give-a-ways that cause mass hysteria. Where else can you see someone actually fall over because they find themselves in the audience of (get ready to do your best Oprah impression...I know you can do it) "Opraahhh's Favorite Thiiings!" episode?

After watching today's show, I was reminded that Oprah's incredible generosity is not the only reason the female (and many devoted males) population of the world has cherished her and the show she hosts. For years The Oprah Winfrey Show has cranked out shows, day after day, that involve important topics for our country to hear and everyone takes notice. There isn't any other show like that on television today. This is why I have been a devoted fan of hers since I could sit up and watch the TV at my Grandmas house during the summer.

The perfect example is the focus of today's show; the atrocities in the U.S. education system.





Most of the discussion on her show involved the documentary Waiting For Superman, which does an in depth investigation into the problems with education all over our country. The fact that I am strongly impassioned about the importance of education, I saw this preview at a movie theater several months ago and instantly wanted to see it.

National, local, and world news could only dedicate a small segment to topics like this one, which is why Oprah's hour long format is perfect and allows this topic to reach, and hopefully motivate to action, a huge audience. Once Oprah is gone there will be a serious void to fill in order to keep presenting important topics like this to America.

Now don't get me wrong, The Oprah Winfrey Show isn't always utilizing groundbreaking journalism and can also be found as an entertaining, celebrity driven, movie promoting machine, but what's wrong with having a little fun in between the serious stuff? (Liza and John Stewart are on tomorrow!)

Ah, Oprah, why are you leaving before I could work for you?