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Reviews
Sicario (2015)
An intense somewhat raw dirty drama of doing whatever it takes to get it done.
Just saw "Sicario" and I will say that certainly in my opinion it's not a great movie, yet still it's intense enough and raw with drama for any crime drama movie fan to view. As is so common in today's headlines from the news it's Mexico against the United States in the drug border war and a lot of those problems involve the Mexican drug cartel. This drama story centers around a young and hard working up and coming FBI agent named Kate(Emily Blunt)who joins a federal task force to go to the U.S. and Mexican border to fight the drug war. And from the start Kate sees that this is a brutal and blood like war with guns and body after body being discovered. Along the way good supporting help is provided from Matt Graver(Josh Brolin)yet the anti hero and key player in helping find the Mexican drug leader is a renegade named Alejandro(Benicio Del Toro). It proves that in life and war you don't always play by the rules as many times they are bent and broken, overall this movie is raw, gritty, and downright blunt!
True Story (2015)
A twist a cat and mouse game tale of suspense and lies.
"True Story" isn't exactly the best movie ever made and true it's based on a true story it was still compelling and interesting to watch as it's suspense and web of lies and mystery held interest it was just a game of the tricks and trade. Journalist Michael Finkel(Jonah Hill) is fired from The New York Times for a false story well later he learns that accused murderer Christian Longo(James Franco)has made claims to be him. Michael then hopes that this will save his career he begins interviewing Longo in prison. Only soon this film takes twist and turns you the viewer don't know who to believe or what to think is Longo a killer or not, really this is a good psychological drama that plays with your mind even causing to ask questions in the end as Finkel will feel the burn and hurt for many years. Overall nothing special still it's worth a checkout.
I'll See You in My Dreams (2015)
A film of last chance and hope and discovery showing that life drifts away as dreams are hope!
Just watched this nice and touching film "I'll See You In My Dreams" and it's one that's filled with promise and hope showing that during one's life it may be about late love before life drifts away for good. Set in sunny southern California Carol(Blythe Danner)is a widow her husband passed for many years and her grown daughter has gone away all this former songstress has left now in life is wine drinking and card games with her gal friends and she has regular visits from her pool boy. And yet all of this slowly but surely has it's luster to go away. Yet love is unexpected and uncertain you never know when and where your gonna find it. All of a sudden enter Bill(the wonderful Sam Elliott)who's lonely after the death of his wife for many years Bill's life is now on a boat! Soon passion and sparks of romance happen between Bill and Carol it's really fun and engaging! Still in the end as life is unexpected and uncertain just with life and love Carol will again have to take a new direction and new path. Overall this film is touching, uplifting with new hope while showing the real sadness of time passing with age and life. As it proves dreams just might be our only hope.
Black Mass (2015)
A violent and blunt look at greed, corruption, and a criminal life for three decades.
Just recently saw "Black Mass" from director Scott Cooper and I must say that it's a well done and informative look at the life and times of real life Boston criminal Whitey Bulger(played to near perfection by Johnny Depp). The film goes thru three decades starting in the 1970's to showcase the rise and power going up thru the ranks of crime and it's very violent and blunt in the scenes of blood and murder. Yet along the way bad boy Bulger is helped along with his rise to power by being an informant to the police to take down rival street gangs and other Mafia members on other turfs. Slowly but surely South Boston is controlled by Whitey yet the FBI is showcased as corrupt especially agent John Connolly(Joel Edgerton)as he and others look the other way when information about Bulger comes in it's like fear with bribes and payoffs on the side! Overall good film of greed, corruption, violence that tells the rise and fall of one of the most known criminals ever. And thumbs up to Johnny Depp for a kick butt performance.
Grandma (2015)
An offbeat film of hope, desire and need for help all while finding a new road to life!
"Grandma" is one of those short little nice independent films that touches the heart showing that life is full of change, hope and finding a new path for each. The grand old Lily Tomlin is Elle a past her prime college professor who's down in the dumps she's broke money wise and she's just broken up with her gay lady love Olivia(Judy Greer). To complicate matters one day her granddaughter Sage shows up one day needing 600 dollars and guess what it's for an abortion as Sage was knocked up by her boyfriend who hit the road! Then it's a funny and feel good road journey to obtain the 600 for an abortion and along the way it's a bonding of love and friendship as Sage's mother and Elle's daughter Judy(Marcia Gay Harden)an uptight and business like society snob provides the money for the procedure. Still thru it all each discover a journey of hope and a new beginning and Lily Tomlin's performance is shining even with her grand old age.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)
An intimate and blunt brash look at the coming of age of a young lady who learns about life, love, and sex while finding herself.
"The Diary of a Teenage Girl" is one film that's not worried about showing it's point even though it's supported by some artistic animation it proves that one young lady is serious about finding herself thru sexual discovery learning that life is about love and lust before you discover your true self. Set in mid 1970's San Francisco Bel Powley is Minnie a young teenage girl who starts an affair with her Mom Charlotte's(Kristen Wiig) boyfriend Monroe(Alexander Skarsgard). And the passion and intimate feel is hot and feel good as many scenes are provocative and blunt showing plenty of skin and breast of young Minnie. As this young lady is in a crazy home life world as mom Charlotte is a fired alcoholic lady who snorts drugs with Monroe on the west coast and California party scene. Thru it all this young lady Minnie learns about people, life and love yet most important she comes to peace thru herself with love and inspiration for art and people. Overall good film of fun, discovery and finding about one's self with a happy feel in the end.
Irrational Man (2015)
A film that lays itself out as different and it shows that life is a challenge and mystery that takes twist and unexpected turns.
If you watch Woody Allen films you know that they are different and they showcase people with their struggles of life and finding love and happiness. This latest work is "Irrational Man" a good character study of a man on the edge trying to find some mental reason while wondering if life is reason or chance. It is a showcase of how thought and the mind works as it can drive one to do anything. Yet the story is of one Abe(Joaquin Phoenix)a hard drinking tormented philosophy professor who arrives at a small north eastern town college to teach. And word is he's a lady man too and it's soon seen when Abe starts to romance and bed a fellow professor(Parker Posey). When classes start Abe also has his eye on Jill(Emma Stone) a young and bright student who has wonder and thought of poetry, life, film, talk, and love. Soon the two begin to date and go to social dinners only soon before she goes to bed with Abe Jill learns that he has a darkness of mind to him his thoughts and views on life are dim and different. And when Abe one day hears a table conversation an ideal of revenge is lit up in his mind. Wow would he go this far. Overall this film is strange a different kind that shows great character study and that thru thought and mind one can go to far to the edge.
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014)
A fairy tale film that shows hope, wonder and search lead to a discovery of fortune!
Just finally watched the indie picture "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter" and I must say it was a pretty pleasant and wonder of a film. It showed and displayed the theme of dreams do come true just like a fairy tale in the world! Rinko Kikuchi is Kumiko a lonely Tokyo office worker who has no life she don't have many friends nor does she blend in socially and she has no love life no male friend. As with phone conversations her mother worries about her wanting her to move back home as she can't even get a promotion on the job. Yet oddly and in extreme interest all she lives for after finding an old VHS tape of the American classic "Fargo" is searching for the buried suitcase of cash in the film, as Kumiko is certain it's real! So for sure she heads to frozen North Dakota to search for the buried treasure only to discover that fiction and reality is often a tough blend. Overall this film is a mixture of search, and an emotional hunt for discovery of finding a dream a life fortune. Overall it proves that life can have a happy fairy tale ending thru search and wonder as one can find discovery.
Southpaw (2015)
A film of hope and soul finding after you losing it all redemption can be found!
I must say that the new boxing drama "Southpaw" is a real knockout film a winner that delivers the punch on both ends for drama and emotion it proves that sometimes before you regain it you must lose it all! Billy Hope(Jake Gyllenhaal)is the raining and best known light heavyweight fighter on the planet who has it all from the championship belt, to a fine home and a fancy car with a cute little daughter to of course a hot sexy trophy colored bra wearing wife named Maureen(Rachel McAdams was just so fine in that sexy silk light pink colored bra scene!). All of a sudden the wife Maureen wants him to have a change of heart and mind and leave the brutal business of boxing, yet one by one Billy's fame and life is ripped away as he has his wife lost in a tragic accident, and thru bad promotion and debt he goes broke losing his home, belt and even due to his drug using ways the courts take away his cute little daughter. Wow Billy has hit rock bottom. Then he connects with trainer Tick Willis(Forest Whitaker)it's thru this time of learning and rediscovery of hope and heart that Billy once again rises to the top! Overall "Southpaw" breaks your heart with the tragic nature still it's a knockout tribute to the soul and heart for being able to discover that magic punch.
Laggies (2014)
A film of finding out who you really are with different friends and a different life!
"Laggies" is a film that many might relate to as the lead character is living a life that's a lie she isn't really happy as it becomes clear she needs new love and new friends! Well Keira Knightley is Megan a 28 year old who's not ready to be a grown lady she thinks she's ready for marriage and she's trying to impress her stuck high class acting friends, yet really that's not Megan so enter Annika(Chloe Grace Moretz)a free spirited 16 year old who's a party girl who wonders if life will be around after high school! The two strike up a friendship of help and discovery as Megan has been a girl with tight and false parents and Annika a young girl with divorced parents that include a lawyer dad and sexy colored bra wearing mom. Anyway thru it each see that life is different paths of discovery and finding out who you really are thru friendship as this journey shows Megan a new life of love, friends, and happiness, overall this film shows a good life message of change.