What an interesting mix of films this week… If you have seen these films, please let us know what you think! J&J
Venom
OK now…We saw movie bill boards all over Italy last month, Venom was playing widely. We tired more than once to find a showing either in English or dubbed in English. Not one theater we explored showed any of their films in English. It came as a surprise considering our success viewing films in many other countries.
Imagine our surprise to discover Venom was still in the local San Francisco theaters.
All that said, for those of you who have not seen the film, let’s just say it is unique. After all, aliens eating other species should not be funny, right? Well in this romp both the alien and the Tom Hardy character become buds, the action scenes are often funny and vulgar at the same time. Stunning and slapstick concurrently. Once you get comfortable with the tone and direction you might find yourself feeling just a bit guilty for liking it. Quite rare actually.
All that said the cast is pretty good. Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson, Jenny Slate, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Michele Lee and several more fill the various characters.
It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for language. Young children should not see this until a few years older. Take your pick on genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction or Fantasy. The run time is 112 minutes.
Rating 
The Guilty
This unique film from Denmark is almost stark yet an engaging story about a police office in a demoted capacity as an emergency call in dispatcher who engages gripping settings filled with angst and tension.
It’s often difficult to listen to (since the entire story is filmed mostly on the phone and not the actual situations occurring in real time).
The cast is compact. Ten actors fill the screen mostly with voices. Their performances reflect the characters they represent. It sounds complicated but the viewers imagination naturally adapts to the telephone engagements.
This film is rated R for language. It will not be suitable for younger viewers. It is listed as a Drama, Mystery and Suspense running 85 minutes. It is too early to consider the award season but this is innovative film making…just saying.
Rating:
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
This Disney production has been in promotion for months. It’s a family film, child friendly, inventive, enchanting, with impressive visual effects.
It has a great cast. Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Eugenio Derbez, ballerina Misty Copeland. Especially notable are Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren in unique roles with a dozen more actors that round out the cast.
This film is rated PG for some mild peril. We caution parents with young children, some scenes are pretty intense with complex visual dynamics. The genre is noted as Action& Adventure, Kids & Family, (new to us?!), Science Fiction & Fantasy. The run time is 99 minutes.
Rating:
I think I’ll skip all of them!