Movies: Outlaw King, Love Gilda, Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words

Outlaw King

This film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018.  The story dates back to 1304 AD.  It is the story about Robert the Bruce, the 14th century Scottish king who declared war with the English army.

The acting is quite good.  It stars Chris Pine in the leading role.  Other noteworthy performances include Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lord of Douglas, Florence Pugh as Elizabeth de Burgh, and Billy Howle as Edward, Prince of Wales.

To be fair, the production is a brutal, bloody portrayal of medieval war.  It was often quite difficult to watch. We came away from the theater stunned.

The film is rated R for sequences of brutal war violence, some sexuality, language and brief nudity.  The genre is Action & Adventure, Drama.  It is not appropriate for children.  The run time is 117 minutes.  This film is in limited release in the theaters and also available on Netflix.

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Love Gilda

This is another Documentary film on our not to be missed list.  It’s based on the life and career of the much famed Gilda Radner from Saturday Night Live.

The film weaves footage from a wide variety of sources from childhood friends, home movies, diaries and a lengthy list of co-workers.  She has been recognized as a unique tour-de-force and an entertainment icon.

The film is both heartbreaking and inspiring.  Contributors include Amy Poehler, Andrew Alexander, Chevy Chase, Melissa McCarthy and many more.

The film is not rated and runs 86 minutes.  Gilda Radner died at the age of 43 from Ovarian cancer.

Note: A Big THANKS to Julie and John for a copy of this film upon returning from our travels.  This film was no longer playing in the theaters by the time we got home.

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Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words

Having missed several newly released films by the time we got home from Italy, we were delighted to see this film in one of our neighborhood independent theaters.

We were surprised to discover there are quite a few documentaries about famous musicians in distribution.  This fascinating and intriguing documentary was created by Director Tom Volf entirely from archival newsreel footage, performance recordings, and rare interview excerpts.  The result is an exceptional insight to the much famed opera singer Maria Callas.

The film, released by Sony Pictures Classics, was created entirely by recorded TV interviews, home movies, family photos, private letters and unpublished memoirs.  Maria’s life was a reflection of her rise from humble beginnings in New York to a global international superstar of the stage, screen and opera.

It’s also a peak behind the curtain that includes rarely seen footage of Aristotle Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Jacqueline Kennedy, Omar Sharif and several more internationally known performers and personalities.

The film is rated PG for mild thematic elements, some smoking, and brief language.  It is suitable for youngsters (with a lot of explanation).  It’s a unique film worthy of film buffs and opera lovers.  The run time is 95 minutes.

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