Author: James Hathaway

Itzhak

Every once in a while magic happens.  Director/Producer Alison Chernick’s documentary about the life story of Itzhak Perlman and his command of the violin is a joy to watch, listen and applaud.

There is also a hefty dose of love, laughter, commitment to family, friends and young musicians.  The film does not shy away from tough topics:  parents emigrating from Poland to Isreal, a lifetime struggle with polio and the disability challenges.  Instead Itzhak, his wife and family have embraced life’s adversity and filled their lives with laughter and their support for the arts.

This film is not rated.  It is listed as a Documentary and runs 1 hour, 22 minutes.  Seek this one out.  It will make you smile and brighten your day.

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Chappaquiddick

This film is based on the true events of July 18, 1969 when then Senator Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge one night on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts.  A young campaign strategist was trapped in the car and died.

This movie captures the hours and days immediately after the incident.  The story is unsettling, provocative and intense.  The scandal has haunted political history ever since.

The cast includes several good performances by Kate Mara, Jason Clark, Ed Helms, Bruce Dern and a dozen more key actors.

It is rated PG-13 for thematic material, disturbing images, strong language and smoking.  It is listed as a Mystery & Suspense.  It runs 1 hour, 41 minutes.

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Finding Your Feet

This is a charming, touching, funny story that has received mixed reviews.  We feel that is unduly harsh.  It has a good script and a skilled cast.  The story is more complex than it appears on the surface.  Its reflection on British culture is on target and credible.

The cast includes Imelda Staunton in a great role.  Timothy Spall is always excellent.  Celia Imrie, Joanna Lumley, David Hayman are all spot on characters.

While the story is focused on issues associated with late life, it does not shy away from serious senior topics.

It is rated PG-13 for suggestive material, drug use, and brief strong language.  It is listed as a comedy, drama, romance and runs 111 minutes.  We caution parents regarding viewing by young children.  Seek out this film if it is still in your area.

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Final Portrait

This is an intriguing peek behind the curtain of Swiss Italian artist Alberto Giacometti.  It is set in 1964 Paris when the artist asks American writer James Lord to sit for a portrait that was scheduled to take one day.

The film takes the audience on a wild ride through the vulgar chaos, insight, and the ‘artistic process’ of the famed painter.

Geoffrey Rush is completely at home in the character of Alberto Giacometti.  Armie Hammer is comfortable in the skin of James Lord.  Clemence Poesy is the painter’s mistress while Sylvie Testud stews as the painter’s wife.  On the up side, Tony Shalhoub shines as the painter’s brother.

The film is equal parts frustrating, charming, bewildering, intriguing and insightful.  It is rated R for language, sexual references and nudity.  Its genre is noted as Art House & International, Documentary, Drama.  The run time is 90 minutes.  Written and directed by Stanley Tucci.  English and French with English subtitles.

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A Quiet Place

This film is intense and terrifying at the same time.  The premise is simple.  If anyone makes any kind of noise at any time, day or night, some birdlike dinosaur comes and kills the noisemaker.  That’s it!

So humans slink around by day or night to survive.  Think of this film as an update on the creature feature genre of the 70’s and 80’s.  We were actually a bit surprised to see the theater quite full for the first showing on a Saturday.

All that said, the acting makes this production work.  Emily Blunt is perfect.  John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe and Cade Woodward deliver solid, convincing performances.

The film is rated PG-13 for terror and brief bloody images.  It is not suitable for children.  It was directed by John Krasinski.  The genre is listed as Drama, Mystery & Suspense.  We thoroughly enjoyed it!

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The Leisure Seeker

Well now…where to begin?!  First, let’s be clear, the critics almost universally panned this film as “clumsy”, “stale” and “lost”.  And those were the kind words!  This film was first released in early February and just now re-released.

That said, the on screen chemistry between Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland characters alone are worth the admission price.  The acting was balanced, solid and believable, even some of the flashbacks and sidebars.  That’s not easy for a story line built on the issues associated with end of life.

The film is listed as Drama/Romance.  It is rated R for some sexual material.  It runs a whopping 112 minutes.

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Acrimony

Taraji P. Henson is really exceptional as the devoted wife to her inventor husband Robert, played by Lyriq Bent.  The talented cast is extensive with over 50 actors.

The script is sharp and well honed, it’s quick and intelligent.  There are more twists and turns than the Hollywood Freeway!  There is also quite a bit of conflict that can become onerous to watch.

It is rated R for language, sexual content and some violence.  The genre is listed as a Thriller/Psychological Thriller running 2 hours.

This movie is both compelling to watch and disturbing at the same time.  Tyler Perry directed, produced and wrote the screenplay.

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Pacific Rim

This Fantasy/Action film features monstrous creatures that came from the seas to wreck havoc on mankind.  In response, humans created giant robots to keep the sea creatures in check.

Director Guillermo del Toro is in his element as he reenacts his newest chapter of man versus monster.  This action packed episode is a visually epic scale production.  Unfortunately it is also heavy on carnage, weak on humanity and B-rated on apocalyptic creatures.

Audiences seemed to like this film.  We were not all that impressed.  Lots of noise and angst but not a lot of substance.

It is rated PG-13 for intense Sci-fi action and violence, and brief language.  It is listed as Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy.  The run time is 2 hours, 12 minutes.

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Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

This is a story of the famed actress Hedy Lamarr dating back to the 1940s.  It is listed as a Biography/History but it is actually a documentary.

The Austrian born actress fled to the U.S. to evade a bad marriage.  She quickly became a famous leading lady, and a brilliant inventor.  She invented a radio system that is now credited as the foundation to modern radar and Bluetooth.

It is a remarkable story about an incredible woman who lived a life of her choosing.  It was not always flattering or glamorous.  She was incredibly intelligent and fearless.

Critics and audiences liked this film.  It is listed as a Biography/History that runs 1 hour, 30 minutes.

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Foxtrot

This is a unique film that is not easy to watch from the onset.  The parents of a young Israeli soldier are confronted by other military personnel with the news of their son’s death at a remote checkpoint.  The response by the parents is poignant and powerful.

Next the camera acts as a flashback to a remote checkpoint where four young Israeli soldiers (including the deceased) are stationed to monitor a border crossing used mostly by Palestinians and the occasional camel.  This part of the film plays with the audience, challenging the viewers to sort out absurd events acted out in physical comedy and discomfort.

The actors are limited to the minimum.   Lior Ashkenazi delivers a painful portrayal as the grieving father.  Sarah Adler is equally effective in the role of the Mom.  Their son is played by the excellent young israeli actor Yonathan Shiray.

The film is rated R for some sexual content including graphic images and brief drug abuse.  The genre is listed as Drama with a run time of 114 minutes.  Hebrew with English subtitles.  (Having visited Israel and several neighboring countries, we felt a powerful connection to this film.  It is a less than perfect picture of the country yet still worthy of seeing.)

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The Death of Stalin

This political satire film about the death of Stalin in 1953 has a lot to chew on.  The power vacuum that follows is a reminder of real history, global dangers and radical swings that occurred all too often.

Scottish Director and Satirist, Armando Iannucci delivers a stunning visual interpretation of the events immediately after Stalin’s sudden death.

Clearly a comedy, the brilliant acting and strong script allows the production to charge head long using biting one liners and irreverent satire.

The casting is genius.  Steve Buscemi is a perfect Nikita Khrushchev.  Jeffrey Tambor plays Georgy Malenkov.  Simon Russell Beale plays Lavrentiy Beria, Paddy Considine is Comrade Andryev, Rupert Friend is over the top as Vasily Stalin and Jason Isaacs is a perfect Georgy Zhukov.

What results is a wicked comedy, that is also a hilarious farce, and audacious enough to not be taken too seriously.

It is rated R for language, violence and some sexual references.  It is noted as a Comedy, Drama.  Run time is 107 minutes.

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Game Night

This film was released before we went to Europe.  It was playing in Europe but we could never seem to fit it into our schedule.  Finally today the stars aligned and we saw this movie.

This story starts out pretty wimpy.  Lame dialog from weak characters comes off corny.  Then incrementally the story, acting and the production quality gain momentum that peak at just the right times making for a satisfying movie experience.

Rachael McAdams and Jason Bateman are hilarious together.  Jesse Plemons is perfect as the neighborhood policeman.  Kyle Chandler and Michael C. Hall are excellent bad guys along with another dozen actors that round out the cast.

Yes, there are corny moments and ample deadpan humor.  But it does not drift off course.  It incrementally delivers and then just adds a bit more for good measure.

It is rated R for language, sexual references and some violence.  It is listed as a Comedy, Mystery & Suspense.

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Unsane

This is a unique film that bends the norm for mental/medical care facilities.  It is intense, creepy and more than a little unsettling.  Nightmare comes to mind!

The film’s Director and Cinematographer is Steven Soderbergh.  It is best described as a psychothriller.  The script is well written and helps tie the concept together.

Claire Foy plays the accidental victim in this story.  Juno Temple plays a scary threatening patient named Violet.  Joshua Leonard plays the stalker and crazy attending caregiver.

It is rated R for disturbing behavior, violence, language and sexual references.  It is listed as a Drama, Mystery & Suspense.  The run time is 97 minutes.

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Ramen Heads

Ramen noodles are one of Japan’s most popular comfort foods.  This film takes a deep dive into the history and cultural connection to the legions of customers in and outside of Japan.  The result is an interesting and entertaining documentary.

The story drifts a bit from chef to chef, slurping techniques, and a study on obsessive details. It ultimately succeeds in capturing the mania the perfect ramen noodle creates for its followers.

The cast includes leading chefs Osamu Tomita, Shota Iida, Kumiko Ishida, Katsuya Kobayashi, Yuki Ohnishi and Tom Takahashi.

This film is not rated with a run time of 93 minutes.  Japanese with English subtitles. (A yummy Vietnamese ramen lunch was on our agenda today as a matter of fact.)

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Ready Player One

It was just a matter of time before films start translating reality into science fiction, in this case video games.  Based on the novel by the same name, Steven Spielberg and Industrial Light & Magic bought the movie rights and created a film set in a very unappealing 2045 AD where the world as we know it is on the brink of collapse.  Technology has created a virtual reality alternate world called OASIS where gaming replaces almost every aspect of real life.  Overall, while visually fascinating, the constant special effects become a bit tedious.

The cast headlines Tye Sheridan as the gamer Parzival, Olivia Cooke as Samantha Cook, Ben Mendelsohn as the CEO of Innovative Online Industries seeking control of OASIS.  There are over 12 more actors rounding out the primary cast.

The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence, blood images, some suggestive material, partial nudity and language.  We do not feel this film is suitable for children.  The genre is listed as Thriller, Science Fiction & Fantasy.  It runs a long 2 hours, 40 minutes.

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This is a quirky movie about a middle aged Japanese woman and her sister, her sister’s daughter, and her daughter’s boyfriend and so on…

That said, it also has a universal quality about it.  It is more like real life than the movies.  Its twists and turns are often unexpected and poignant.

The cast includes Josh Harnett in the role of John, and is well suited for him.  Shinobu Terejima is great as Lucy.  Kaho Minami plays Lucy’s sister.  Shioli Kutsuna plays Lucy’s sister’s daughter.  There are more than a dozen other bit roles that make up the rest of the cast.  These strong performances are what makes this film compelling and enjoyable.

This film is not rated.  It is listed as a Comedy, Drama.  It is in limited release so do seek this one out sooner rather than later.  Run time is 96 minutes.  Japanese and English, with English subtitles.

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Love, Simon

Every once in a while a film is released that is well written, well acted, and well…on target to its topic.  Here Simon Spier is gay, 17 years old but hasn’t told anybody.  Not his parents or close friends.  At the same time Simon is openly communicating anonymously with a classmate who is gay but he doesn’t know who that person is.  One by one more people become involved but no one knows the whole truth.

A great cast and strong performances make this film believable.  Nick Robinson delivers a heartfelt performance as Simon.  Equally good performances by Jennifer Garner as the Mom, Josh Duhamel as the supportive Dad and Talitha Bateman as the sister.  And…I can’t tell you anymore lest I spoil the finale.  Let’s just say the movie is charming, inspiring and uplifting.

It is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual references, language and teen partying.  It is listed as a Drama and runs 109 minutes.

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Isle of Dogs

Yet another good release.  This one is clever, intelligent with interesting characters.  It’s Wes Anderson’s ninth feature film, his second in stop-motion animation.

Japan is hit with an outbreak of canine flu and all dogs are quarantined on an island.  Meanwhile a government conspiracy leaks to the press and tensions swell to a breaking point.

The voice cast is a whose who of Hollywood including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Yoko Ono and more.

It is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some violent images.  It is listed as Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy.  It runs 101 minutes.  It can become tedious and a bit difficult to follow but well worth a watch.

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7 Days in Entebbe

This film reflects the true events of the 1976 hijacking of an Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens with 250 passengers on board.  It landed in Entebbe, Uganda.  The militant highjackers wanted to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the time.

The acting varies from fair to middling.  Rosamund Pike is inconsistent as a lead highjacker.  Daniel Bruhl is more convincing as her boy friend.  Eddie Marsan is convincing as Shimon Peres and Lior Ashkwnazi is excellent as Yitzhak Rabin.  Nonso Anozie has a bit part as Idi Amin.

Unfortunately many of the real facts are missing in this version of events.   For example, this film suggests the Jewish passengers were segregated from the other passengers.  Historical fact shows most of the French Jewish passengers were released.  That said, most of the connections to today’s Israeli politicians are correct.

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A Wrinkle in Time

This film has benefited from extensive marketing and the Disney production machine.  Much to our surprise both audiences and critics have been tepid with their enthusiasm.

We liked the film, a lot!  The acting was consistently good.  The story was true to its roots.  The messages were universal and uniquely appropriate.  The surprises were inventive, the flow was just about right.

The headline actors were all well cast.  Oprah Winfrey was amazing as Mrs. Which.  Reese Witherspoon was a hoot as Mrs. Whatsit.  Mindy Kaling was perfect as Mrs. Who.  Chris Pine is great as the missing Dad,  Gugu Mbatha-Raw is superb as the Mom.

The children played essential roles including Storm Reid (sister), Livi Miller (classmate) and Deric McCabe (little brother).  There were easily 2 dozen other roles rounding out the cast.

The film is rated PG for thematic elements and some peril.  That said, overall the story is uplifting with a couple of brief scenes less than ideal for young children.  That also said there was a good sized group of elementary school children in the theater (10 to 12 year old) that seemed riveted throughout.

The genre is listed as Action & Adventure, Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy.  It runs two hours.  It will be interesting to see if the next Oscars remember this film for special effects, costume, make up, and other technical categories.

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Annihilation

We finally had the chance to see this film.  Oh my!  What an innovative and intriguing concept.  Some form of alien entity creates a “settlement” of sorts on earth where their “evolution” slowly begins.

It is visually stunning, often quite confusing, psychologically intense and gorgeous at the same time.

The acting is impressive.  Natalie Portman takes the lead as the biologist.  Benedict Wong plays the scientist.  Gina Rodriguez plays one of the soldiers on a dangerous expedition investigating the scene.  Tessa Thompson also plays a soldier.  Oscar Isaac plays the husband and soldier.  Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Dr. Ventress.  Tuva Novotny plays another investigating soldier.  There are another two dozen actors contributing to the script.

On the down side, the plot is difficult to follow.  On the up side, it is new and unique film making.   It is rate R for violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality.  The genre is listed as Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy.  It runs two hours.

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Red Sparrow

This film demands a lot from the viewer.  First, Russian ballerina has her leg broken by a fellow dancer with no explanation.  Next, after recovering from the injury, she enrolls in a secret intelligence school that makes weapons out of its students.

Even with this odd plot, the acting is impressive.  Jennifer Lawerence morphs from one personality to the next convincingly.  Joel Edgerton is a great match as the CIA operative.  Matthias Schoenaerts is the suave Uncle to Jennifer.  Jeremy Irons is a good bad guy and Charlotte Rampling is awesome as the Russian Headmistress.

Reviews have been mixed.  We found it gripping, intense, mostly believable and a new twist on an old plot.  It is rated R for strong violence, torture, sexual content, language and some graphic nudity.  It is NOT appropriate for children.  It runs a hefty 2 hours, 21 minutes.

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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Move over Angelina, make room for Alicia Vikander as the new Lara Croft.  In this episode of the Tomb Raider franchise, Lara embarks on a quest to follow in her father’s footsteps and find the missing links that will reveal the cause of her father’s death.

Lara finds a connection in her fathers death that leads to a journey to a remote island off the coast of Japan.  There are lots of twists and turns, most implausible, but necessary to the story line.

The acting follows suit.   Dan Wu plays an Asian boat captain who agrees to the journey.  Walton Goggins plays a pretty good bad guy.  Dominic West plays Lara’s Dad.  Hannah John-Kamen plays a bad girl while Kristin Scott Thomas plays the loving guardian (not) to Lara.

It’s rated PG-13 for violence, action and some strong language.  We discourage children from viewing this film.  The genre is noted as Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction and Fantasy.  It runs a long 118 minutes.

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Loveless

This was nominated for Best Foreign Film but was not released until after we departed for Europe (and it was not released in Europe until March 8).   Needless to say, it was not the winner.

It was however, a nail biting, gut wrenching and angst filled look behind the veil of Russian life.  Specifically marriage, child rearing, family and work life.  Oh my!  American soap operas are child’s play compared to this story line.

The Russian cast of 18 is filled with great actors who tell a heart wrenching story.  It is rated R for strong sexuality, graphic nudity, language and a brief disturbing image.  The genre is listed as Art House & International, Drama. It runs a whopping 129 minutes.

BTW, while buying the tickets John ran into the English actor Terence Stamp for a brief but pleasant moment!

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