Author: James Hathaway

Warm greetings to all!

Movie buffs may recall this holiday weekend was one of the biggest weekends of the year with Telluride, Venice and the Toronto Film Festivals launching their programs.  Two Documentary hopefuls include the yet to be released Pick of the Litter and Active Measures.  Critics also noticed The Little Stranger.  We were fortunate to catch a showing this weekend.  Our review is below.

Enjoy!!

J&J

Searching

This film is focused on a missing 16 year old San Jose girl.  After 37 hours with no leads, her father decides to investigate via his daughter’s lap top.  This approach yields an ever expanding number of communicating options on the daughters smart phone and laptop all with little or no tangible results.  Soon a detective is assigned to the case but the progress is slow and frustrating.

The leading actors are John Cho as the father and Debra Messing as the detective.  Both give solid believable performances.  Michele La plays the daughter Margo, while the center of the story, her screen time is quite short.

The suspense factor gradually becomes more intense as the story unfolds.  Overall, the tone builds and tension grows and grows.  The surprise ending is executed nicely.  It’s clever and inventive.  Overall, it’s a unique movie.

It is rated PG-13 for thematic content, drug use and sexual references, and for language.  The numerous and continual computer screen shots became tedious after a while.  It’s listed as a Mystery & Suspense with a run time of 101 minutes.

Rating  

The Little Stranger

Opening in Telluride Labor Day weekend, this film yielded poor box office receipts elsewhere.  Our theater had less than 10 ticket holders.  That was a bit of a surprise given the Director, Lenny Abrahamson, of Room.  It is an odd story of class and privilege set in 1948.  There is a creepy undercurrent to the plot that ebbs and flows.  It is subtle and unsettling.

The cast is quite good.  Domhnall Gleeson is excellent as the Doctor.  Will Poulter plays the son.  Ruth Wilson, Josh Dylan and Charlotte Rampling, who plays the mother, rounds out the key characters.

Unexpectedly the house and its occupants incrementally get weird.  Is the place haunted?  Are the characters all nuts?  We never really know!  One critic said it best  “an elegant, cold-to-the-touch blend of drama and gothic horror.”  We say it was slow, confusing and unsatisfying.

It’s rated R for some disturbing bloody images.  It’s listed as a Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense.  It runs a long 1 hour 51 minutes.

Rating  

Gabriel and the Mountain

One part travel story, one part documentary, and one part fiction.  The total is apparently ‘all of the above’.

Brazilian student Gabriel Buchmann decides to spend a year traveling around the world before continuing his education at a prestigious American University.  After 10 months he finds himself in Kenya.

He is intelligent, educated, resourceful, adventurous and likable.  He is also naive, impulsive, persistent and stubborn.

His girlfriend joins him for some of the remaining weeks before she returns to Brazil to finish her education as Gabriel decided to climb his last conquest, Mount Malawi in Malawi.

Travel film, check.  Adventure film, check.  Love story, check.  Happy ending?  You’ll have to discover for yourself.

This film is not rated.  It is listed as an Art House & International, Drama.  The run time is 127 minutes.  English, French, Portuguese with English subtitles.

Rating 

Operation Finale

This film is about the pursuit and capture of Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi officer that masterminded the logistics and the killing of 6 million innocent Jews during World War II.  In researching the background on this film, we discovered numerous details that were not quite accurate.  None of the disconnects really alter the content of the film much but is valued information for those seeking only the facts and the truth.

The cast includes 20 key characters.  Ben Kingsley plays Adolf Eichmann.  Oscar Issac plays the kidnapper.  English Actor Joe Alwyn plays Eichmann’s son.  Peter Malkin plays an Israeli Agent who spent 27 years with Israeli Intelligence tracking down Nazi criminals.

The movie is intense, with a quick pace and constant tension.  It feels real.  It is sometimes difficult to watch.  Much to our surprise it is rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and related violent images and some language.  We do not recommend this film for children under 14.  It is listed as a Drama/Thriller running 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Rating 

Alpha

This film is enjoyable, quite unique and ultimately satisfying.  It’s set 20,000 years ago, apparently in Europe, although it would be hard to confirm or deny from the available information.

The beginning of the film is a bit awkward, early man and its primitive culture immediately prompts imagining early Native Americans and early buffalo hunts.  That said, we decided not to share more of those opening scenes because they are pivotal to the rest of the story.

The small international cast is impressive.  The 22 year old Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee is excellent as the tribe leader’s son.  Chilean actress Leonor Varela plays the Shaman Mom.  Swedish actor Jens Hulten play a tribal leader Xi.  Less than a dozen actors fill in the gaps.

Overall, the cinematography is front and center.  The focus on man and wolf is second next in line.  Survival is pivotal but third in line.  And there is a surprise ending that warms up the whole experience.  To be fair, this film will not be a threat to National Geographic but it is good film making and deserves an audience.

It is rated PG-13 for intensity but we think its fine for children.  It’s genre is noted as Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Suspense running 97 minutes.

Rating  

The Bookshop

This is an interesting film if for no other reason than the tumultuous array of feedback on the internet.  It’s not a blockbuster or a major cinematic release, yet the posts on the web seem to create a major controversy.

In our opinion, it is a charming film loosely based on the 1978 novel by Penelope Fitzgerald.  The story is set in 1959 in an English coastal village in East Anglica.  It is about a war widow who decides to open a bookstore only to discover the forces of old money wealth and influence are in play to replace the bookstore with an art center.

The main reason to see this film is the cast.  Emily Mortimer plays the widow.  Patricia Clarkson plays a wealthy operative.  Bill Nighy is brilliant as the neighbor.  A half a dozen other actors fill out the remaining characters.

It is rated PG for some thematic elements, language and brief smoking.  It is listed as a drama and runs 113 minutes.  It is worth a watch if it fits your interest.

Rating  

Papillon

So much to share about this movie!  Many of us will recall the instant classic film from 1973 by the same name staring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.  More important, Papillon is based on the real story of the French convict Henri Charriere who was imprisoned in 1933 in French Guiana (then Northeast South America) and later escaped in 1941.

The cast is exceptional.  Charlie Hunnam plays Papillon.  Rami Malek is equally good as the counterfeiter and fellow prisoner.  Danish actor Roland Moller plays the prisoner Celier.  Scottish actor Tommy Flanagan plays the cruel Masked Breton.  Dutch actor Yorick van Wageningen is the ruthless warden.

The film was shot in several locations around Europe including Montenegro, Malta, and significantly in Belgrade Serbia.  The story is gritty, violent, intense and sometimes difficult to watch.  It is rated R for violence including bloody images, language, nudity and some sexual material.  It absolutely is not appropriate for viewing by anyone under 18.  It is listed as a drama with a run time of 136 minutes.  DO NOT miss this film.

Rating: 

We the Animals

This is an unusual yet poignant film about a young family with volatile parents and three children who adore their Mom and Dad who are barely adults themselves.  The youngest struggles to keep up with his brothers and often isolates himself in a self made world of his own.

The acting is surprisingly good.  The father is played by American actor and playwright Raul Castillo.  The mom is played by the American actress known for here role in Argo, Sheila Vand.  The boys are played by Evan Rosado as Jonah, Isaiah Kristian as Manny and Josiah Gabriel as Joel.  Their performances are  well beyond their years thanks to the skills of Writer/Director Jeremiah Zagar.

It is rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some underage drug and alcohol abuse.  It is often difficult to watch, heartbreaking at times.  Children should not see this film!  For that matter, adults with challenging upbringings may find this movie uncomfortable.  All that said, it is uniquely executed and deserves an audience.

Rating: 

Support The Girls

It is a pretty straight forward plot.  Double Whammies is a Sports Bar with minimally dressed waitresses.  It is managed by a tough and tender woman who is kind, encouraging, positive, realistic and optimistic.  On the flip side her personal life is a train wreck.

The cast has a handful of actors:  Regina Hall is the manager, the waitresses include Haley Lu Richardson, Shayna McHayle, Brooklyn Decker, Jana Kramer and Amanda Michalka.  There are a handful of male characters but no notable performances beyond “sports bar patrons”.

It is supposed to be heartwarming and charming, uplifting and positive.  We found it depressing and borderline annoying.  Comments like “rough around the edges” and “truthful but not cynical” are hardly compliments.

It is rated R for language including sexual references and brief nudity.  It’s listed as a comedy but we heard little to chuckle about.  Children should not see this film.  The run time is 90 minutes.  Pass on this one, there are plenty of worthwhile films out there worthy of your patronage.

Rating 

Breaking and Exiting

This is a bit odd as story lines go.  Man and sidekick rob houses for a living.  Sidekick bales and man goes to rob house alone.  Robber discovers a suicide in progress while robbing home.  Robber saves victim and romance/comedy plays out.  Geez, that happens every day…right?!

That said, the acting is not half bad.  Milo Gibson (yes, father Mel…) plays robber #1, Jordan Hinson plays the attempted suicide victim, Adam Huber plays robber #2, James Kyson plays the ex, Lily Ann Harrison is the new girlfriend.  Colin Ferguson plays the local policeman, and Spanish actor Joaquim de Almeida has a cameo part.

It probably won’t attract any major industry awards but it was interesting and clever, just unique enough to keep your attention, real enough to hold your interest, with a very good execution to make it satisfying.

It was a surprise to find the film Not Rated.  It is listed as a comedy. (Go figure?!) The run time is 78 minutes.

Rating  

The Wife

Let’s get serious.  Glenn Close delivers one of her most stunning performances ever!  Jonathan Pryce is the husband about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.  But there is a dark undercurrent that runs though this story that starts tepid, builds to a boil and ultimately bursts for all to see.

We will step out and predict Glenn Close will undoubtedly have a nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal as the wife.  In addition to Close and Pryce, the cast includes Christian Slater, Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, Elizabeth McGovern, Annie Maude Starke and a dozen more.

The story is great, the production world class, and it is an excellent example where the concept, script and acting converge to deliver a satisfying experience for the audience.

It is rated R for language and some sexual content.  It’s probably not appropriate for audiences under thirteen years old.  It’s listed as a drama with a run time of 100 minutes.

Rating 

Juliet, Naked

This film is based on the 2009 novel by Nick Hornby.  It is a quick paced romantic comedy about a couple living together for a decade in coastal England.  Annie works in a museum, her boyfriend Duncan is an Arts Professor and steadfast fan of a ’90s rocker, played be Ethan Hawke.

The couple have a unique relationship.  In fact, the story is about self realization and personal fulfillment run a muck and an attempt to right the wrongs in their lives.

The actors that make it believable include Rose Byrne as Annie, Ethan Hawke as Tucker, Chris O’Dowd as Duncan, Johanna Thea as Rosie and several more in small (extended family) roles.

This film is listed as a comedy/drama and rated R for language.  In our opinion it is suitable for mature teens, adult content not withstanding.  It is a complex story that is often humorous and heartbreaking at the same time.  It runs 98 minutes.

Rating 

Never Goin’ Back

To where?  The beach… too late, you can’t afford it.  School?  Na, you already dropped out.  To work?  Nope, you burned that bridge.  Home?  You have no money, can’t pay the rent.  You live with dead beats with no education, skills or money.  Looks like this film is doomed in the first 5 minutes…

OK maybe a bit harsh but these two girls are annoying from the get go.  They are selfish, delusional, self consumed, but…they are funny together.  The chemistry between them is excellent.  Think of the TV show Two Broke Girls but younger and unrealistic.

It is outrageous, funny, dumb and implausible.  That said, there is something redeeming about the two girl’s overcoming the odds no matter what.

The acting is pretty good.  Austrailian actress Maia Mitchell is excellent as the leading Angela.  Actress and model Camila Morrone is the side kick friend.  The brother is played by Matthew Holcomb, his roommate is played by Kyle Mooney.  All the boys are dumb as stumps.

To top it off, it is rated R for crude sexual content, language throughout, drug use and brief nudity involving all teens.  It’s listed as a comedy and runs 83 minutes.  Save your money and time.  (OR if you have preteens, strap them to a chair and force them to watch this continuously until they swear on their souls they will never behave like this.  Just a suggestion.)

Rating  

Slender Man

The good news is you won’t see much of Slender Man on the screen.  He is most illusive.  He’s a tall faceless guy with multiple arms that are sometime tentacles.  He seems to abduct children or “infect” them from afar.

In the current rendition he seems to like teenage girls.  Slender Man seems to know when his young victims are online where he can track them.  The kids learn that seeking or watching Slender Man online actually summons the creature.  The youngsters compare notes, draw pictures, save recorded images and generally freak themselves out on a regular basis.

The cast is a band of talented young actors and a few adult professionals.  There are six teenage girls, a few boys, a few adult males and Javier Bolet as Slender Man. (Who knew he had a face?!)

In researching this film, we were NOT surprised to see some of the lowest scores ever!  9% favorable on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.9 out of 10 on IMDb, and 29% on Metacritic.

Again, save your time and money.  It’s pretty boring, the acting is well below average, the creepy factor doesn’t work and isn’t even cringe worthy.

It is rated PG-13 for disturbing images and sequences of terror, thematic elements and language.  It is listed as a horror movie (but there is not much there).  It runs 93 minutes.

Rating  

McQueen

The winner of this blog must be McQueen.  It is a Documentary on the life and career of Alexander McQueen, the British fashion designer whose 18 year career is noted for its artistry and creativity ranging from “Bonkers” to “Genius”.

His body of work has often been characterized as sculptural, shocking and impeccable.  It’s also a personal look at the person, his family and his demons.

His story is incredible, insightful and tragic.  Reviews have been exceptional and audiences very favorable.  It is a stunning display of his work, career and personal history.

The genre is noted as a Documentary.  The film is not rated.  It runs 111 minutes.  It is stunning and heartbreaking at the same time.

Rating  

Mile 22

All action, very little plot, copious amounts of blood, the film is like driving a car with no brakes.  Mark Wahlberg stars as a CIA operative trying to deliver an asset to an extraction point.  That’s it!

Don’t expect explanation on the threat, or what’s behind it or any clues about the danger, or the purpose, or any reason for the film.  It’s all about the constant uninterrupted action.

There are really only six actors of note in the whole movie.  In addition to Wahlberg, there is John Malkovich, Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais, Ronda Rousey and Terry Kinney.

It is rated R for strong violence and language throughout.  Children should not view this film.  It’s listed as an Action & Adventure running 90 minutes.  We suggest not wasting your time or money.

Rating  

The Captain

Wow!  This is an amazing movie, on and off the screen.  It is set in World War II toward the end of the war when Germany was in chaos, Hilter’s Reich was in shambles and it was obvious to all the war was about to end.

What is especially important is the movie is based on true events called the Executioner of Emsland.  A German Private becomes separated from his comrades and discovers an abandoned car with a suitcase filled with the uniforms of an SS Officer.  Soon the Private assumes the position, clothes, car and identity of the SS Officer and assumes authority directly from Hitler himself.

The cast is excellent.  25 year old Swiss actor Max Hubacher plays the SS Officer. Frederick Lau, Alex Fehling, Blerim Destani and Britta Hammelstein round out the leading characters.

The film is not rated and is not appropriate for children due to the extreme violence and disturbing images.  The genre is noted as Art House & International, Drama.  It is currently in limited release and is soon to be released for streaming in November.  Run time is 118 minutes.  German with English subtitles.  Do seek this out if you have any interest in the subject matter and let us know what you think.

Rating  

Crazy Rich Asians

When was the last time you went to the theater and found it near capacity on a Sunday afternoon?!  That is exactly what we experienced this afternoon to see this film.

We knew the film was about an American Asian woman who falls in love with the son of an extremely wealthy power broker in Singapore who are attending a friends wedding.   Family pressures interfere with planned events and “family values” becomes hurtful on many levels.

It’s the cast and production that make this story work.  There is a huge cast of characters.  Awkwafina is hilarious as the family muse.  Constance Wu is exceptional as the fiance.  Henry Golding is equally good as the wealthy groom.  Michelle Yeoh is perfect as the iron strong Mom.  Several other notable actors include Gemma Chan, Ken Jeong, Nico Santos and 20 other Asian actors.

It’s often very funny, terribly sad, non-stop surprises, down right goofy and occasionally serious.  It is rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language.  It is listed as a comedy but there are plenty of serious topics mixed in.  We came away satisfied and feel it is well worth a look as a cultural lesson and more.

Rating  

Puzzle

This is a fresh intimate look as the family characters one by one reveal their heartfelt aspirations to one another.  It is also about two jigsaw puzzle buffs that accidentally find each other and join a puzzle club competition.

Once again, here is a film that blazes its own trail.  And again, it’s the script and acting that makes the story work.  Irfan Khan (his full name is Saahabzaade Irfan Ali Khan) plays an affluent competitive puzzle enthusist.  Kelly Macdonald plays the family wife and mother.  David Denman is the family father.  Austin Abrams plays the son Gabe and Bubba Weileris his brother Ziggy.

We won’t reveal any more as it might say too much.  Let’s simply say this film is unique.

Audiences and critics liked this film.  So did we.  It is rated R for language.  It is listed as a Drama with a run time of 103 minutes.  We feel this film is suitable for viewers 14 and older.

Rating 

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Let’s get directly to the point.  This film is about gay conversion therapies on teenagers and/or young adults.  It’s actually hard to believe such places still exist.  Why not electric shock therapy or blood letting?!  Let’s face the facts, these places continue to exist because some part of our society still believes homosexuality is a treatable condition and can “be fixed”.

In this movie set in 1993, two high school girls are discovered in the back of a car on prom night.  Teenager Cameron is sent away to a remote conversion therapy camp where those in charge assume a strict religious coersion along with a program of self hatred and humiliation as the catalysts for reform towards “normal behavior.”

The acting helps redeem the concept flaws.  Excellent performances by several younger actors include Chloe Grace Moretz as Cameron Post.  Sasha Lane plays Jane as fellow inmate along with Forrest Goodluck, Quinn Shephard, Emily Skeggs and Christopher Dylan White.

While enjoying a Grand Jury Award at Sundance, this film has been in limited release.  The film is not rated.  It is listed as a Drama with a run time of 90 minutes.

While much of this story is difficult to watch, it is well produced and is a good example of the “evolution of sexual therapy” still in use today.

Rating 

The Cakemaker

We were so glad this film was still in the theaters upon our return from Wisconsin.  Thank you San Francisco movie goers whose attendance kept this film around just a bit longer than usual.

It is a well crafted, bitter sweet film about a German baker from Berlin who falls in love with an Israeli businessman during his repeated trips to Berlin.  The baker tries to contact the businessman to no avail.  The baker learns from his friends office he died suddenly in a car accident.

Grief stricken, the baker travels to Jerusalem to learn more about his friend’s life.  He discovers the grieving wife at her small pastry shop.  Soon they become friends and the shop flourishes with new pastries from the baker.

It is a heart wrenching story about love, loss, discovery, acceptance, trust and grief.  The cast is small: Tim Kalkhof is exceptional as the baker.  Sarah Adler is the widow.  Roy Miller is the businessman.  Zohar Shtrauss is Sarah’s Uncle.  There are a handful of other characters rounding out the cast.

This film is not rated.  It is listed as a Drama.  We think this film is suitable for mature moviegoers over 14.  The run time is 105 minutes.  English, Hebrew and German with English subtitles.

Rating 

Good morning all!

We are all packed and about to leave for the airport and our flight home to San Francisco this afternoon.  It has been a wonderful summer!

Please see below a special single movie review.  This film is so good we didn’t want to wait.  We will be busy with mail, packages, unpacking and a backlog of activities so we decided this movie is worthy of its own posting.

Let us know what you think.  We send you all our best wishes!!  J&J

BlacKkKlansman

Talk about timely!  Coinciding with the Washington DC march yesterday and the one year anniversary of Charlottesville, this brilliant movie by Spike Lee is sure to be nominated for several awards when the season comes around.  It already won the Grand Prix at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival!

It is intelligent and provocative.  It is intense and carefully based on true events.  It is deliberately a dark comedy in contrast to the absurd reality.

The acting is paramount in the success of this production.  Leading man John David Washington and Adam Driver give great performances.  Alec Baldwin, Robert John Burke are also excellent.  It was also great seeing Harry Belafonte in a bit role.

Audiences and critics agree this is great film making.  The genre is noted as Biography, Drama, Comedy, Crime.  It is Rated R for strong language throughout, including racial epithets and disturbing /violent material and some sexual references.  We feel viewers should be at least 14 years old unless they are well aware of current and historical racism.

Run time is 135 minutes.  DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE!

Rating 

Spy Who Dumped Me

This film is…goofy, surprisingly funny, clever, jarring and ultimately still goofy.  Best friends Audrey and Morgan stumble onto an international conspiracy that takes them on a wild ride to Europe.

The acting is quite good for the most part.  Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon are perfect as the American want-to-be-spies.  Sam Heughan and Justin Theroux play the professional operatives.  Other notable actors include: Ivanna Sakhno, Gillian Anderdson, Kev Adams, Hasan Minhaj, Genevieve Mc Carthy, Lolly Adefope and Paul Riser.

Audiences and Critics have been all over the board on this one.  We decided the acting quality and the delightful story line was quite good and worth the look.  Mind you it drifts from time to time but overall it is well acted and well produced.

It is rated R for violence (a lot of violence), language, some crude sexual material and graphic nudity.  That said, it is listed as an Action & Adventure, Comedy.  The run time is a whopping 116 minutes.  It is NOT suitable for children.

Rating  

Eighth Grade

It is the perfect time to write this review.  The venue last night, Ruyi, a family favorite Chinese/Japanese Restaurant in the Potawatomie Casino where the family got together for dinner, a little gambling and a chat about the movie.  The group included Great Grandparents, Kay and Howard, daughter Jennifer and husband Matthew, John and Jim, and nephew Aaron.

The obvious topic was about the newly released film Eighth Grade.  The banter immediately shifted to the fact that the film could not be seen by the youngsters whom the film was based on, Eighth Graders!

In prepping for this writing, we discovered A24, the movie’s distributor offered free screening of the film to all teenagers…AUGUST 8th in ONE theater in each state, ratings waived!

In Wisconsin, that theater was in Mequon (where our family lives), 7:00 PM.

In California, that theater was the recently renovated and reinvented as an entertainment complex, Alamo Drafthouse Mission in San Francisco, 7:40 PM.

All that said, we found the film to be pretty much on target.  It was fair, realistic, authentic, relatable and a heartwarming reminder to all of us what 8th Grade is/was like.

It has a compact cast.  Elsie Fisher plays the lead Kayla.  Josh Hamilton is the single Dad.  Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Daniel Zolghadri, Fred Hechinger and several more play the young students.

Critics and audiences give this film very high scores.  That said, many friends and fellow travelers think it is much ado about nothing.  We think it is a valuable reminder of what it was like for each of us, empathize with those growing through it now, and the comfort we’ll never have those feelings again.

It’s rated R for language and some sexual content.  It is listed as a comedy and runs 94 minutes.

Rating  

The Meg

The Meg stands for Megalodon, a prehistoric ‘super shark’ that was bigger, faster, smarter than today’s sharks.  We were surprised to learn the first tier Director, Jon Turteltaub of National Treasure and the author Dean Georgaris of the Lara Croft franchise collaborated with Warner Bros. Pictures in creating this film.

We are pretty sure the film was crafted to become a global release given its list of stars.  Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Winston Chao, Page Kennedy, Jessica McName, Olafur Darris Olafsson, Robert Taylor, Sophia Cai, Masi Oka and Cliff Curtis.

It was filmed initially in London and later in Hawaii.  Audiences are all over the board on this movie.  The super shark is really the star here.  The story drifts from one shark cliche to the next.  It turns quite gruesome and violent.  It becomes mostly predictable, almost slap stick in the last third.  Time will tell the fate of this one.

It is rated PG-13 for action/peril, bloody images and some language.  We do not recommend this film for younger viewers.  It is listed as Action & Adventure, Horror (It is!), Science Fiction & Fantasy.  The run time is 114 minutes.

Rating