Jack and I really enjoyed this long (2:14), special-effects laden story of an astronaut stranded on Mars in the near future. There are no lulls, as the action flashes back and forth between the red planet, our planet, and the crew of the spaceship. Matt Damon (last blogged in The Monuments Men) is as charming as ever as our hero, who keeps a video diary so he doesn't have to talk to a volleyball to let the audience know what he's feeling.
On the spaceship we have Jessica Chastain (most recently in A Most Violent Year), Michael Peña (last in Gangster Squad), Kate Mara (last in 127 Hours), and Sebastian Stan (not blogged but had a small part in Rachel Getting Married, played Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and was one of the sons in Ricki and the Flash), and they alternately banter and work. In the serious NASA crew on earth the heavy hitters are Chiwetel Ejiofor (Oscar winner for 12 Years a Slave), Jeff Daniels (last in Looper), and Kristen Wiig (most recently in The Diary of a Teenage Girl). Notable cameos come from Donald Glover (after his 89 episodes of Community he played one of the MCs in Magic Mike XXL) and Mackenzie Davis (20 episodes starring as a computer geek in the AMC series Halt and Catch Fire) as computer geeks.
Ridley Scott (last blogged for Prometheus) directs from Drew Goddard's (wrote some things I haven't seen and nine episodes of Lost) adaptation of Andy Weir's book. Many of the best lines are taken straight from those pages, e.g. "I'm going to science the s*** out of it." That line, which is in the trailer, is why I was eager to see the movie. On another note, it's a really good ad for duct tape.
Harry Gregson-Williams' (last in the blog for Monkey Kingdom) score can be streamed in its entirety from this link (which has some stopping and starting at the beginning, and is supplemented by a fun selection of disco music, some of which is listed here.
Despite the mother who brought into our small theatre a toddler who alternately whined, cried, or sang with joy until removed after an hour's time (I stormed out and hissed at an employee, to whom I later apologized--Jack said he was "caught in the crossfire"--and someone from management asked them to leave), we had a great time. It has been playing for four weeks now but is still available in 3D, though we didn't spring for it. Rotten Tomatoes critics and audiences are loving it as we did, averaging 93% all.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
The Walk (2015)
Lots of fun, this tale of tightrope walker Philippe Petit's 1974 daredevil journey between the twin towers of the World Trade Center boasts high production values and caused this vertiginous moviegoer's legs and feet to tingle every time the camera (or CGI computer screen) swooped down.
It's been called a docudrama and a sequel to the excellent documentary Man on Wire, since both credit Petit's memoir To Reach the Clouds. Whatever you call it, the talents of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (last blogged in The Wind Rises) as M. Petit and Charlotte Le Bon (first blogged in The 100-Foot Journey) and Ben Kingsley (most recently in Iron Man 3) as his closest partners in the crime, as well as director Robert Zemeckis (last blogged for Flight), who worked from a script by himself and Christopher Browne in his feature debut, shine as much as the special effects.
Composer Alan Silvestri (most recently in these pages for Flight) provides some dreamy French-inspired tunes and catchy jazz riffs in the soundtrack, which you can stream from this link. The other songs are listed here.
It's still playing in these parts (in standard, not 3D, as we saw it two and a half weeks ago) and is rated 85/85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It's been called a docudrama and a sequel to the excellent documentary Man on Wire, since both credit Petit's memoir To Reach the Clouds. Whatever you call it, the talents of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (last blogged in The Wind Rises) as M. Petit and Charlotte Le Bon (first blogged in The 100-Foot Journey) and Ben Kingsley (most recently in Iron Man 3) as his closest partners in the crime, as well as director Robert Zemeckis (last blogged for Flight), who worked from a script by himself and Christopher Browne in his feature debut, shine as much as the special effects.
Composer Alan Silvestri (most recently in these pages for Flight) provides some dreamy French-inspired tunes and catchy jazz riffs in the soundtrack, which you can stream from this link. The other songs are listed here.
It's still playing in these parts (in standard, not 3D, as we saw it two and a half weeks ago) and is rated 85/85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Irrational Man (2015)
Back in August we liked Woody Allen's latest, about an impotent philosophy professor who nonetheless has affairs with both a student and another professor, better than the critics did. There's a lot more to the plot but I don't believe in spoilers so I'm not going to say. This is Joaquin Phoenix's (last blogged in Inherent Vice) first Woody Allen (last year's was Magic in the Moonlight) picture, and he certainly has the chops: this time as a narcissist who finds passion in an unlikely way. Emma Stone (Magic in the Moonlight was her first Allen joint and she was most recently in these pages for Birdman) is the lovely young student and Parker Posey (some of my favorites of her work are Waiting for Guffman (1996), You've Got Mail (1998), Best in Show (2000), The Anniversary Party (2001), Personal Velocity (2002), A Mighty Wind (2003), The Oh in Ohio (2006), For Your Consideration (2006), Broken English (2007), and Price Check--she's working on Allen's 2016 release which will be her second outing with him) is the more age-appropriate partner for the other professor.
Allen's usual gorgeous locations and sets are this time in Newport and other Rhode Island locales, shot by Darius Khondji (Magic in the Moonlight).
The aforementioned critics (Rotten Tomatoes 42% to audiences' 53) may have kept this from the dollar theaters but the DVD is supposed to be out in January. I suppose this is mostly for the most ardent fans, but that would describe Jack and me, so there ya go.
Allen's usual gorgeous locations and sets are this time in Newport and other Rhode Island locales, shot by Darius Khondji (Magic in the Moonlight).
The aforementioned critics (Rotten Tomatoes 42% to audiences' 53) may have kept this from the dollar theaters but the DVD is supposed to be out in January. I suppose this is mostly for the most ardent fans, but that would describe Jack and me, so there ya go.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Ricki and the Flash (2015)
Not high art, but still enjoyable, this story of a mother and daughter reuniting decades after the former left to chase a career in rock has good production values, some laughs, and some pathos. We know Meryl Streep can sing, as evidenced by A Prairie Home Companion (2006), Mamma Mia! (2008), and Into the Woods, and can do comedy. Her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer (covered in The End of the Tour) is showing promise, here playing Ricki's reel daughter Julie. Rick Springfield (I haven't seen a single one of his 73 episodes of General Hospital but I liked his Grammy-winning song Jessie's Girl in 1981) is quite good as Ricki's bandmate Greg who loves her, and Kevin Kline (last blogged for My Old Lady) and Audra McDonald (this six-time Tony-winner--we saw her as Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill--can sing Broadway to jazz to opera, and was in 77 episodes of the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice, among others, but doesn't sing a note in this movie) are also compelling as the father and stepmother of Julie and her brothers.
Jonathan Demme (profiled in Rachel Getting Married) directs with an experienced hand from a script by Diablo Cody (covered in Young Adult), who was inspired by her mother-in-law (read this Vanity Fair article).
No composer is credited because the on-screen band performs most of the songs on the soundtrack. Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are pretty tepid at 64/52%. You still might enjoy it, playing at the dollar theaters now, or when it's released on DVD next month.
Jonathan Demme (profiled in Rachel Getting Married) directs with an experienced hand from a script by Diablo Cody (covered in Young Adult), who was inspired by her mother-in-law (read this Vanity Fair article).
No composer is credited because the on-screen band performs most of the songs on the soundtrack. Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are pretty tepid at 64/52%. You still might enjoy it, playing at the dollar theaters now, or when it's released on DVD next month.
Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)
In August Jack and I loved this one based on director/writer Maya Forbes' own life, growing up poor with her bipolar (hence "polar bear") white father Cameron Forbes (yes, that Forbes family) and black mother Peggy, starring Maya's daughter Imogene Wolodarsky (she is amazing in her screen debut) as Maya's character, named Amelia Stuart for the story. Mark Ruffalo (last blogged for Avengers: The Age of Ultron) may be nominated for playing Cameron Stuart in a rich and layered performance. Zoe Saldana (most recently in Guardians of the Galaxy) and Ashley Aufderheide (has done a little TV since then) are also wonderful as Amelia's mother and little sister, respectively. Imogene is also a little clone of her mother, as evidenced by this photo of the four main cast members with Maya.
Maya Forbes makes her directorial debut here after writing for The Larry Sanders show and a few produced screenplays we haven't seen, co-written with her husband Wallace Wolodarsky.
The soundtrack is credited to Theodore Shapiro (last in these pages for Spy) and you can preview four of his tracks from iTunes or other pages, but I imagine the 1970s tunes will stay with you longer than his sprightly cues.
The movie was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year and Forbes won a Director to Watch Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Rotten Tomatoes' critics averaged 80% and its audiences 75. I suggest you see this sometime--the DVD release is estimated for January 2016.
Maya Forbes makes her directorial debut here after writing for The Larry Sanders show and a few produced screenplays we haven't seen, co-written with her husband Wallace Wolodarsky.
The soundtrack is credited to Theodore Shapiro (last in these pages for Spy) and you can preview four of his tracks from iTunes or other pages, but I imagine the 1970s tunes will stay with you longer than his sprightly cues.
The movie was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year and Forbes won a Director to Watch Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Rotten Tomatoes' critics averaged 80% and its audiences 75. I suggest you see this sometime--the DVD release is estimated for January 2016.
Ant-Man (2015)
Also in mid-July, this Marvel Comics picture provided lots of laughs and action with the talents of Paul Rudd (last blogged in They Came Together) in the title role, Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra), Evangeline Lilly (117 episodes of Lost), Corey Stoll (This Is Where I Leave You), Bobby Cannavale (Spy), and many more. I did make a note at the time that the fights were easier to follow than in many action movies.
Director Peyton Reed (Bring It On (2000), Down With Love (2003), and The Break-Up (2006)) took over for Edgar Wright (The World's End) after the latter had put a lot of work into the screenplay, also credited to Joe Cornish, Adam McKay (Anchorman 2), and Rudd, and based on the original series by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby. As always, there's a funny cameo from Lee. Be patient.
The prolific Christophe Beck (most recently in these pages for scoring Cake) changes it up for the genre. You can stream the whole thing on youtube.
This spoiler-laden link is but one outlining some easter eggs for fan-boys and -girls.
Rotten Tomatoes' averages are 80% critics and 89 audiences. This may be back at a second-run movie house but your best bet is to catch it on DVD after its December release.
Director Peyton Reed (Bring It On (2000), Down With Love (2003), and The Break-Up (2006)) took over for Edgar Wright (The World's End) after the latter had put a lot of work into the screenplay, also credited to Joe Cornish, Adam McKay (Anchorman 2), and Rudd, and based on the original series by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby. As always, there's a funny cameo from Lee. Be patient.
The prolific Christophe Beck (most recently in these pages for scoring Cake) changes it up for the genre. You can stream the whole thing on youtube.
This spoiler-laden link is but one outlining some easter eggs for fan-boys and -girls.
Rotten Tomatoes' averages are 80% critics and 89 audiences. This may be back at a second-run movie house but your best bet is to catch it on DVD after its December release.
Amy (2015)
In mid-July we loved this sad documentary about the talented, addicted, and doomed performer Amy Winehouse. With archival footage and interviews with her family, who are not at all happy about about the finished product, it shows sides of the performer we didn't know existed.
Directed by Asif Kapadia, the documentary will be released on DVD in December 2015. Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are firmly in line with us, averaging 97 and 91% respectively.
Directed by Asif Kapadia, the documentary will be released on DVD in December 2015. Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are firmly in line with us, averaging 97 and 91% respectively.
Grandma (2015)
Jack and I really liked this story of a prickly woman and her granddaughter searching for cash to fund an abortion in Los Angeles. Lily Tomlin (covered in Admission) is brilliant as Elle, a published poet still reeling from the not-recent death of her long-time partner Violet, and Julia Garner (I didn't recognize her, though we've seen two of her pictures) is good as the pregnant teen. Marcia Gay Harden (last blogged in Whip It) is terrific, as always, as the daughter of one and mother of the other, feared by both.
Nat Wolff (most recently in Palo Alto and was in Admission as well), Sam Elliott (I'll See You in My Dreams), Judy Greer (Men, Women & Children), Laverne Cox (trans woman Sophia on Orange Is the New Black), and Elizabeth Peña (sadly, she died a year ago. Some of my favorites were Lone Star (1996), Tortilla Soup (2001), Transamerica (2005), and Mother and Child) all turn in good cameos. Read this glowing review from Variety after you've seen the movie.
Director/writer Paul Weitz says he had had the idea for the script before working the same duties on Admission with Tomlin but she helped him flesh it out.
The magnificent 1955 Dodge Royal driven by Elle in the movie actually belongs to Tomlin.
Joel P. West composed the dreamy music, which can be streamed on Spotify or purchased on amazon and iTunes.
Jodi, of the Tuesday night movie club, saw it before we did--moving and travel have kept us away from the big screens far too long--and dismissed it as "typical film fest fare not living up to its potential." We and Rotten Tomatoes' critics at 93% heartily disagree (RT audiences average 70%). In fact, we think film festivals tend to provide the best entertainment. Check this out at your neighborhood art house and listen for my new favorite movie line: "I don't have an anger problem, I have an a**hole problem."
Milestone: this is the 800th movie summarized on the blog since September 3, 2008. Sorry I've been too busy to write for a while. Working now to catch up!
Nat Wolff (most recently in Palo Alto and was in Admission as well), Sam Elliott (I'll See You in My Dreams), Judy Greer (Men, Women & Children), Laverne Cox (trans woman Sophia on Orange Is the New Black), and Elizabeth Peña (sadly, she died a year ago. Some of my favorites were Lone Star (1996), Tortilla Soup (2001), Transamerica (2005), and Mother and Child) all turn in good cameos. Read this glowing review from Variety after you've seen the movie.
Director/writer Paul Weitz says he had had the idea for the script before working the same duties on Admission with Tomlin but she helped him flesh it out.
The magnificent 1955 Dodge Royal driven by Elle in the movie actually belongs to Tomlin.
Joel P. West composed the dreamy music, which can be streamed on Spotify or purchased on amazon and iTunes.
Jodi, of the Tuesday night movie club, saw it before we did--moving and travel have kept us away from the big screens far too long--and dismissed it as "typical film fest fare not living up to its potential." We and Rotten Tomatoes' critics at 93% heartily disagree (RT audiences average 70%). In fact, we think film festivals tend to provide the best entertainment. Check this out at your neighborhood art house and listen for my new favorite movie line: "I don't have an anger problem, I have an a**hole problem."
Milestone: this is the 800th movie summarized on the blog since September 3, 2008. Sorry I've been too busy to write for a while. Working now to catch up!
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