Well, I’m impressed. “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” looks quite good, and stylish. Plus I like Claire Foy, so I’ll be seeing this in the theater. Who knows?, maybe they got it right this time.
“The Girl in the Spider’s Web” hits theaters this November.
Possible spoilers ahead!
“Annihilation” is the story of army veteran turned academic biologist Lena (Natalie Portman), who is stunned when her husband, Kane (Oscar Isaac), returns home from a mysterious mission one year after he was presumed dead. Although happy to have him back, Lena quickly realizes Kane isn’t quite the same man who left her one year ago. Soon after his return, Kane becomes gravely ill, and he and Lena are taken to a place called Area X.
This place is run by an organization called Southern Reach, the same group that sent Kane’s army unit on their last mission. Here, Lena meets Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who reveals the phenomenon known as the shimmer.
Ventress explains that all they know for sure is the shimmer started at a lighthouse and has been expanding for the last three years. Southern Reach have been studying it since, but no one they’ve sent into the shimmer has everreturned – that is, until Kane.
In an effort to save her husband, Lena joins the next expedition into the shimmer. The group is led by Dr. Ventress, who is determined to reach the lighthouse and discover the source of the shimmer. They’re joined on the expedition by Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez), Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson), and Cass Sheppard (Tuva Novotny). However, none of them are prepared for what they encounter once they venture into the shimmer.
Holy cow, this movie was an experience! I’m not sure exactly how to describe “Annihilation,” other than to say it was like witnessing a surreal dream. This movie is gorgeous all around. The film’s visual effects are out of this world, and it seemed to me that the filmmakers paid attention to every detail when they developed the look of the Shimmer.
The film wastes no time in getting to the main plot. However, the story is not told in a completely linear manner, as it jumps between two points in time to keep the audience just a little disoriented. But I didn’t mind this, because the characters are also disoriented for much the film, so it felt like I was going through the same stuff they were.
The cinematography and Alex Garland’s direction helps the movie shift between sequences with ease. None of the jumps are jarring between scary and drama. All of it works well in telling the overall story. Additionally, the set design of “Annihilation” keeps the surrealist landscape of the shimmer grounded thanks stunning practical effects.
The cast of Portman, Leigh, Thompson, Rodriguez, and Novotny are solid throughout the film. The five women are the viewer’s guide through this strange world and the emotions that come with visiting this place. Natalie Portman is of course, the main star of the film and she delivers a complex performance as a soldier/scientist who must balance the good of the mission with her goal of saving her husband’s life.
I really liked what Natalie Portman brought to me movie. However, maybe it’s me, but I can still hear the Jackie Kennedy accent she used in “Jackie.” I know it sounds strange, but I can still hear that voice. This was noticable in the early part of “Annihilation,” but it did improve as the movie went along.
Also of note is Jennifer Jason Leigh as the enigmatic Dr. Ventress. She’s a strange character to say the least, but through Leigh’s performance, she’s a likable character who is also fearless. Even though Venresss and Lena don’t agree on much, the two seem to form a quick bond and the two play well off one an other.
Unfortunately, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, and Tuva Novotny get the short end of the stick. All three cast members deliver strong performances, with each given their moments to make their character shine. But unlike Ventress and Len, their characters are underdeveloped. I think we get one or two lines of dialogue telling us about their backgrounds. But the three make up for it with compelling performances.
When all is said and done, “Annihilation” isn’t a movie for everyone. And I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not quite as good as Alex Garland’s “Ex-Machina.” But “Annihilation” is still a beautifully show, well acted, and thought-provoking sci-fi film about humanity. This film delivers on thrills and scares, and tops it all off with exceptional visuals.
“Annihilation” score: B
Ahh, the crazy things you do for a girl.
Twenty years ago I was a young 20-year-old college student who had just asked a new girl out on a date. Shockingly, she said yes, and suggested we go to the movies. Being a gentleman, I told her she should pick out the movie she wanted to see the most. Unluckily for me, this was the same week
a little movie called “The Horse Whisperer” opened in theaters.
The film was directed by Robert Redford, and was based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nicholas Evans. In the movie, Robert Redford plays Tom Booker, a talented trainer with a remarkable gift for understanding horses. He’s hired by Annie MacLean (Kristin Scott Thomas) to help her injured teenage daughter Grace (Scarlett Johansson), and her horse following a tragic accident.
One thing I have to admit, is that “The Horse Whisperer” had one hell of a cast. The supporting cast includes: Chris Cooper as Redford’s brother Frank, Dianne Wiest as his wife, and Sam Neil as Kriistin Scott Thomas’ husband, Robert. And in a very small role, Kate Bosworth plays Judith, Grace’s friend who died in the tragic accident which opens the film. Like I said, this flick had an impressive cast.
So what did I think of “The Horse Whisperer”?
Well, Let me put to you this way: By the time Robert Redford turns down Kristin Scott Thomas over the phone, I was already looking at my watch. During the trip Kristin Scott Thomas and Scarlett Johansson take to Montana, I’d gone to the concessions stand twice, and took the scenic walk back to my seat.
When I sat back down with my new bucket of popcorn, my date said to me, “Don’t leave again, it’s about to get good.” I wondered how she’d know that, and over the dinner later I found out she had read the book. But sitting in the theater that afternoon, I didn’t believe this movie was about to get any better.
Sure, the performances were solid. Especially by Kristin Scott Thomas and Robert Redford. And the cinematography was stunning. Montana is a beautiful place, and looked great in the movie. But as for horse whispering, as far as I could tell, all it involved is Robert Redford staring at the horse until the horse gets what Redford is trying to accomplish. And let me tell you, there are a lot of scenes of people staring at the horse.
But eventually the horse succumbs to Robert Redford’s charms, and so does Kristin Scott Thomas who ends up falling in love with him. I think she considers staying in Montana, but cooler head prevail. Redford even gets to Scarlett Johansson, who seemed to have a better relationship with his character than with her dad played by Sam Neil.
Clocking in at 170 minutes, “The Horse Whisperer” was a marathon of a movie. But as far as first dates go, it was definitely memorable. So was the first kiss that night when I dropped her off at her place. So while the movie wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, the rest of the date was.
Synopsis:In À Bientôt, delivered, along with his own hand-drawn sketches, to his publisher mere days before he passed away, Roger looks back on his life—and gives it his trademark sideways glance. Nostalgic, funny, charming and, most importantly, very human, his reflections on age and aging encompass all aspects of this universal experience, from reminiscences on childhood and “what might have been;” keeping abreast of the everchanging times; senior moments, memory and getting to grips with technology; the joys—and frustrations—of travel; work and play.
Along with these he tells of the intense happiness—and some equally intense sadnesses—of family life. Featuring his own sketches throughout, this book sees Roger at his most open and forthright. The true stories and situations he shares in this warm and intimate book reveal a “Bond unbound,” the human being inside the action-adventure character that made him so famous the world over. Always upbeat and—as ever—endearingly self-effacing and unpretentious, he shares the joys he experienced every day along with the tiny triumphs that life brings to us all at the most unexpected times
I have been a fan of Roger Moore’s work on the big and small screen for most of my life. Whether it was as The Saint, James Bond, or even in “Boat Trip,” Moore was always great. But over the last few years, my attention was turned from his acting, to his books.
In fact, some of my favorite books over the last few years have been written by Roger Moore. So being a fan of Mr. Moore, there was no way I was going to pass on his final book, “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .”
If you’re expecting a play by-play account of Moore’s time as James Bond, you’re out of luck. This time, Roger Moore focuses more on family, relationships, and some fun stories he had before, during, and after his time as 007. In this book Moore writes quite a bit about his wife Kristina, his kids, and the res of his family. I would say “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” is easily the most personal book Moore wrote.
Throughout the book, Moore has these interludes he called “What if,” which detail roles he passed on, or missed out on. I don’t want to spoil any of these stories, but I will say that many of them were fascinating, and thought-provoking. A few of these “What If” moments left me wondering what might have been, or what we might have missed out on if Roger Moore had chosen a different path during his long career. And at least one “What if” left me scratching my head wondering how Roger Moore would have been in that particular role.
It saddens me that “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” is the last book I’ll ever read by Roger Moore. I’m going to miss reading his funny stories about something that happened to him at airports, or as he got older, or something took place at home with his wife Kristina. But most of all I’m going to miss his wit.
As sad as his passing was, I have to admit “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” was a perfect way to end. This is one of those rare books that I will definitely read again, and again. So thank you Roger Moore for the fun 007 movies, the Saint, and all the great laughs your books always brought.
“Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” score: A+
Possible spoilers ahead!
Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express” is the latest screen adaptation of the famous novel. Branagh stars as famed detective Hercule Poirot, who is looking forward to taking a much deserved holiday. However, his vacation is cut short when he is summoned to London, where another case awaits him.
To get the detective to London as quickly as possible, his friend, Mr. Bouc (Tom Bateman), offers Poirot a seat on the Orient Express where he meets his fellow passengers, including career criminal Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp), governess Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Princess Dragomiroff (Judy Dench), Gerhard Hardman/Cyrus Bethman Hardman (Willem Dafoe), missionary and nurse, Pilar Estravados (Penélope Cruz), Mr. Ratchett’s secretary, Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad), Ratchett’s valet, Edward Henry Masterman Derek Jacobi, and American widow Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer).
The trip from Turkey to London should have been uneventful, but that all changed the night the train was derailed by an avalanche. This was also the night Hercule discovered one of the passengers on the train has been murdered. Deducing that one of the other guests on the train must be responsible for the crime, Poirot is tasked with uncovering the mystery before the authorities arrive.
Before I get to the film itself, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Agatha Christie novel, nor have I seen the 1974 film adaptation. But I do know of Hercule Poirot from the long running British TV series starring David Suchet. As for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh film, its strongest aspect is of course the stellar cast.
Kenneth Branagh is naturally the star of the show. He performs the part in a believable manner, but because much of the movie takes place in one setting, his performance also has a theatrical manner. One of the things I liked best about his Hercule is that Branagh gave the part several layers. For example, when he’s not working, he is more light-hearted, and outright funny in places. But when the situation calls for it, he is serious, and dramatic. You can almost see the wheels turning inside his head as he examines the evidence before him.
Next we have Jonny Depp, who shed the cartoonish roles he’s known for to play Ratchett as a realistic but unlikeable guy. I wouldn’t say this is Depp’s best work, but he is quite convincing as the despicable Ratchett. Also of note were Josh Gad and Daisy Ridley, both of who make the most of the material. Ridley in particular, showed some range as Mary Debenham. She had one of my favorite scenes with Brannah where they meet at a picnic table next to the Orient Express.
The other stand out in the cast is Michelle Pfeiffer as Caroline Hubbard. I’ve liked her since she played Catwoman in “Batman Returns” way back in 1992. She’s good in everything she does, but in “Murder on the Orient Express,” Pfeiffer shows just how good of an actress she really is.
Her role as Mrs. Hubbard takes Pfeiffer from damsel in distress, to femme fatale in the blink of an eye. One minute you hate her guts, and the next you are rooting for her. And just when you think you’ve seen it all from Pfeiffer, she surprises you again and again.
The film itself looks gorgeous from start to finish. “Murder on the Orient Express” easily has some of the best cinematography of last year. This is made clear from the opening scenes in Jerusalem which are just stunning to look at, to the restaurant in Turkey which I wish we could have seen more of. Even the sequence in the tunnel towards the end of the film was lit beautifully, and all of it looked and felt epic.
The only bad thing that I can say about “Murder on the Orient Express” is that the outcome to the main plot thread felt too convenient. Like I said earlier, I haven’t read the novel, so I don’t know if thing play out in the same manner. But I felt that with the script doing what it does, some of the characters got short-changed.
Several of the other characters are meant to be prime suspects in the crime, but they barely get anything to do. Poor Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, and Willem Dafoe, only get one major scene a piece. And that’s when Poirot interrogated them. All the background information we get about them comes from Poirot, and not from Dench, Cruz, or Dafoe. This was rather disappointing, but I’m guessing some things where left in the editing room.
In the end though, “Murder on the Orient Express” is a solid film that should please Agatha Christie fans. For me, it was Kenneth Branagh’s directorial vision and superb performance as Poirot which elevated the movie even more. There’s a lot to enjoy in this film, and even though I had a couple of problems with it towards the end, I will see the sequel whenever it hits theatres. But I still want to know if his mustache is real or not
“Murder on the Orient Express” final score: B+
I’ve been a movie fan for as long as I can remember. In all those years of going to the multiplex I’ve come to enjoy several movie genres, but horror has never been my favorite. It’s not that I’m afraid of horro movies, it’s just that they don’t do anything for me. As I told a friend not to long ago, “You’ve seen one horror movie, you’ve seen them all.” But maybe that changed yesterday when the wifey finally convinced me to watch “IT.”
Before I get to the important stuff, I should mention that I have not seen the TV version of “IT” from several years ago, nor have I read the Stephen King novel which both movies are based on. Come to think of it, I haven’t read a King book since the early 1990’s. The point is that all I know about the world of “IT” comes from the 2017 movie.
And don’t forget: Possible spoilers ahead!
On a rainy day in 1988 in the city of Derry, Maine, young Georgie Denbrough goes missing after he sets off playing with a paper boat that his older brother, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), made for him. At the start of the following summer, Bill sets out with his friends “The Losers,” to try to find his younger brother who he believes is still alive.
However, in the process of searching for Georgie, the group, along with new members, Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Mike (Chosen Jacob) and new kid Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), discover that the town of Derry is the home of an immortal creature that can shape-shift and feeds on children by taking on the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård).
As I mentioned above, I’m just not a huge horror fan. But I was shocked by how much I enjoyed “IT.” I guess one of the reasons I liked the movie is because unlike most horror movies, “IT” has a great plot that kept me engaged from start to finish. From the moment we meet Georgie and Bill, you become attached to these people. Because of this one scene you understand what’s driving Bill the rest of the movie and you’re there with him for all of it.
Another thing in the movie that caught my eye were the visuals. This is the first horror movie that I can remember that used color to great effect. From Georgie’s yellow rain coat, to the bully’s chasing one of the kids in the forest. Even the underground scenes used the blackness of the location to enhance whatever was going on.
However, I should mention that in some of these scenes it was too damn dark to tell exactly what was happening. In a couple of instances, the only lighting the scene had come from the kids’ flashlights. But, I still thought the darkness added to the overall feel and look of the movie.
As good as the visuals and the tone of the film are, easily the best part of “IT” is the charismatic and talented cast. Each of the young actors gave their character a distinct personality, and motivations. They’ve joined forces to battle Pennywise, but each one has his or her own reason as to why they are there.
I thought all of The Losers were great. Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), Ritchie (Finn Wolfhard), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff) and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer). These actors gave the film heart and humor. But I was happy to see that it was the kind humor that didn’t feel forced in a horror movie.
But for my money, the best character was Beverly (Sophia Lillis). Out of the whole crew, she had the most compelling story. Beverly has seen a lot of pain and suffering in her short life, and all of it thanks to her father. But it was wonderful to see her go from the bullied girl, to a total badass, and full fledged member of The Losers club.
At the end of the day, I was pleasantly surprised by “IT.” This wasn’t your run of the mill horror flick, this was an experience. The entire cast was terrific, the look of the movie was stunning, and the villain was actually scary for a change. As crazy as it sounds, “IT” may be the first horror movie I watch more than once.
“IT” final score: A-
Possible spoilers ahead!
“The Dark Tower” is based on the series of books by the guy I accidentally met at a 7-11 in downtown Boston many years ago I’m speaking of course about the one and only Stephen King. More about that meeting later, but let’s get back to the movie, shall we?
“The Dark Tower” centers around young Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor), a troubled 11-year-old who has vivid dreams of an evil being called the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), and of a heroic Gunslinger named Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), who is the only one who can stop the Man in Black. Jake also has visions of a tower that protects his world from the darkness and fire that the Man in Black plans to unleash.
On top of the dreams and visions, Jake now spends most of his time drawing pictures of what he’s seen in his dreams, and is often getting into trouble at school. Worried about him, Jake’s mother Laurie (Katheryn Winnick) and stepfather send him to a clinic upstate, but everything changes when Jake discovers that his dreams are quite real.
Due to a number or reasons I wasn’t able to see “The Dark Tower” in theaters like I’d planned, so apologies for the delay in getting this review up. Since the movie opened a few months ago, I read and saw the brutal reviews from critics, which is probably why I went in with very low expectations.
But maybe those low expectations were a good thing, because I actually liked “The Dark Tower.” However, this one of those movies that also pissed me off because there is so much wasted potential here.
“The Dark Tower” has a ton of things that could have been better. I would have loved to have seen more of the Gunslinger’s world then and now. I also wished they’s explained why the Man in Black kept referring tot he Gunslinger as “old friend.” And speaking of the evil one, I wish we could have seen more of him on earth because those few scenes were a highlight.
Now, having not read the book series or even the Marvel Comics adaptation, it is possible some or all of these complaints are addressed there. But I should note that at no point during the movie did I feel lost or anything like that. In fact, I wanted to see more, and had the movie been longer I think some of the best parts could have been developed deeper.
Instead, I feel like the filmmakers tried jamming too much stuff into a 95 minute movie when they should have just focused on a few things and a bit of world building. And there are plenty of things in “The Dark Tower” to like, if only the script had been edited a little more.
Easily the best part of “The Dark Tower” is its cast. Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey offer entertaining performances, but we never really get to know much about their characters. Elba’s Roland is your typical tortured Western hero, deciding between doing what’s right and seeking vengeance for the death of his father.
Meanwhile, McConaughey’s Man in Black is an all-powerful evil sorcerer, but one whose evilness borders on humorous and creepy rather than terrifying. But the movie doesn’t give us much in the form of details on this guy. Sometimes he’s called Walter, but we never find out why.
The big surprise of the film was Tom Taylor as Jake. He’s the viewer’s guide into this crazy world, and he’s the once we identify with the most. Taylor was particularly good when he shared the scree with Elba’s Gunslinger. While this type of mentor relationship isn’t new in movies, the two actors provided for some of the film’s best and funniest moments. The two may be from different worlds, but they have more in common than they realize.
As for the film’s action, when it’s good it’s really good. But other times, the CGI looked rushed or perhaps unfinished. The best action scenes in “The Dark Tower” are the Gunslinger’s battles with the Man in Black’s armies, those were top notch sequences. But the CGI took me out of the movie in other places.
At the end of the day, I enjoyed “The Dark Tower” more than I expected. But I’m also well aware that the film has issues from beginning to end. The sad thing is that most of the problems in this movie were fixable. All it needed was someone to take the time to flesh out the story and characters.
“The Dark Tower” final score: C
Epilogue:
So about my encounter with Stephen King. At the time, I was attending art school near Copley Square in Boston. Each morning I’d walk past a 7-11 on the way to school from the parking garage, and sometimes I’d pop in for a breakfast sandwich or a snack for later. That morning I was walking out of the store when a gentleman on crutches approached the door. Being a nice guy, I held the door open, and he thanked me a couple of times.
The next morning at school, I was reading the newspaper when I came across the gossip page and saw a picture of the man on crutches. Under the picture it said that Stephen King had been spotted downtown for the first time since his accident. So yeah, I met him, and didn’t even realize it.
