The Lady in the Van (2015)

Directed by: Nicholas Hytner

Written by: Alan Bennett

Starring: Maggie Smith & Alex Jennings








Miss Shepard (Smith) is the mysterious woman that lives in a van.  She is rude.  She smells.  And she never explains what happened to her to make her so bitter. Unfortunately for Alan Bennett (Jennings), Miss Shepard parks her van outside his house and is his new neighbor.  As the years go by, he finds out various tidbits about Miss Shepard's life before the van as well as a new fondness for her that he never thought he had.

This movie was surprisingly good.  I knew it would be, but it was better than expected.  The British film had small amounts of comedy that still allowed it to be in the drama category.

Maggie Smith is brillant as always.  Her face says it all.  Jennings was quite good as well and looks very much like the real Alan Bennett, who wrote the story, which is mostly true.

What I liked most about this film is that these two characters are opposites.  Bennett is a gay, neat, play wright who tries to live in solitude without bothering anyone else.  He is very kind.  Meanwhile, Shepard is an old grumpy woman who is a complete mess and bothers everyone around her, just by existing in her ugly yellow van.  They make quite a pair.

Another feature of the film that I liked was the score.  The music is beautiful and relates to Miss Shepard's backstory and present at the same time during the film.  If you watch it, you'll get what I mean.

Also the ending was interesting too and made it quite comical in a sad way if that makes sense.  I recommend you seeing this film if you want a light comedy.  It kind of makes you think and appreciate life after you watch it.  4 popcorns.

Deadpool (2016)

Directed by: Tim Miller

Written by: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Fabian Nicieza (characters), & Rob Liefeld (characters)

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, & T.J. Miller






So I wasn't too much of a fan of this film.  Sorry guys.  I know a lot people love it and have been watching it numerous times saying it is hilarious, but to me, this film was okay.

I do agree with the notion that Ryan Reynolds is made for this part, especially considering the Green Lantern fail.  But let's just say that all of the funny parts were seen in the trailers.

I hate when they do that.  But it works as a marketing technique to go and see the film.

Wade Wilson (Reynolds) is in love with the girl of his dreams, Vanessa (Baccarin), when his nightmare begins.  He is diagnosed with terminal cancer and it is too late to really do any kind of treatment.  One day, he gets the offer to get rid of the cancer.  He decides to try the experiment to find out that it is actually a trick into making him a "super slave."  Unfortunately the treatment works, but makes him well...really really ugly.  In order to get revenge, he tries to track down Francis a.k.a. Ajax and kill him.  He fails time and time again, but when Vanessa gets kidnapped, he tries even harder?

Now as I wrote that summary, I realized that this movie isn't all that great again.  Anyway, I did like the nontraditional characteristics of the film.  For example, the opening credits of the film was creative and the motion graphics to get around the scene was done wonderfully.

I also liked the breaking of the fourth wall time and time again.  Especially when it came to the references of Hugh Jackman and even the magazine covers.

But the reason for my repetitive 3 popcorns is that the plot I didn't like and it wasn't that funny when you see the jokes in the trailers time and time again.  Many will disagree, but whatever.  3 popcorns.

How to Be Single (2016)

Directed by: Christian Ditter

Written by: Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein, Dana Fox, & Liz Tuccillo (book)

Starring: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, & Leslie Mann






How to Be Single follows four women and their path to find themselves.  We first meet Alice (Johnson) who decides to break up with her boyfriend so that way she can experience being single.  Unfortunately once she is finished with her adventurous discovery, she tries to get back with her boyfriend who rejects her.  Now officially single, with the help of Robin (Wilson), she goes through ups and downs with finding herself and new relationships.  Meanwhile Lucy (Brie) is looking for the perfect man and Meg (Mann) feels her career is the love of her life.

It is kind of a spin on Sex in the City, movie version.  Charlotte is Lucy.  Samantha is Robin.  Carrie is Alice.  And Miranda is Meg.

The film was cute and funny, but nothing spectacular.  I did appreciate the new independent spin.  Finally there is a romantic film that does not always end up in a relationship.  Not that I don't like relationships, but there are so many rom-com films that have this ending.  The guy getting the girl.  This one of course has that too, but not for everyone.  Sometimes the love that one needs is just from yourself.

This film gives you a variety of perspectives, so as an audience member there should be someone that you can connect to.  If not, well...hm...try Deadpool.

This is definitely a single gal's movie.  Best to see with girlfriends and maybe a woman relative or two.  Get brunch and then see this film in the morning.  3 popcorns.

Ride Along 2 (2016)

Directed by: Tim Story

Written by: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, & Greg Coolidge (characters)

Starring: Ice Cube & Kevin Hart







There isn't much to say about this film.  It's your typical action comedy  car film.

The brothers in law are back.  James Payton (Cube) is still a detective who's sister is going to marry Ben Barber (Hart).  After finding a dealer, they try to find the supplier who is suspected to be in Miami.  Despite the wedding day approaching, Hart accompanies Cube to Florida.  After doing some research, they discover that their so called supplier may actually be a much bigger deal than first assumed.

Everything was okay.  There were a few chuckles out of me during Hart's jokes, but nothing that had me clutching my side.  There was a brief romantic interest in the film and nice cars.  The film just isn't that amazing.

For example, I know I saw the first film.  But I can't remember anything about it other than that these two actors were in it.  It's going to be the same thing for this film in a couple of months.  I'll have to reread my review to remember.  It's just one of those films you forget.  If you don't see it, you're not missing much.

1 popcorn.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Directed by: Burr Steers

Written by: Burr Steers, Jane Austen (Quirk Books novel) & Seth Grahame-Smith

Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, & Jack Huston







Have you ever read Pride and Prejudice?  The original, not the one with zombies.  No?  Yes?

Well I haven't.  Despite being an English major, I actually Sparknoted it and watched the films when it was assigned to me in college.  I was never really a huge Jane Austen fan nor Shakespeare for that matter.  Anyway, due to that fact, I wasn't thrilled to see this film...especially since I don't like zombies.

During the 19th century in England, zombies are taking over the world.  In England there is really only one safe haven left that has no zombies, or so they thought.  Unfortunately for the Bennet sisters, they have to find husbands while battling daily for their lives.  Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the sisters, has the unfortunate meeting with Mr. Darcy, who's best friend is interested in Liz's older sister Jane.  After various encounters with Mr. Darcy and no romantic luck that is evident to her, she ends up interested in George Wickham, an old friend of Mr. Darcy.  Despite Wickham's charm and good looks, he is hiding something up his sleeve and Liz may need Mr. Darcy's help to figure it out.

Okay so that was a horrible summary, but I tried.  Just think of the original, but with zombies.  Bam, that's it.

The plot of the film was well done.  I didn't think it would be so easy to incorporate zombies into this Jane Austen novel, but apparently it is.  I appreciated the modern spin on the tale, with making the Bennet sisters somewhat more independent.  They knew how to fight and did not need to be a damsel in distress thanks to their father.

The actors did a pretty great job, but of course they had to just copy the previous Pride and Prejudice films, such as the one with Keira Knightly (2005) and the other one with Colin Firth (1995).  (These are the most famous.)  The characters are pretty much the same besides the addition of fighting skills.

I appreciated the experimental camera shots, such as at the beginning where the camera was the zombie.  It worked, but I wished it was done at least one other time.  All the other technical aspects were good too.  There were a few spots where I wish they had added more lighting, but maybe the zombies weren't dead enough in those particular scenes.

Speaking of zombies, the makeup was great.  I never really like zombies and seeing them in this film made my stomach turn, especially the mother and baby zombie.  Ugh, still gives me the creeps.

Anyway, this film was great and all, but I don't think it is deserving of 4 popcorns.  More like 3 1/2, so instead I'll just give it 3.  It was entertaining, but there was something missing.

The Choice (2016)

Directed by: Ross Katz

Written by: Bryan Sipe & Nicholas Sparks (novel)

Starring: Benjamin Walker & Teresa Palmer







The Choice is just like all the other Sparks movies.  Just like The Notebook, The Longest Ride, The Last Song, etc...they pretty much all have the same elements.  Travis (Walker), a veterinarian, is neighbors with Gabby (Palmer), a medical student.  They hate each other, then fall in love, there is some other guy, yadda yadda yadda.  Of course someone has to fall ill or die.  If someone didn't then it would not be a Sparks film.  But there wasn't anything special about this film.  It is just like all the others as I said.

At first I did not want to see this film.  It looked boring and similar to the others.  But I only saw it due to Benjamin Walker.  He was married to Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep's daughter) and now he is married to Kaya Scodelario, who is from my favorite television show Skins.  So I needed to see why these actresses I loved were marrying this guy.  I didn't see it, but maybe it's his eyes.  They look as if his puppy just died.  Anyway his acting was mediocre.  Very similar to Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, but just The Notebook, not any of Gosling's other films.  Palmer was good too, but nothing amazing.

The editing and cinematography were the best things about this film.  There was a slow motion part that I loved.  It's in the trailer I believe when Palmer gets into a car crash.  Plus there are some beautiful shots of the scenery where the story takes place.

I think perhaps Sparks has finally climbed over his successful peak.  Is he finally done?  Doubt it.  The person I went with was crying during the film, so there probably are still fans out there.  I guess I just outgrew him.  2 popcorns.
                       

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Directed by: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Written by: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, & Alden Ehrenreich








Hail, Caesar! revolves around Brolin's character Eddie Mannix.  The story takes place in the 1950s and Mannix is trying to keep his job afloat and keep his stars inline while staying sane.  His biggest problem is Baird Whitlock (Clooney), who was just kidnapped by Communists.  Unlike Trumbo, communism is a small detail in the plot rather than implied in the trailer.  If you see it from a metaphorical standpoint, then technically Communism is the whole story, but I'll get to that in a moment.  Anyway, besides Clooney, other stars such as Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, and more also are in this film.

This film was interesting.  It had many small details that only one would understand if they knew how the studios worked during the 50s including the Hollywood blacklist.  The plot was a little all over the place and I was not prepared for it.  From looking at the trailer, I thought that the film would focus on finding Whitlock, but it had other small storylines within this one storyline.

Metaphorically speaking, the film was all about Communism and religion.  Mannix was in this constant struggle with himself on doing right from wrong, while what he did for a living is the struggle against Communism.  Clever Coen brothers, very clever.

It did have it's slow moments and all these mini storylines might have rubbed some the wrong way.  Let's just say, while in the theater myself and one other person were the only ones laughing, compared to the thirty people in the theater.  I do think people should see this film, but I don't think many will like it like I did.  So for being all over the place and the slow moments, this film gets 3 popcorns.

Room (2015)

Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson

Written by: Emma Donoghue (novel & screenplay)

Starring: Brie Larson & Jacob Tremblay








(I finally saw it!  All I need to see is Carol and Beasts with No Nation to know all the movies in this year's award shows.)

Anyway, let's begin the review.

Joy (Larson) has been locked up in a garden shed for seven years.  She had a son, Jack (Tremblay), who just turned five.  And now it's time to escape.  Cleverly planned, Jack is able to get help to save them from this room that is Jack's whole world.  He knows nothing else and now it is time to face the unknown.  Joy,  ecstatic to be out wants to go back to the world she knew, but can probably no longer go back to.  Room tells the story through Jack's eyes of what this new world is like.

I did not like this film.  I mean, it was okay, but Tremblay annoyed me.  I don't blame him of course.  I blame Donoghue, the writer, who gave him so many lines.

The problem I had with this film is that the whole story is through Jack, a five-year-old.  I would have preferred it being through Joy.  I understand that we were supposed to learn with Jack about the outside world just as he was, but as an audience member, I know what the world is like.  I don't need to be told what is what and what not.  Of course he also observed his mother who was having a mental breakdown, but I would have liked it to be less of Jack and more of Joy.

Another problem I had with the film is that there is not much of a plot.  They are in the room and then they are out.  That's it.  True, they adjust back to the outside world, but it isn't as interesting as I'd hoped it'd be.

Despite the negatives, there is one positive.  Larson was amazing.  I can see why she's been winning for her performance.  Of course, it isn't easy to act with children.  And also, she is pretty much bipolar in the film.  She has to act happy for her son, when inside she's dying most of the time.  Who knows how many times she cried in the film; I didn't keep count.  But I did think she deserved to win for those two reasons alone.  Congrats Larson, you may just become the next Jennifer Lawrence.

I'd suggest renting it and was going to give it 2 popcorns, but Larson was really great in the film, so I'll bump it up to 3.

Jane Got a Gun (2016)

Directed by: Gavin O'Conner

Written by: Brian Duffield, Anthony Tambakis, & Joel Edgerton

Starring: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, & Ewan McGregor







I wasn't too impressed by this film as I hoped I'd be.  I liked it and everything, but it was not amazing in my opinion.

Jane (Portman) ends up in a sticky situation when her husband Bill Hammond, played by Noah Emmerich, comes home shot in the back and barely alive.  He tells her the gang of outlaws led by Colin McCann (McGregor) are coming to finish him off and probably take care of her too.  In order to survive, she finds Dan Frost (Edgerton), her past fiancé and asks for his help.  Begrudgingly he helps in order to protect the woman he still loves.

Definitely a love triangle going on in this film, but it did not seem to be portrayed well by Portman.  Edgerton was great in how he handled a situation where he met the man that took his fiancé away and so was Emmerich in how he was a bed ridden man that could do nothing, but glare and Edgerton.

The plot of the film was well enough, but like I said, nothing too exciting.  Everything technical about the film was right in the traditional sense, but there were no crazy moves or experiments with camera shots or editing that I noticed.

I suggest renting the film, since it isn't bad, but it isn't that great either.  2 popcorns.

The Finest Hours (2016)

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Written by: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Casey Sherman (book), & Michael J. Touglas (book)

Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Afflect, Ben Foster, & Eric Bana






Bernie Webber (Pine) is a simple man.  He follows the rules and does not like to hurt anyone.  But one night his whole life is turned upside down with a storm that is about to hit Cape Cod, where he works as a Coast Guard.  Due to Daniel Cluff's (Bana) inexperience as Webber's commander, he tries to prove who's in charge and sends Webber and others out to rescue two ships that split in half during the storm.  Everyone says it's a suicide mission, but Webber always follows the rules.  Despite his impending fear and outspoken fiancé's resistance, he makes his way into the storm to do his job.

The special effects of this film were amazing and I really admired the change in the typical character for Pine.  In the movies that I've seen him in, he usually is this cocky, narcissistic, good looking character who takes charge.  But in this film, Pine is more of a push over and tries to make everyone happy.  It's pretty cute actually.  Think of him as the strong silent type.

Besides Pine's character, I also loved his fiancé.  Holliday Grainger plays Miriam who is far from the typical 50's housewife.  She's outspoken and does what she wants no matter what people think.  Definitely the opposite of Bernie.  Makes sense as to why they go together.

I thought this film was great with it's special effects and the obstacles that these men had to go through.  Not to mention it is a true story, which makes it better.  I recommend people seeing this film if they want something different than what's out at the moment.  4 popcorns.