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Film Reviews and Movie News
Matinee Chat Podcast – Vol #23 – Reviews of MACBETH & IN THE HEART OF THE SEA
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MACBETH ~ Rated R
“All hale Macbeth will be King hereafter…”
Director Justin Kurzel brings to the big screen the emblazoned screenplay of writers Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie and Todd Louiso ~ who masterfully reworked William Shakespeare’s classic tale of witchery, passion and war, dowsed with a large dose of madness for good measure ~ THIS IS MACBETH!
Emotionally scared by the death of his son, Macbeth (Michael Fassbender) leaves his love, the ambitious and stunningly beautiful Lady Macbeth (Marion Cotillard) and heads off to war with his fellow kinsman, in order to save his beloved Scotland…
When 3 witches befall upon Macbeth and his friend Banquo (Paddy Considine), it seems that they have a prophecy to share with the warrior Macbeth, as they see him with the crown of Scotland perched rather nicely on HIS HEAD…
Lady Macbeth is happy to hear of the future that was foretold, as she helps Macbeth contrive a scheme, making sure it all unfolds. As his passion for greatness consumes Macbeth ~ and his fine Lady too ~ a sense of madness succumbs them both, and it seems, the grip of Satan too…
As his life unfolds through his murderess ways, Macbeth must make certain that neither friend or foe will challenges his new status as the ruler of the land, or will have the opportunity to prove once and for all, that HE IS TRULY MAD…
I give MACBETH a rating of MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN ~ talk about bringing SHAKESPEARE to LIFE ~ and then some ~ this film, and its storyline, are about as dark and twisted as it gets. Fassbender was phenomenal as the tortured Macbeth, and Cotillard gave an outstanding performance as well, playing the passionate and controlling wife, that must assist her man in achieving his destiny… And if you enjoyed the film BRAVEHEART, you will absolutely love this one too, as you could have dropped Gibson into any of the battle scenes, and he totally would have fit right in! Kurzel did a fabulous job of turning William Shakespeare’s masterpiece of madness, into a cinematic gem that will no doubt stand the test of time. And, I must share too, that I was ecstatic to have had the chance to view Fassbender’s best work to date in my estimation, as this film also gave me the opportunity to erase that horrific portrayal he gave as Steve Jobs earlier in the year from my mind…needless to say, I don’t agree with the GOLDEN GLOBES on that nomination this year…
Kathy Kaiser
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Catch the NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER of the opening film for the 53rd NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL – THE WALK
THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER ANNOUNCED TODAY THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ROBERT ZEMECKIS’S THE WALK AS THE OPENING NIGHT SELECTION OF THE 53rd NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
SYNOPSIS OF THE FILM : Twelve people have walked on the moon. Only one has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.
Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), is aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, who overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis, the master director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to the Future, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX® 3D wizardry, The Walk is genuine big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds.
It is also one of the more rare live-action films that is a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80 – and a true story to boot. It is unlike anything audiences have seen before, a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.
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SPY ~ Rated R – MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
SPY – Rated R – MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Back for another romp directing his star-pupil, Melissa McCarthy – He previously directed her in BRIDEMAIDS & THE HEAT – Paul Feig is out to prove McCarthy’s got what it takes to be a REAL SPY too, with his new film – SPY!
Delegated to the dungeon of the CIA headquarters, Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) seems to be the brains of the operation, signaling critical info to keep her partner, Bradley Fine (Jude Law) alive.
When Fine meets his demise at the hands of the beautiful, yet completely ruthless Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), Cooper is devastated, as maybe for her, they were more than just friends.
It seems too, that Boyanov and her cohorts in crime have a make on ALL of the CIA Operatives, including the notorious Rick Ford (Jason Statham), forcing Chief CIA Operative Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney) to take Cooper up on her offer to go undercover, as no one on the outside knows she exists.
Given the lamest and most undesirable cover identities known to man~ Cooper tries to make the most of it~ as she sets out to find Rayna and her accomplice, Sergio De Luca (Bobby Cannavale).
Even though Ford has been told to stay far away from Cooper since his identity is known ~ like any typical macho guy ~ he can’t let a woman handle this… but, since Rayne and Sergio know who he is, is he going to blow Cooper’s cover too???
I give SPY 4 out of 5 Stars: Are you as surprised as I was by that rating??? After seeing the trailer for this film, I thought going in that I would be settling for another of McCarthy’s typical type cast films. BOY, WAS I WRONG!!! SPY is anything but your typical Melissa McCarthy film! Don’t get me wrong, I love her funny side and her quirky sense of humor ~ which does periodically appear in small doses~ but this film is SO MUCH MORE!! She actually plays a SPY – she is the brains of the operation…and actually kicks some bad ass they along the way too ~ who knew she had it in her?! And true to form, Jude Law and Jason Statham are perfectly cast in their respective roles, and I loved Byrne as the Diva/Prima Donna/BAD GIRL as well…everything about this film just totally clicked. I even found myself feeling slightly remorseful for my rash judgment going in as I watched everything unfold. This was definitely one of those movies that caught me totally by surprise. I also won’t be shocked if there are additional SPY films in McCarthy’s future, because as strange as it sounds, Mellissa totally nailed the CIA agent/SPY role – and could reprise it again, and again, if she wanted to!
Kathy Kaiser
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BRIDGE OF SPIES NEW TRAILER – TOM HANKS and STEVEN SPIELBERG DRAMATIC THRILLER – Released 10/16/2015
BRIDGE OF SPIES ~ A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, DreamWorks Pictures/Fox 2000 Pictures’ “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.
Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, “Bridge of Spies” stars: two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as James Donovan; three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm. The film is produced by Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen. “Bridge of Spies” will be released in theaters on October 16, 2015.
BRIDGE OF SPIES
DREAMWORKS PICTURES/FOX 2000 PICTURES
Follow us on: Twitter: @BridgeOfSpies
Website www.bridgeofspies.com
Genre: Dramatic Thriller
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release date: October 16, 2015
Running time: TBD
Cast: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch, Alan Alda
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger
Executive Producers: Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King
Written by: Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
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SNEAK PEEK of the TRAILER for MISTRESS AMERICA – Rated R
ENTOURAGE ~ Rated R
THE BOYS ARE BACK! ~ And if you loved the small screen version of ENTOURAGE on HBO, then get ready for the now “LARGER THAN LIFE” debauchery and mayhem that ensues as VINCE (Adrian Grenier), ERIC (Kevin Connelly), TURTLE (Jerry Ferrara), DRAMA (Kevin Dillon), and ARI GOLD (Jeremy Piven) converge on HOLLYWOOD ~ yes, that’s right, HOLLYWOOD ~ As Vince and Ari try to leave their mark on the world with a new film ~ written, directed by and starring VINCE…so what could go wrong??
And just like in the real world, you can’t make a movie without someone backing your film…Enter Texas oil Tycoon Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton), and his son Travis (Haley Joel Osment), who have spent millions on Vince’s Directorial debut, but it seems they need a little more of McCredle’s money to GET THE JOB DONE!!! Ari tries to schmooze McCredle for a little more cash, but it seems that the only way to make this happen, is for Ari to take Travis back with him to LA to view Vince’s film in person~ as BIG DADDY wants to know his son’s take on this film ~ before he spends another dime!!!
While Ari and Vince are deep into their movie making, ERIC is making his moves on more woman than ever, even though his girlfriend Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui) is about to give birth to his child…TURTLE is making the most of his new found friendship with MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (playing herself), and Vince’s brother Johnny Drama spends most of his time praying that his scenes in little brother’s film don’t hit the cutting room floor…so that he finally can become A STAR in his own right…
So, what does the future all hold for the boys of ENTOURAGE???…
I give ENTOURAGE 3 out of 5 Stars: Having viewed the HBO Series for years, it was exciting seeing the boys of ENTOURAGE back together for another go round on the big screen. And, just as expected – there is enough T & A throughout the film to make all the young men watching this film ecstatic! I too, was excited to see Adrian Grenier and Jeremy Piven return to their respective roles, as I love both of them immensely playing Vince and Ari ~ ARI GOLD IS MY FAVORITE A-hole in the whole wide world! Plus, there seems to be more cameos from some of Hollywoods finest than I have ever seen before. Guessing that everyone wanted to join in on the boys leap from the small to the BIG SCREEN… So, with all these accolades, I guess you are wondering why the 3 star rating?? First off, there seemed to be more outlandish material in the television series on HBO than what was showing up in this movie!!! Plus, for me, I was hoping that Writer and Director Doug Ellin would expand their roles for the BIG SCREEN~ making them all edgier, more outlandish, more exciting for their MOVIE DEBUT, but that didn’t happen either. I just think that an opportunity was missed to make the transition from small screen to the big screen so impactful, so intriguing, so memorable, that we all couldn’t wait to see what the boys of ENTOURAGE were going to do next ~ i.e. another BIG MOVIE, but instead we just got more of the same, which wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for, as I was expecting SO MUCH MORE!!!
Kathy Kaiser
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ALOHA – Rated PG-13
Written and Directed by cinematic master Cameron Crowe – who brought us JERRY MAGUIRE, ALMOST FAMOUS and VANILLA SKY – and who now takes us deep into the mixed-up life of Air Force Contractor Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), who is presently working on the civilian side of things, with the notorious Billionaire and CEO of Global 1 Enterprises ~ Mr. Carson Welch (played by Bill Murray) with his new film – ALOHA.
When Gilcrest arrives in Hawaii to take care of a few unfinished matters, he is blindsided by the presence of his old flame Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams). And then to complicate things even further, he finds himself completely overwhelmed by his new “babysitter” during this particular mission, the vivacious and intriguing Capt. Allison Ng (Emma Stone).
It seems, as luck would have it, both Tracy and Allison are fascinated by the mysterious Gilcrest, and what his presence in their lives may lead to. But Tracy’s husband, John “Woody” Woodside (John Krasinski), has about had enough of Gilcrest disrupting his family, and their lives, and he wants him heading back to the mainland PRONTO!
Sadly, no matter how hard she tries to avoid it, it seems that Capt. Ng is falling for Gilcrest, which is against regulations! That is until she stumbles across a video by Tracy’s son Mitchell (Jaeden Leiberher), which might just shed some light on Gilcrest, and the real reason why he is on his mission in Hawaii…
I give ALOHA 2 out of 5 Stars: As much as it pains me to give this rating to a film filled with a cast of some of MY FAVS – I MUST!!! Not sure where Crowe was trying to go with this film ~ is it suppose to be a love story with an ancient Hawaiian dogmata storyline too? Or a new twist to the arms race? – Who knows – maybe it’s suppose to be all of this. All I know is it couldn’t get it’s stride, no matter how hard it tried, in any direction. And for all my girlfriends out there wondering…Yes, I was mesmerized by Cooper’s blue eyes and impeccable smile like always, but even that infatuation was short lived. The multiple storylines filled with insignificant dialogue continued to fall flat again, and again, and again, even for Cooper’s role. And I was taken back too, by the lack of chemistry between Cooper and Stone ~ I wasn’t feeling that relationship AT ALL, so I was thankful that McAdams and Cooper had at least a little flirtation taking place on screen, which did mange to save a scene or two. Even Murray playing a weasel – which he has played many times over the years, and usually nails – couldn’t save this film. And I think the biggest atrocity of it all for me, was the mere “dumbing down” affect that Crowe wrote for most of the AIR FORCE commanders in this film, as I have many a friend who I admire and respect in this particular division of the armed forces – so stop it already! I feel bad for Crowe and his latest creative endeavor, as this film doesn’t come close to some of his previous masterful filmmaking, even with all the star power he brought to the table – TOO BAD ;(
Kathy Kaiser
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SAN ANDREAS – RATED PG-13 ~ MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
As we meet the almost divorced Rescue Pilot and all round good-guy, Chief Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), his life has been turned upside down, in more ways than one.
Struggling with the death of one of his daughters, and the new relationship between his soon-to-be ex wife Emma (Carla Gugino) and her live-in boyfriend Daniel (Ioan Gruffudd) ~ the job and his personal life are almost too much to handle.
When his other daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) tries to keep things afloat for everyone, she agrees to travel with Daniel to check out his new high-rise creation in the heart of San Francisco.
Hundreds of miles away ~ Seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes (Paul Giamatti) has uncovered a way to predict earthquakes before they happen, but not soon enough for his colleague Dr. Kim Park (Will Yun Lee) or the Hoover Dam!
When the world’s largest recorded quake brakes along the San Andreas fault ~ rocking San Francisco to it’s knees ~ Blake and her two new-found comrades, Ben (Hugo Johnston-Burt) and his little brother Ollie (Art Parkinson), try to follow all the survival techniques Ray has taught Blake over the years…as they all pray that he will reach them before it’s too late…
I give SAN ANDREAS 3.5 out of 5 Stars: Talk about INTENSE– San Andreas is a no-holds-barred, roller coaster ride from start to finish! Just when you think you are going to be able to come down from all the chaos…NO WAY…as Director Brad Peyton throws just a little more in your direction! If you enjoyed the thrill of Avengers 2 and Mad Max ~ Fury Road within the last few weeks, then you are going to love this Full Throttle of Pandemonium even more!! Johnson is perfectly cast as the as the Pilot/Dad/Real-Life SUPERHERO Ray Gaines, and apparently his leading lady Gugino picked up a few tips from her SPY KIDS movie days too, as she can go toe-to-toe with even the ROCK himself. Giamatti is also superb in his role as Seismologist Hayes – trying desperately to save most of the West from total annihilation – if everyone will just listen!!! Does the storyline have a few flaws? – YES. Does the CGI get a little over the top? ~ YES! Is Johnson portrayed as the Biggest REAL-LIFE HERO EVER ~ Well, but of course! But then again, aren’t most action packed films made this way anymore? ~ Besides, it doesn’t mean that these flaws make it any less entertaining…as SAN ANDREAS was definitely entertaining from it’s first frame to it’s last!
Kathy Kaiser
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MAD MAX – FURY ROAD ~ Rated R ~ MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Director George Miller, yes, the same Director who brought MAD MAX to life with his trilogy of 79’s MAD MAX, 81’s MAD MAX 2 – The Road Warrior and 85’s MAD MAX – Beyond Thunderdome ~ has brought his character back to life once again, only this time it’s even more of an unconceivable world than before, so hold on tight as you experience ~ MAD MAX Fury Road!!
Making her way in the desolate wasteland she calls HOME, we find Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) mastering the control of one of her people’s war ships, bound for places unknown.
As the people of this barren land struggle for survival, we meet Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), who battles for his freedom from the savages who want his life to save their own, and who struggles with the demons of his mind too, after the loss of his family.
Fighting to stay alive at every turn, Max happens upon Furiosa and the others from her tribe that she is trying to save, from the hands of their venomous ruler Rictus Erectus (Nathan Jones).
Fighting everyone and everything in their paths, Max and Furiosa melee to claim their freedom from the bleak and abandoned world in which they inhabit, as they try to save their race from utter extinction…
I give MAD MAX – Fury Road 4 out of 5 Stars: Talk about an extremely intense film from the first frame to the last – Miller has created a world some 30 years later that makes his original films seem like just a walk in the park. And the story line this time around is significantly different too, as Max plays more of a supporting role to the character of Furiosa, and her quest to make things right for her fellow man ~ or woman is the main premise of this film! Theron is absolutely fabulous as Furiosa, as even a buzz cut can’t diminish her beauty. She is so good in fact, that I am certain we will see her be back for more craziness in her desolate world sooner rather than later. The twist in the storyline of this generations MAD MAX also follows the adage that woman are just as powerful as men, which endorses the cry of Feminism of our time, so I think the ladies are going to enjoy this action packed thriller just as much as the men do too. The only negative for me ~ besides my heart racing throughout almost the entire film – I TOLD YOU IT WAS INTENSE – was the fact that Hardy didn’t have enough dialogue or face time for me, plus, his part was so reminiscent of his Bane character in Batman – The Dark Knight Rises, that it was as if I had already seen this performance before.
So, if you love extreme craziness and penetrating cinematography at every turn, which this film definitely has an abundance of, then get ready to settle in at a theater near you to experience the new era of Miller’s creative genius that is MAD MAX – Fury Road.
Kathy Kaiser
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FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD – Rated PG~13
Based on the Thomas Hardy novel by that same name – FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD takes us deep into the Victorian era farmlands of England, entrenched in the beauty of the countryside, and the life of one fiercely independent woman for the time, Bathsheba Everdeen.
Living with her aunt, but in hopes of returning home to her family’s estate one day very soon, Bathsheba Everdeen (Carrie Mulligan) meets Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), the very handsome farmer next door.
Smitten with Bathsheba from the very first time he laid eyes on her, Gabriel proposes marriage ~ but is turned down in a heartbeat ~ as Bathsheba has plans of making a life for herself ~ without the assistance of any man.
When her families estate is finally left to her, Bathsheba hastens her plans to live the life she has dreamed of, one of making her own fortune. Gabriel is forced to seek refuge after loosing his own farm, and becomes the hired hand for the only woman he has ever loved.
Another suitor comes to call, the older and richer William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), he too proposes marriage, but Bathsheba must decline his offer too. William bides his time, as he knows that Bathsheba will come to understand what he can offer her ~ prestige and riches beyond her dreams~ so how long can she refuse becoming his wife?
When a chance encounter brings Bathsheba face to face with Sergeant Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge), she is finally thinking that this military man may just be the one and only man in her life that can steal her heart…
I give FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWN 4 out of 5 Stars: This film is not only breathtakingly beautiful from a cinematic viewpoint, but the storyline of three men courting the insatiable Bathsheba Everdeen is enjoyable to view too. Mulligan is the perfect choice to play the 18th century maiden with a mind of her own (She is absolutely superb), and the casting of three totally different suitors with Schoenerts, Sheen and Sturridge makes for a very memorable “love tryst at every turn” type film to boot. If you love Victorian era films filled with beautiful scenery, love, and an ample amount of heartache too, then FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD should be your pick to catch this weekend at a theater near you!!!
Kathy Kaiser
