Movie Review - Money Monster

Money Monster

Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, Caitriona Balfe, Dominic West, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Denham, Lenny Venito, Chris Bauer, Dennis Boutsikaris, Condola Rashad, Emily Meade, Aaron Yoo, and more.

Directed by: Jodie Foster Screenplay by: Jamie Linden, Alan DiFiore, Jim Kouf Story by: Alan DiFiore and Jim Kouf Cinematography by: Matthew Libatique Music by: Dominic Lewis

Premise: After a seeming computer glitch loses owners of Ibris stock 800 million dollars, an unhappy New Yorker decides to take a stand - he decides to hold a TV host on a stock show hostage, hoping to also snare one of his guests, so he can make them tell the world on live TV how it is that they cheated him and many others out of their money. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The film is filled with a lovely powerhouse of actors. George Clooney and Julia Roberts are pure magic as Lee Gates, the show's host, and Patty Fenn, the director of the TV show Money Monster. Jack O'Connell adds in a nice counterpoint of chaos to their otherwise predictable lives. All the characters, large and small, contributed something. Some lovely acting work all around.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: While there are no giant explosions, alien invaders, or gigabytes of CGI, we still got a nice share of special effects in the film. The opening sequence showing the electronic workings of stocks was visually fun. Lots of lovely video effects for the show, even some great bits of what "normal" people would have made with regards to a piece of footage at the end. Too darn funny!

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: Hubby knows a lot about stocks, so I know if the premise and mystery had seemed to be out there he wouldn't be shy about saying so. But he enjoyed the film as much as I did. I've watched Mad Money with him at home, so we loved their taking Kramer's show one step to the side and three steps up - making it that much more fun. George Clooney can definitely ham it up. :)

While the main plot of the film seems straightforward, there were still several unexpected and lovely surprises. The motivations and moves are well supported, even the ones that seem a little crazy. I loved that even while doing things in a way to make them seem bigger than life, reality kept asserting itself into the equation keeping it 'real' - whether the characters liked it or not. :) 

Multiple themes are explored - most centering around those caught in the middle of the madness. Friendship, leadership, the little things we hide from ourselves and others, taking things for granted. Trust - gaining it, respecting it, destroying it - was definitely a major theme in all manner of forms. Making human connections - even despite ourselves. Lots of great dynamics were involved.

Loved the snide, soft glimpses into our lives and attention spans, and how much social media and our phones are a part of everything. The world gets smaller everyday.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The story spans wide so we get all sorts of location shots from around the world. Also a lot circling around the small world of the studio and those who spend most of their lives creating entertainment for the masses. And how those self same masses will do anything if they feel it will be entertaining. :P

Conclusion:  Money Monster is filled with layers and not all of them centered on the main problem at hand. Strong performances and unexpected surprises made it a very fun ride.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Paying Full Price to See Again!)

Movie Review - Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar!

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehnrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Veronica Osorio, Heather Goldenhersh, Clancy Brown, Alison Pill, Max Baker, Fisher Stevens, Patrick Fischler, Robert Picardo, Christopher Lambert, and more.

Directed by: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen Written by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Cinematography by: Roger Deakins Music by: Carter Burwell

Premise: Eddie Mannix manages all that goes on at Capital Pictures. He makes sure things run smoothly. But when he has to juggle an unmarried pregnant starlet, a lucrative offer from Lockheed, threats from a gossip columnist and a journalist, plus the kidnapping of the main star of the biggest budget picture ever from the studio - Eddie may have finally reached his limit. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Josh Brolin is fun to watch on this film. He embodies the look and feel of the 40's - a troubled soul with a calling. George Clooney really shows his skills as we see him flip back and forth between semi-brainless Baird Whitlock, bad actor, victim, good actor - he ran the gambit on this film! lol.

Alden Enrenreich was too much fun as Hobie Doyle, especially when he's trying to act! lol. (Wait till you see his roping skills! Dang!) Top performances from everyone involved. It's obvious they had way too much fun making this film. Channing Tatum dances AND sings! It was awesome! That sailor musical number was fantastic! (They even added some cool tricks I'd not seen done before. Fab!)

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Chunks of the film are done 'old school' style. Here and there they show pieces of the films being made at Capital Pictures. And they have the same look and feel they would have had if they'd been made in the 40's. Even some of the reality took on the feel of a 40's film. :)

They also brought out some old but very familiar sound effects. One of them they had to have done just to do it, because otherwise it would not have been heard at all! Think Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. You'll know when you hear it. :P

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: It's going to be hard for me to quantify this film. In the true tradition of the 40's, the tale begins with a voice over and ends in one. And like several movies of the time, it ambles in a general direction but also has a lot of other pins tossed in the air, so you're never quite sure where everything is headed.

The film is a comedy but is also an encapsulation of the times as well as a giant homage machine. It has a TON of loosely veiled references to other films, studios, personalities, politics - there's a bit of that and more in there. And though I applaud them for doing it, I think it might also inadvertently hurt how the film does at the box office. I don't think anyone below the age of 40 will understand and get a lot of what is being presented and why so many bits are funny. I don't believe they'll have the knowledge needed to be able to put what they see in context. But I would be quite happy to be wrong about this! :)

The brothers touched on all sorts of things - the treatment of writers and other staff by the big studios, Howard Hughes (the mysterious backer of Capital Pictures perhaps?), the film Hell's Angels, the big musical's of the times, Roy Roger, Gene Kelly, religion, the scandal and gossip, communist accusations, the wrecking of careers (The Majestic is not only an awesome movie but it shares a ton of info on this controversial time in Hollywood, too!). A ton of scenes and locations of the films being made will seem familiar, poking at your memories.

Some neat duality was woven into the themes, which at times made certain moments truly ironic. Eddie struggles with the fact he lies to his wife about smoking and feels the need to confess and be absolved for this, but giving money to squash rumors, lying to keep from getting bad press, or keeping on the good side of the cops is just everyday life. The oppressed men who are part of "The Future" are raging at the system, but in the end, they willingly play the same role as before (even as they convince themselves they're free) - the working class toiling for those above them, and getting next to nothing for their efforts.

The film is also a view behind the curtain. The audience normally only sees the finished product, the dream as it was envisioned. But this film loves to set the audience to get caught in films being made then yanks the curtain open, forcibly pulling us from the fabrication back to their reality.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The cinematography was great. From the too close overdone filming to spanning vistas, it was all embroiled with new and old techniques. They even throw in cheesy stuff that for the times would have been top of the line tech. Nice!

5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: The costuming and makeup department did a phenomenal job. Not only did they bring out the fashions for the time, but also made the actors and actresses look like top stars of the 40's and recreated costumes that would look close to those actually used in the films.

Conclusion: "Hail, Caesar!" is a fun film full of all things Hollywood in the early 40's, making it a time capsule of sorts. Top performances by everyone. Younger viewers may not enjoy it as much, though the musical bar scene and Hobie's horseriding and lasso handling are totally worth seeing.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland

Starring: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy, Hugh Laurie, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Robinson, Pierce Gagnon, Chris Bauer, and more.

Directed by: Brad Bird Screenplay by: Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird Story by: Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird, and Jeff Jensen Cinematography by: Claudio Miranda Music by: Michael Giacchino

Premise: Casey's dream is to go to space, so she's been sabotaging the equipment being used to dismantle NASA's launch platform trying what she can to keep it alive. When she's caught and then released, she ends up with a strange pin she's never seen before. And when she touches the pin, it lets her see a marvelous city full of technical miracles. But when she uses up all the power on the pin and heads off to find information about it at a SF collectibles store, she finds there are people out there willing to kill her just for having it. (Rated PG)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tomorrowland has a great cast - especially the kids. Thomas Robinson and Raffey Cassidy were totally adorable in the 1954 sequence. Thomas rattled the technical terms and explanations like a total pro - and his instant attraction to Athena was like a neon sign. Britt Robertson did a great job as the spunky Casey. Her reactions to the insanity were great. George Clooney as Frank Walker was an excellent choice, just the right amount of disillusioned bitterness and sparkling hope. Sparring verbal matches between Clooney and Britt were a lot of fun.


2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The special effects are totally worth seeing in IMAX. From the giant wheat field to the lovely lines of the city in Tomorrowland, there's so much to enjoy visually. A lot of attention is paid to detail, even going so far as to adjust the tech and look-and-feel of it during the different periods we see Tomorrowland or technology on Earth derived from it.

From the pin to the different permutations of the jetpack, the special effects group wove in subliminal homage to a ton of SF from the past - Jules Verne/Steampunk, 2001 Space Odyssey, Flash Gordon, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Day the Earth Stood Still and more. (And that's on top of the ton of SF related material flashed around at the collectibles shop!)

The sequences where Casey touches the pin are fab. She's lucky not to have broken something! lol. The switching back and forth was seamless, making it that much easier to believe it was really happening.

Tomorrowland itself was fabulous! We get a little bit of a quick tour, but it will need a couple of viewings or more to see everything, there's so much going on. Heh heh. Also the effects used for physically travelling to Tomorrowland and those for the tachyon time distorted future images came out really well, giving both a nice unique touch.

Extra kudos for changing the Disney castle intro to match Tomorrowland. Super nice touch!


3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The film covered all sorts of themes - family, dreams, not giving up, love that transcends, making a difference, good and evil. Many of these are interwoven together and played off each other as well. There's also a lot of minutia in the visuals to fill in information even before some of the themes are explored.

A few bits at first seem not to make sense or appear to be errors, but this is only because the pace is so fast the audience is expected to realize the reasons for themselves. For example: automatons killing people and trying to kill the main characters on Earth, yet these same characters not being immediately shot in Tomorrowland - at first it seems an odd incongruity until you realize that on Earth their actions are not being seen while in Tomorrowland, the same actions would be noticed and commented on by those with power to make a stand. With the consistently fast pace of the film, you have to put things together on the go!

All the scenes where there are one-to-one interactions really were well setup and executed. The whole section of Casey trying to get into the house and what she does to get in and what happens with Walker after she does are priceless.


4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Most of the gags were usually a mix of CGI and live action. For the most part you couldn't tell which was what and worked together to great effect. The chase and battle scenes at Walker's house were fab!

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The cinematography was awesome! The view of endless water in the secret room under the World's Fair, the golden wheat fields in Tomorrowland, all the shots of Tomorrowland itself, and what they do with Paris - everything seemed bigger than life, the amazement factor ratcheted up high. The time lapse sequence of the NASA launch pad and the other visuals from using the time map were very cool.

6) Music - Total Thumbs Up: Michael Giacchino did a great job on the score. It had a very strong John Williams vibe to it. It was almost as if the music, and not just the visuals, were paying homage to all the SF that has spanned and entertained us for the last 60+ years. Nice!

Conclusion: Tomorrowland is a fun, fast paced adventure. Great visuals and lots of witty repartee. There also a three second or so extra bit at the very end of the credits that was the perfect conclusion for the film. :)

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)

  

Movie Review - Gravity

Gravity

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen, Paul Sharma, Amy Warren, Basher Savage

Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón Written by: Alfonso Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón Script Collaborator: George Clooney Cinematography by: Emmanuel Lubezki Music by: Steven Price

Premise: Debris from an exploded satellite sets off an unexpected chain reaction which send hundreds of pieces of metal hurtling straight at American astronauts testing equipment in orbit . The ensuing accident places the survivors on a course to try to save themselves as their air supply and other resources dwindle quickly towards zero. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: George Clooney played Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his last mission playing it easy and fun until things get ugly and then doing whatever it takes to try to bring those in his charge home again. Mr. Clooney nicely showed the audience Kowalski's fun and somber sides as the plot developed.

Sandra Bullock did a great job as Ryan Stone, scientist turned astronaut, running from the great sadness in her life. She carries the film along easily and it's all the little nuances she brings forth in her character as we go with her on this journey that makes everything feel real.

Great job too by the rest of the cast, though we never see them, only hear them. Yet they added a lot to the film, helping to 'sell' the setting and the other events going on.


2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The effects in this film were fantastic. And when coupled with the great skill of the cinematographer, it pushed the film to dizzying heights. "Gravity" must be seen in IMAX 3D to get the true grandeur of the work done for this film.

The models of the different spacecraft, both inside and out, were very well done. The floating bits of flame inside the International Space Station and their treatment of Stone's tears looked great. And wait until you see the giant speeding debris field!

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The previews for this film clearly stated that the characters are about to have a very bad day. And they definitely have that. Slowly working up at the beginning, once the astronauts hear about the debris coming their way the plot moves fast and hardly slows down until the end. It's even split up into pieces, for faster processing, as those involved try to take it one goal at a time.

A lot of previously used plot bits are part of the script - the astronaut (cop) on his last mission before retirement, the deep emotional scar repressing the scientist from living a full life. But the execution is so good, you barely notice them.

The science looked to be pretty much on target, except for a couple of glaring spots. One of them is a rather significant scene, so the reworking of the effects of motion in space took a little bit away from the rather poignant moment. I really wish they could have figured a way to get the same result without having to cheat to get it. But if you can ignore than one spot, you won't have any troubles enjoying this one.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: While some of the stunt work was definitely CGI created, a lot of the 'gags' looked to be real. The bungee cord effect on the people in several scenes looked rather painful. The same can be said about their arrival at the ISS. A 'making of' featurette for the DVD would be of tremendous interest.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The visuals in this film were just "WOW". Earth is shown in all her glory passing below as a backdrop to the drama orbiting about her. The spanning views of the planet's surface during day and night as well as the super lovely sunrise will stick with me for a long time.

The point of view of the cameras changed a lot during the film, but it helped make the whole experience more immersive and personal. One nice composite shot creates a replica of an embryo in the womb.

Conclusion: "Gravity" is a must see film and in IMAX 3D if at all possible. The visuals alone are worth it. Yet the puzzle on how the heck Stone might come out of this alive definitely will keep you 'on the edge of your seats'.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Would Pay Full Price To Go See It Again!)

Movie Review - The Ides of March

The Ides of March

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, and more...

Directed by: George Clooney  Screenplay by: Goerge Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon Based on the play: "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon Music by: Alexandre Desplat

Premise: With two weeks to the close of the Ohio Democratic primary on a very close race, what had been, up to that point, a wonderful campaign with a presidential nomination just within reach, starts going sour. All set in motion with an innocent mistake. (Rated R)

Review: I'm going to try to give as little of this away as possible so I don't spoil any of the surprises!  The film is a political thriller of sorts.

It starts out with life going the way Stephen Myers, Mike Morris's assistant campaign manager, and those around him want and have worked hard for, then takes an unexpected turn. And the sequence of events from then on just keep dragging everything along with it downhill. Timing is everything and none of it good for our protagonist.

It's a look at the hidden side of politics, media reporting, the desire to win, and the cost that is sometimes paid for victory. 

Great performances by the whole cast. Make sure to take a mental picture of Stephen when the movie starts and compare to what you see when the movie ends. This is what a crushed and destroyed soul looks like.

Definitely not a happily ever after movie. But very thought provoking. And scarily, too realistic in too many ways. :) The title The Ides of March fits for more than just the date of the primary even if the daggers weren't real, and the setting not the Roman senate floor. Disillusionment, betrayal, despair, and people with ice for blood. lol.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)