Tag Archives: Movie

My 2 Cents… Bird Box

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Bird Box

Title: Bird Box
Director: Susanne Bier
Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay) and Josh Malerman (novel)
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Jacki Weaver, Rosa Salazar

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (3.66)

Blurb:
Five years after an ominous unseen presence drives most of society to suicide, a mother and her two children make a desperate bid to reach safety.

Storyline:
In the wake of an unknown global terror, a mother must find the strength to flee with her children down a treacherous river in search of safety. Due to unseen deadly forces, the perilous journey must be made blindly. Directed by Emmy winner Susanne Bier, Bird Box is a thriller starring Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, and Trevante Rhodes. Written by Netflix

My 2 Cents:
I wanted to love this film, I really did. Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses and although I didn’t love this film, I did LOVE her performance. Let me explain. I felt that the writing left to many things open-ended… without a clear picture of what happened to cause the mass suicides or a clear understanding of how, or even if, everything was resolved, everything in the middle was just filler.

If you’ve seen ‘The Happening’ or ‘A Quiet Place’ then you need not bother with this one. However, if you don’t care about plot and you just want to be startled and see Sandra Bullock at her best, despite a sub-par script, then sit down with some popcorn and watch.

Before you think I just completely hated this film, let me give props to the cast. You already know I enjoyed Bullocks portrayal of Malorie. Trevante Rhodes was excellent as Tom, John Malkovich was creepy good at Douglas, Sarah Paulson blew the small role of Jessica out of the park, and the children Vivien Lyra Blair (Girl) and Julian Edwards (Boy) were wonderful.

You can watch the official trailers here:

https://youtu.be/MPWMBITCudM
https://youtu.be/INJ2bPFy108

My 2 Cents… Ocean’s Eight

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Oceans Eight

Title: Ocean’s Eight
Director: Gary Ross
Writers: Gary Ross and Olivia Milch (Screenplay)
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★★
Overall: ★★★ (3)

Blurb:
Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala.

Storyline:
Danny Ocean’s estranged sister Debbie attempts to pull off the heist of the century at New York City’s star-studded annual Met Gala. Her first stop is to assemble the perfect all-female crew: Lou, Rose, Daphne Kluger, Nine Ball, Tammy, Amita, and Constance. Written by Coors71

My 2 Cents:
Let me just say up front that Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses. As an actress myself, I’ve always wanted her career. I obviously don’t have it. With that said, I was sad to give this movie only a 3-star rating, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. If I’m honest with myself, it probably shouldn’t have even been a 3-star rating, but I refuse to give it any less because it did keep me minimally entertained on the airplane… and it kept my mind off the fact that I was nauseous and hate to fly.

Admittedly, the cast lineup was fantastic. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter, and even Anne Hathaway.

However, what this movie proved was that even with an AMAZING CAST, you wont always end up with an amazing film. The directing was subpar – trying to live off the success of the previous Ocean movies… The script was predictable. It wasn’t humorous, the characters weren’t likeable, and worst of all there was no suspense. It was supposed to be a heist movie, where was the thrill, danger, suspense?

All in all, I’d say, if you’re really bored and there is nothing else on – go ahead and watch Ocean’s Eight. However, I wouldn’t rent it. Save your $3.99 and watch it when it becomes free on Netflix.

You can watch the official trailers here:


 

My 2 Cents… Ex Machina

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Title: Ex Machina
Director: Alex Garland
Writer: Alex Garland
Stars: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Sonoya Mizuno

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

Blurb:
A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I.

Storyline:
Caleb, a 26-year-old programmer at the world’s largest internet company, wins a competition to spend a week at a private mountain retreat belonging to Nathan, the reclusive CEO of the company. But when Caleb arrives at the remote location, he finds that he will have to participate in a strange and fascinating experiment in which he must interact with the world’s first true artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot girl. Written by DNA FILMS

My 2 Cents:
OK, I’ll admit – I did not see this one in the theatre. Big surprise, right? I mean it did come out back in 2014 and I’m just now reviewing it. I had never even heard of Ex Machina until the image of it scrolled across my Netflix feed.

I had no clue what to expect, but I tend to like AI movies so I gave it a shot.

Ultimately, this movie is about a computer programmer, Caleb – played by Domhnall Gleeson, who “wins” a chance to be flown to the estate where the owner of the company he works for, Nathan – played by Oscar Isaac, lives. Caleb gets there… to what is basically this massive, underground bunker where Nathan lives, works, and creates. His boss makes him sign an NDA and then shows him this beautiful AI woman, Ava – played by Alicia Vikander, that he created and keeps locked up – secluded from the outside world. He explains that the reason he brought Caleb there was to spend a week talking with Ava, questioning her, etc. to see if she is a real AI or just another robot.

Tension… tension… tension…

This really was a tension filled movie. Basically, because the acting was fantastic!!! I was captivated by the acting AND the dialogue. I have to hand it to Alex Garland, the writer and director, for such a well thought out, thought-provoking script. I was so surprised to find out that this was the first movie he had ever directed. WHAT?!?! Yup, its true.

As the viewer, you don’t know who to trust… who to believe… who to care for. That is part of the genius behind the writing. It also gives credit to the execution of the acting and directing.

I’m not going to tell you what happens, and I really won’t tell you the twist at the end. Yes, there is a twist. What I will tell you is – this is an EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!! If you haven’t seen it, you need to rent this one, it will not disappoint.

You can watch the official trailers here:


 

My 2 Cents… The Nun

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The Nun

Title: The Nun
Director: Corin Hardy
Writers: Gary Dauberman (Screenplay)
Story by: Gary Dauberman and James Wan
Stars: Demian Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, and Bonnie Aarons

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★★
Overall: ★★★ (3)

Blurb:
A priest with a haunted past and a novice on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.

Storyline:
When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in ‘The Conjuring 2,’ as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned. Written by Warner Bros.

My 2 Cents:
I was hoping for more. More scares, more story, more plot, more acting. Just more.

Ok, before you get the wrong I idea, I do still think this movie is worth watching. Rent it, don’t buy it. The story is subpar and the acting is just ok, but there were a few good jump scares – my favorite part of scary movies. Although, the best part wasn’t the movie at all – it was who I was watching it with. My daughter says she loves scary movies, but she screams the whole time. THE WHOLE TIME – even when it isn’t scary. So, her fear and excitement at being scared made the movie that much more fun for me too.

So, find a friend or a loved one who loves to be scared and jumps at everything and watch this movie with them.

I guess the only other things I can say about the movie is that the special effects were better than I expected and Bonnie Aarons, the actress who played The Nun, was awesome! I’m not going to lie – she was pretty creepy scary looking.

You can watch the official trailers here:

My 2 Cents… Brain on Fire

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Brain on Fire

Title: Brain on Fire
Director: Gerard Barrett
Writers: Gerard Barrett (Screenplay) & Susannah Cahalan (Memoir)
Stars: Chloe Grace Moretz, Thomas Mann, Richard Armitage, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jenny Slate, and Tyler Perry

 

 

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

Blurb:
A young, capable professional cannot explain her newly erratic behavior.

Storyline:
The film follows the harrowing experience of a writer struggling with a rare neurological disease from when she first suffers symptoms to the many attempts at diagnosing it and the eventual discovery of the real cause of her illness. Based on the book, ‘Brain On Fire’, the true story of Susannah Cahalan, a journalist for the New York Post. Written by Danny

My 2 Cents:
WOW! I can’t say enough good things about this movie.

First let me start by explaining something I didn’t know when I hit play… This movie is based on a true story. It’s not fiction and wow did the actors and director nail it! I wish there were more movies being made that touched on such important topics as mental illness in such a way that people can relate and yet learn.

The acting was amazing – breathtaking. Chloe Grace Moretz was perfectly cast and brought her character to life in such a heartbreaking way. Richard Armitage and Carrie-Anne Moss played Chloe’s parents, a divorced couple struggling to move on from their failed marriage and still support their sick daughter through her time of need. They fought valiantly for their daughter’s rights and to provide her with the best treatment available.

I’m not going to give anything else away. However, I think it needs to be said that the negative reviews I’ve read online seem so miss placed. This movie is definitely a MUST SEE!

You can watch the official trailers here:

My 2 cents… Inside Out

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inside out movie photo

Movie Title: Inside Out
Directors: Pete Docter & Ronnie Del Carmen
Original Story By: Pete Docter & Ronnie Del Carmen
Screenplay Writer(s): Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen, & Josh Cooley
Stars: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, & Lewis Black

 

MOVIE RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Animation: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

Blurb:
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.

Storyline:
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. Written by Pixar

My 2 Cents:
WOW! If you prefer your animated films to be filled with potty humor and dumbed down plot lines, this is not the film for you. Inside Out is a heartwarming – heart wrenching – artistic film for viewers of all ages who enjoy high quality theatrical experiences. On a scale of 1 – 5, I’d give this Pixar film a solid 10.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews that say the film was to dark or that their children didn’t enjoy it. My kids loved this film as much as me and my husband. They – we – have watched it as a family many times over and love it more every time. Simply put, the writing is perfect. As a parent, this one pulled at my heart-strings and made me cry more than I had expected. For my children, they laughed, they were sad, and they loved all the characters. It did lead to some very interesting dinner conversations about why Riley is the only character to have both male and female emotions, but as a family we enjoyed talking through the possibilities.

If you are looking for a family friendly movie that isn’t going to put the adults to sleep but will still keep your children entertained, rent Inside Out!

You can watch the official trailers here:


 

My 2 Cents… Tuck Everlasting

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Tuck Everlasting

Movie Title: Tuck Everlasting
Director: Jay Russell
Screenplay Writer(s): Jeffrey Lieber
Book Title: Tuck Everlasting
Book By: Natalie Babbitt
Stars: Alexis Bledel, Jonathan Jackson, William Hurt, and Sissy Spacek

 

 

MOVIE RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Acting: ★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (3.66)

Blurb:
A young woman meets and falls in love with a young man who is part of a family of immortals.

Storyline:
Winnie Foster has everything a young woman could desire. She comes from a well-bred, wealthy, and respected family. She dresses in the finest clothes and is afforded every opportunity to refine herself. But Winnie finds that the heat of summer is not nearly as stifling as her gilded cage. She longs for freedom, for adventure. She escapes one morning to explore the woods surrounding her family’s home, and encounters the Tucks, a close-knit family with a mysterious past that begs the question: If you could live forever, would you? And just when Winnie believes she has answered that question for herself, a mysterious man looking to profit from the source of the Tuck’s immortality that will have her question her life, her desires, and what is the right thing to do. And in the end, learns, that death is not what is to be feared, but an unlived life. Written by Alyssa B.

BookBook Blurb:
The classic novel about a young girl who stumbles upon a family’s stunning secret
What if you could live forever?
Is eternal life a blessing or a curse? That is what young Winnie Foster must decide when she discovers a spring on her family’s property whose waters grant immortality. Members of the Tuck family, having drunk from the spring, tell Winnie of their experiences watching life go by and never growing older.
But then Winnie must decide whether or not to keep the Tucks’ secret—and whether or not to join them on their never-ending journey.

By your copy of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt HERE!

My 2 Cents:
This wasn’t a movie I would have selected, however my son read the book at school and LOVED IT! He had just been telling me about it the day before it popped up as a rental on my TV. When he saw it, he was so excited… which made me excited too.

The movie wasn’t great… Acting was sub par, the writing was decent, but the story was intriguing. I do believe that ten-year old me would have loved this story (book and movie) just as much as my son did. So, if you have a little one, grab the book and/or movie and enjoy some quick entertainment.

You can watch the official trailers here:
https://youtu.be/rXbbAbDvifw

My 2 Cents… Confessions of a Shopaholic

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shop

Movie/Book: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Director: P.J. Hogan
Screenplay Writer(s): Tracey Jackson, Tim Firth, and Kayla Alpert
Book By: Sophie Kinsella
Stars: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, and Krysten Ritter

Blurb:
A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support where she nurtures her shopping addiction and falls for a wealthy entrepreneur.

Storyline:
Struggling with her debilitating obsession with shopping and the sudden collapse of her income source, Rebecca Bloomwood unintentionally lands a job writing for a financial magazine after a drunken letter-mailing mix-up. Ironically writing about the very consumer caution of which she herself has not abided, Rebecca’s innovative comparisons and unconventional metaphors for economics grants her critical acclaim, public success, and the admiration of her supportive boss Luke. But as she draws closer to her ultimate goal of writing for renowned fashion magazine Alette, she questions her true ambitions and must determine if overcoming her “shopaholic” condition will bring her real happiness.

Book Blurb:
Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London’s trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves. The only trouble is, she can’t actually afford it—not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn’t pay much at all. And lately Becky’s been chased by dismal letters from the bank—letters with large red sums she can’t bear to read. She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something. . . just a little something.

Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.

By your copy of Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella HERE!

The Books:
• The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000) also published as Confessions of a Shopaholic (2001)
• Shopaholic Abroad (2001) also published as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (2002)
• Shopaholic Ties the Knot (2002)
• Shopaholic & Sister (2004)
• Shopaholic & Baby (2007)
• Mini Shopaholic (2010)
• Shopaholic to the Stars (2015)
• Shopaholic to the Rescue (2016)

MOVIE RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (3.33)

My 2 Cents:
I read the book, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, years ago. I can’t really say I remember too much about it, but I do remember enjoying it. In fact, I enjoyed it enough to run out and by the next two books in the series as soon as I finished. I think that was where I stopped. The rest of the series hadn’t come out at the time.

The movie is based on the first two books in the series, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad. Lucky for me, as I watched I slowly started to remember bits and pieces of the books. I absolutely love Isla Fisher, but would never have cast her in the role of Rebecca Bloomwood and although Hugh Dancy didn’t quiet look like the image I had of Luke Brandon in my head, they both delivered solid performances.

Let me first clarify… I love Isla Fisher. She is charming, funny, goofy, and very talented. I have enjoyed her in just about everything I have seen her in. However, she didn’t fit the image of the young girl living way beyond her means in London that Sophie Kinsella portrayed in her book. Maybe that is because the movie jumps right in with her living in New York city and skips the back story of London all together… I missed that aspect of the story and honesty, I think with it missing, the movie just didn’t meet my expectations.

This was another case where the book was way better than the movie. Sure, the performances were fun, the story was enjoyable, and the movie was watchable, but it still lands with an average 3.33 rating from me.

You can watch the official trailers here:
https://youtu.be/ZYYCSEV-i1Y

My 2 Cents… Adrift

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adrift

Movie: Adrift
Director: Baltasar Kormakur
Writer(s): Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell, and David Branson Smith
Stars: Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin

Blurb:
A true story of survival, as a young couple’s chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.

Storyline:
Starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, Adrift is based on the inspiring true story of two free spirits whose chance encounter leads them first to love, and then to the adventure of a lifetime. As the two avid sailors set out on a journey across the ocean, Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Claflin) couldn’t anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved. Adrift is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

My 2 Cents:
WOW… the cinematography of this film is stunning! The vast expanse of the open ocean had my agoraphobia working overdrive. I can’t even imagine being stuck (on a sinking sailboat) out in the middle of the ocean – no land for hundreds of miles much less in sight.

This film is a window into the human soul, our survival instincts, and the truly frightening power of the earth we live in.

The way this film moves through time, taking us from flashback to present day and back again, is beautiful. The on-screen relationship between Tami (played by Shailene Woodley) and Richard (played by Sam Claflin) has all the intensity of new love and the comfort of a lifetime spent together.

Without giving too much away, I have to say I loved seeing that this story doesn’t leave out female protagonist sitting passively waiting to be rescued. From the starting scene when Tami wakes up in a sinking boat, she acts. She is fighting for her life and the life of the man she loves and never plays the damsel in distress. It is entertaining, suspenseful, romantic, scary, and most of all – and maybe the hardest thing to pull-off – it is REALISTIC!

Congratulations to director Baltasar Kormakur and of course both Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin who brought their characters to life!

Have you seen Adrift yet? If so, what did you think? Comment below and let me know.

You can watch the official trailers here:

https://youtu.be/HdMP4sWc71M

My 2 Cents… Same Kind of Different as Me

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Same kind ofBlurb:
International art dealer Ron Hall must befriend a dangerous homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage to his wife, a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the journey of their lives.

Storyline:
Ron Hall lost track of what matters most in life. It took an affair, a confession, a dream and an unlikely friendship with a homeless man to help him remember. From the outside, Ron Hall’s seemingly charmed life looked pretty perfect: He had a flourishing art business, a beautiful wife, two fine teen children and an amazing 15,000 square foot house in Fort Worth, Texas. But appearances can be deceptive.

Director: Michael Carney
Writers: Michael Carney, Alexander Foard, and Ron Hall (screenplay) | Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent (book)

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

Based on a true story, Same Kind of Different as Me will bring you to tears, so make sure to have some tissues on hand when you watch it.

I hadn’t heard of the film until sitting on the airplane (it seems I watch most of my films while flying), but it had Renee Zellweger in it so I hit play. It is definitely a film driven by the story and the acting. There are no crazy expensive special effects to keep you entertained and in awe. The story is strong… heart wrenching… and an important one to be told! The acting is perfect in every way.

Denver (played by Djimon Hounsou) is a homeless man who through fate is befriended by, Debbie, a wealthy white woman (played by Renee Zellweger) and reluctantly, Ron, her husband (played by Greg Kinnear). Where their journey through friendship takes them and how they grow as they learn more about one another is beautiful. I won’t give away the ending, or spoil the story for you, but if you’re in the mood to watch something truly beautiful… something with a message… something that isn’t just pure entertainment, then I suggest renting this one.

You can watch the official movie trailers here: