The Upside

Based on a true story, “The Upside” is about a paroled ex-con, Dell (Kevin Hart) who must find a job. After several failed attempts to become gainfully employed, Dell applies for what he believes is a janitor position for a billionaire. As it turns out the position isn’t a Janitorial position it’s a position to help the paralyzed billionaire, Phil (Bryan Cranston) with everyday chores like dressing, bathing, eating etc…It does not appear to be a good fit, but the billionaire sees something in Dell and hires him anyway. The story unfolds from there…

“The Upside” is a mirror of another movie called the “Intouchables” that came out in the 2011-2012 time frame. There is an English version and a French version.

Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart play well together on the big screen. The movie was surprisingly entertaining and at times funny. There are several subplots/agendas that don’t quite play out, so you are forced to use your own imagination to figure them out.
When I go to the movies I don’t want to have to figure anything out. It should be all nicely laid out for me. This is the reason “The Upside” is not a 5 star movie, but it is still worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Vice

Not on my original “Watch List”, “Vice” became a late entrant.

“Vice” is a depiction of Vice President Dick Cheney’s life starting from college up to and including his time as the Vice President of the United States.

The movie starts in 1963 in Casper, WY where Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) is having a rough time in college. He then ends up working as a Telephone Pole climber who repairs phone lines. In 1968 Dick Cheney gets his act together and enters into Political Life as an intern. During his internship this is where he meets Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell). Cheney’s connection with Donald Rumsfeld wets his appetite for Politics. Moving along the movie touches on the following Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and then in 2001 with President Bush and Obama’s election in 2008.

The main focus is the events and administration’s decisions that occurred after 9/11. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is not bad, but it does not focus in one area too long and that can cause confusion with the viewer. There is a lot of skipping around so you have to pay attention and sort of put the pieces together yourself.

I like Political-based movies when they are done well. “Vice” is just ok. I wanted to view it mainly because of the cast playing the roles. I wanted to see what they would do with what they were given. Needless to say it was interesting and also a bit dry.

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!!

If Beale Street Could Talk

“If Beale Street Could Talk” is set in the early 1970’s in Harlem. The story is about a young couple in love, the family bond that is unshakable in times of strife and how they cope when the young man is falsely accused of rape. The family and the young woman do everything they can to prove the young man’s innocents. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is very well executed and acted even though the subject matter is hard to swallow. The movie shows the social injustice and racial bigotry that was often dealt back in the 70’s.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” is open in Limited-Release.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!!

The Mule

Set in Peoria, IL, an 80 year old Day Lily Grower, Earl Jones (Clint Eastwood) with a thriving award winning business soon finds himself down on his luck and in foreclosure. He packs up his possessions and goes to visit his youngest daughter, Ginny (Taissa Farmiga). While visiting Ginny Earl has a confrontation with his estranged wife, Mary (Diane Wiest) and his oldest daughter, Iris (Alison Eastwood) who will have nothing to do with him. When Earl is leaving Ginny’s home, one of her guest approaches Earl and gives him a card and tells him to contact the name on the card because he can get some work through this person. Upon contacting the mysterious person Earl soon becomes a “Mule” for a Drug Cartel. The story unfolds from there…

The story is entertaining and moving. This is Clint Eastwood’s 38th film as a Director. The story tackles real life issues such as aging, family illness and working as a true Senior Citizen really late in life. There is even some comedy relief.

Clint Eastwood still has the ability to make an excellent vehicle and “The Mule” is definitely worth seeing.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Front Runner

Do you remember the 1988 Presidential Candidate Senator Gary Hart? Gary Hart was the “Front Runner” in the candidacy until rumors and speculations arose that he had an extra marital affair.

This movie is about the 3 weeks that led up to the destruction of Senator Gary Hart’s Presidential Campaign.

In 1987 Colorado Senator Gary Hart was running for the presidency. Gary and his campaign staff were out on the campaign trail winning over citizens and participating in the daily job tasks of citizens in the cities and towns that were visited. Senator Hart was winning over citizens all over America. He was the “Front Runner” and everything looked rosy.

Several news reporters started sniffing around and discovered that Gary Hart and his wife Lee (Vera Farmiga) were separated and had been for a while. Then Gary was seen coming and going from his other residence with a couple of different woman. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is entertaining, but lacks depth and was too calm. The media was too tame during the explosion when the story leaked about Senator Gary Hart. Usually the press are vultures when there is a juicy story, but not in “The Front Runner”. During a rant Hugh Jackman’s Australian accent came to the surface a bit. To my knowledge Gary Hart is not Australian.

The “Front Runner” opened in limited-release on Nov 6th. It is now opened in wide-release.

This is a 2 ½ Star Movie!!

Creed II

After seeing the 2015 first installment of “Creed”, I knew there was going to be a sequel. How could there not be one. Sylvester Stallone is on the outside of the boxing ring instead of being the fighter in the ring. There is a story that has not been milked yet. Here we go…

Three years later finds Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) juggling life with personal obligations and training for his next fight. Adonis sits at a cross road when he is faced with a challenge to fight a boxer who has ties to his family’s past. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) thinks that Adonis should pass on this fight. The story unfolds from there…

Surprisingly “Creed II” is an excellent sequel. It builds nicely on what was started in the first installment. The story has two tracks that are played simultaneously. Michael B. Jordan is a bright light shining in the movie. The boxing violence is on point and the Dolby sound intensifies the blows. The camera angles and cinematography are great!!

If you were a fan of the Rocky Franchise, you will love Creed and Creed II. This franchise has meat and I see it coming back again and again.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Widows

“Widows” is a great way to kick off the Holiday Season!!

Four woman who have nothing in common eventually come together because their husbands are dead due to their criminal activities and it soon comes to light that a debt was left behind and those who think they are owed come to collect. The story unfolds from there…

“Widows” is a gritty suspenseful drama. The movie is well executed and has lots of intrigue and enough action to keep you interested. Definitely a great way to start the holiday season at the box office.

“Widows” is an excellent collaborative effort between writer Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”) and director Steve McQueen III (“12 Years a Slave”).

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

“The Girl in the Spider’s Web” is a chapter from the Dragon Tattoo series.
Lisbeth Salander the title character returns from the acclaimed Millennium book series that was created by Stieg Larsson.

This is the on-screen adaptation of the Global Best-Selling novel.

I was totally confused to say the least. There does not appear to be any connection what so ever between the 2009 “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and this installment.
It’s difficult to follow because the character Lisbeth Salander has been played by several actresses. There is no consistency.
I didn’t see anything new and different. The movie is dark, depressing and a bit vile. There is hints of child abuse/molestation (Father/Daughter), but you never actually see it happening.

The movie does clear up at the end when you finally figure out that the sister who was left behind all those years is out for revenge against the sister who escaped.

The positives are that there is some interesting action, cool computer hacks and some kick-ass fight scenes. That’s about it.

Wait for “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” to hit DVD or Blue-Ray.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Venom

You know the old phrase “Better Late than Never”; I finally saw “Venom”. When it opened I was seriously under the weather and could not venture out to see it, so a month later here is my review…

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is an investigative reporter. He is tasked with getting a story from a seemingly untouchable Scientist. When Eddie pisses off the Scientist and the story is killed, Eddie loses his job. Eddie knows that the Scientist is involved in something very shady. After some time passes an opportunity presents it’s self for Eddie to get back inside the institution where the Scientist is involved with testing Alien Hosting. The story unfolds from there…

I disagree with the majority of the paid critics who thrashed “Venom”. I thought it was pretty good. It would have been great if not for the outrageously sloppy script. There are a few pieces missing from the back story. Over all it was pretty good. The special effects are decent. The cinematography is nice.

The movie should have been rated “R” because there are several really gross moments involving decapitations.
I absolutely love the voice of “Venom”. I do not know who it is, but the voice is awesome!!

Although I saw this a month after it opened, the theater was packed. People are still going out to see “Venom”.

If you are a Marvel Universe Fan, “Venom” is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Peppermint

Riley (Jennifer Garner) leads what seems to be a normal life. She has a young daughter and a husband who loves her. Riley’s husband appears to be on the edge of doing something that is on the wrong side of the law. At the last minute he backs out.
The family decide to celebrate their young daughter’s birthday at the amusement park. After riding a few rides, they get ice cream. Riley goes back to get a few napkins, Father and daughter head toward the car. A dark sedan cruises by and opens fire on the Father and daughter, Riley runs to them and also gets shot. The story unfolds from there…

“Peppermint” is filled with intrigue, drama and suspense. There are a few holes and the back story on the husband is missing, but the move is very entertaining and you are riveted to your seat. I personally love seeing Jennifer Garner in action/drama roles. She appeared in “Peppermint” as I remember her in the ABC hit “Alias”.

I am not sure why the “Paid Critics” were so hard on “Peppermint”. It’s not as dismal as they make it seem. It is Vigilante at its finest!!

If you enjoy “Action/Drama/Suspense, “Peppermint” is worth a look.