Category: Romance

A Journal for Jordan

A Journal for Jordan

“A Journal for Jordan” is based on a true story about First Sargent Charles Monroe King. Charles is one of many soldiers who deployed to Iraq after 911. After his son, Jordan was born Charles kept a Journal of his life, love and advise for Jordan to one day read. The movie revisits the relationship, love and devotion that Charles had for New York Times Editor Dana Canedy (Chante Adams), the mother of his child. 

This is a moving and emotional story, but of course it would be considering the subject matter. These types of stories are never easy to tell, but Denzel Washington directs this adaptation of the screenplay with kindness, care and respect. 

This is the type of movie that goes back and forth over the course of about 18 years.

A number of paid critics were a bit harsh on their rating, but I disagree with them.

“A Journal for Jordan” is worth seeing and is only available in the Theaters. 

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!!

The Photograph

“The Photograph” is a story about a famed photographer Christina Eames who unexpectedly dies and leaves letters to her estranged daughter Mae Morton (Issa Rae) and the man she loved, but never married.

After retrieving the letters and instructions from a safe deposit box, Mae finds herself on a journey that leads her to delve into her Mother’s early life and it sets up an unexpected romance between Mae and a star journalist Michael Block (LaKeith Standfield). The story unfolds from there…

You know they say “Love is Complicated” that rings true in “The Photograph”. The story is a back and forth novel unraveling piece by piece. As the pieces come together the story becomes more intriguing and includes a few surprises along the way. The movie has a good cast and will keep you entertained. Opening on Valentine’s Day was a good move for the “The Photograph”.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Last Christmas

From the trailers “Last Christmas” looked like it would be a fun movie, so I decided to give it a look.

Kate (Emilia Clarke) is a walking accident in London waiting to happen. She meanders endlessly through her days without much direction. Then along comes Tom (Henry Golding) who seems too good to be true. After many semi dates with Tom, Kate let’s her hair down and wants to get close, but Tom can’t let that happen. Kate thinks Tom is rejecting her but that is not the case. The story unfolds from there…

“Last Christmas” ends up having a very interesting twist. You have to weed through most of the movie to get to the real meaning. The story starts off a bit disjointed. There is a sort of comic relief to some of the events that occur. While the movie is fairly decent, its not a memorable Holiday movie that will have a lasting effect. While watching “Last Christmas” I felt there were undertones to “Bridge Jones Diary”. There were scenes that kept reminding me of that movie.

Check out “Last Christmas” if you dare. Although it is worthy of waiting for it on cable.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Five Feet Apart

“Five Feet Apart” is about seventeen year old Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) who is like most teenagers, she has friends, she’s popular, attached to her phone and laptop, but one thing is very different, Stella lives with Cystic Fibrosis and she spends most of her time in a hospital.

Stella meets a fellow CF patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse).
There’s an instant attraction but because of their illness Stella and Will must remain five feet apart. As their friendship in the hospital blossoms they are tempted to throw caution to the wind. The story unfolds from there…

“Five Feet Apart” comes very close to being one of those “Been There Done That” type of movies, but the performances of Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse keep you watching. They are the best elements of the movie.

Some elements/scenes in “Five Feet Apart” will remind you of the 2014 film “The Fault in Our Stars”. The movie is ok, but I am not sure it’s worth the hefty ticket prices at the box office.

This is a 2 ½ 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!!

Everything, Everything

“Everything, Everything” is adapted from the Young Adult Novel by Nicola Yoon. The story centers around a teenage girl named Maddie (Amandla Stenberg) who is house-bound due to an immunodeficiency that makes her allergic to almost everything.
Maddie’s life changes after a new family moves next door. There is a young man in that family and he catches Maddie’s eye and visa- versa. They start to communicate via phone and computer, but that’s not enough. Soon Maddie decides she wants to go outside. The story unfolds from there…

“Everything, Everything” is a romantic story with an interesting twist. The movie is best suited for the 15 to 30 age group, but I did find it enjoyable. The movie centers on relationships, not just romantic relationships, but relationships in general.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

The Longest Ride

Based on the Nicholas Sparks best-selling novel, “The Longest Ride” tells two different stories that are similar, but separated by time.

The story centers around a former Champion Bull Rider, Luke (Eastwood) who is trying to make a comeback meets and falls for a college student Sophie (Robertson) who is about to embark on her dream job in New York’s famed art world.

Luke and Sophie make a connection with Ira (Alda), who has vivid memories of his own decade’s long relationship with his wife (Chaplin), who recently died. Ira has a basket filled with letters that tell the story of his courtship and marriage. There are many similarities to the two stories. Each story has its challenges which the movie explores.

Nicholas Sparks` movies are usually about true and lasting love; “The Longest Ride” is no exception. The problem is one of the stories in the movie is very intriguing while the other one is not.

The movie isn’t bad, but it’s definitely not great.

“The Longest Ride” will warm your heart if you are into Romantic Drama’s.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Fifty Shades of Grey

“Mr. Grey Will See You Now”. Christian Grey finally jumps off the pages of the best selling E.L. James novel and onto the big screen.

Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) is a senior in college. She has an assignment to interview the good looking, young multi-billionaire of the conglomerate “Grey House”. She arrives and after meeting and talking with Mr. Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), Anastasia is intrigued. Little does Anastasia know, she has made a serious impression on Mr. Grey

Christian Grey shows up where Anastasia works and indicates he would like to get to know her better. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into. The story unfolds from there…

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is nothing more than a keen play on S & M. There is nothing romantic about pain and torture. Aside from the fact that at times there was a lot of steam and fireworks between Christian and Anastasia, the movie it’s self was “Grey”.

Actress Dakota Johnson does an excellent job of playing a naive, innocent young woman.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is a Trilogy. A sequel has already been announced.

The movie will take in some serious cash this weekend even though it’s going up against “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” (I will review tomorrow).

Check it out for yourself. YOU be the judge.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!