Movie Review: "Throne of Blood" (1957)

Image Source

Movie: "Throne of Blood"

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Year: 1957
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa offers up his adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" with "Throne of Blood" (1957). Much like its source material, "Throne of Blood" (1957) explores the destructive nature of the pursuit of power for the sake of power. It shows how the desire to hold on to one's position of authority and all the comforts it provides makes a person paranoid and leads them to commit atrocious acts of violence against their enemies and even their friends. Taketoki Washizu (Toshirô Mifune) begins the story as a kindhearted man and a fierce warrior who is loyal to his Lordship. When he and his friend Miki (Akira Kubo) get lost in the forest one day, they run into a spirit (Chieko Naniwa), who predicts that Washizu will become lord of the North Castle and will eventually usurp his master to become Lord of the Forest Castle. Furthermore, the spirit claims that Miki will be promoted to defender of the First Fort and that one day, his son will replace Washizu as Lord of the Forest Castle. It is this prophecy that turns Washizu from a once-just person into a power-hungry monster...well, that, and the fact that his wife Lady Asaji (Isuzu Yamada) is always planting seeds of doubt in his mind.

Movie still from "Throne of Blood" featuring the Old Ghost Woman, played by Chieko Naniwa. (Image Source)

Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" (1957) is a visual near-masterpiece. Each and every visible second in this film adds to its moodiness, its intrigue, and its very successful storytelling. Kurosawa thrives when he plays with light and shadow, and here, he continues to make one hell of a spectacular scene after another. There are many different moments we could single out, but one in particular, when Lady Washizu walks into a dark closet to retrieve a canister of wine, is especially striking. The story is very compelling, albeit a bit slow-burning. We watched in anticipation to see if the spirit's prophecy would come true and shook our heads every single time Washizu gets manipulated into doing something that sealed his own demise. The ending is both intense and exciting. We were completely pulled into the story's climax, which kept us enthralled right down to the last arrow. The costumes are grand and incredibly intricate, and they look amazing when in the throes of the many battles that are fought. We absolutely loved the crescent moon on the helmet of the Great Lord of the Forest Castle. Kurosawa and his costume and set designers do a magnificent job of capturing the look of feudal Japan. The massive fortresses, the foggy forests, the towering temples, and the grand banquet halls look like they came out of a documentary rather than a feature film.

Toshirô Mifune and Akira Kubo charge into battle on horses in Akira Kurosawa's 1957 film "Throne of Blood." (Image Source)

We haven't seen many (if any) other versions of "Macbeth," but watching "Throne of Blood" (1957) makes us want to seek out other filmmakers' interpretation of the story to see if they managed to make them as compelling as Kurosawa's incarnation.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
RT Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd | Pinterest | Twitter

Movie Review: "Judy" (2019)

Image Source

Movie: "Judy"

Director: Rupert Goold
Year: 2019
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes

With a waning career, in financial ruin, with few prospects, and in danger of losing her kids, famous actress and singer Judy Garland heads to England to perform in a house show which she hopes will give her the financial stability to find a permanent home for her and her children.

Movie Review: "Studio 54" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Studio 54"

Director: Matt Tyrnauer
Year: 2018
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

A look at the rise and fall of the famed Studio 54 and the people behind it that made it such a cultural phenomenon.

Movie Review: "Mary Queen of Scots" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Mary Queen of Scots"

Director: Josie Rourke
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes

Queen Mary of Scotland returns home and begins making moves to have herself and her descendants declared heir to the throne of the British Empire.

Movie Review: "Amadeus" (1984)

Image Source

Movie: "Amadeus"

Director: Milos Forman
Year: 1984
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes

The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as told by musical rival Antonio Salieri.

Movie Review: "Shakespeare in Love" (1998)

Image Source

Movie: "Shakespeare in Love"

Director: John Madden
Year: 1998
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 3 minutes

While struggling with writer's block, William Shakespeare finds the inspiration to write one of the most famous romantic tragedies in his own relationship with a star-crossed lover, a wellborn woman who is arranged to marry a nobleman.

Movie Review: "Barry Lyndon" (1975)

Image Source

Movie: "Barry Lyndon"

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Year: 1975
Rating: R
Running Time: 3 hours, 5 minutes

An Irish gentleman flees his home after shooting a romantic rival in a duel, which sends him on a series of successes and failures that shape the whole of his life.

Movie Review: "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005)

Image Source

Movie: "Good Night, and Good Luck"

Director: George Clooney
Year: 2005
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow takes on Senator Joseph McCarthy and his communist witch hunt during the Red Scare.

Movie Review: "22 July" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "22 July"

Director: Paul Greengrass
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 23 minutes

The story of Norway's worst terrorist attack where 77 people were murdered by a far-right white nationalist.

Movie Review: "The Favourite" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "The Favourite"

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

Lady Sarah Marlborough is the best friend and 'favorite' of Queen Anne, giving her strong political sway being so close to the Queen's ear. When Sarah's cousin Abigail comes to work for her, Abigail starts to endear herself to the Queen and tries to usurp Sarah as the favorite, setting off a frenzy of political maneuvering to sway Queen Anne to their political favor.

Movie Review: "First Man" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "First Man"

Director: Damien Chazelle
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 21 minutes

A biography about the life of Neil Armstrong and how he became the first person to walk on the moon.

Movie Review: "Wild Nights with Emily" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Wild Nights with Emily"

Director: Madeleine Olnek
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes

A look into the life of Emily Dickinson and her possible romantic relationship with her sister-in-law Susan Gilbert Dickinson.

Movie Review: "Pearl Harbor" (2001)

Image Source

Movie: "Pearl Harbor"

Director: Michael Bay
Year: 2001
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 3 hours, 3 minutes

Two pilots and lifelong best friends have a falling out over a woman just before they are forced back together due to the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

"Rafe, you died. So did I." (Image Source)

All's fair in love and war, including taking advantage of a situation when people are at their most vulnerable. "Pearl Harbor" is directed by Michael Bay, who has directed movies like "Armageddon," "The Rock," and "Bad Boys." It is written by Randall Wallace, who has worked on other wartime films like "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers." If you couldn't guess from the title, this movie is about a love triangle between three beautiful people...wait, what? Yes, you read that right! This movie happens during the attack on Pearl Harbor and is set in the months leading up to and following the attack itself, but really, this is a story of love and betrayal, and we don't mean the one about how Japan betrayed America and attacked us that fateful day in December 1941. Instead, it's about two lifelong best friends named Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett), who have both always dreamt of becoming pilots. The two have grown up together, and each of them has fulfilled their dream. Rafe has become one of the best pilots in the military. He falls in love with a nurse named Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), who also falls in love with him. Rafe eventually ships out to England to help with the fight against Germany in Europe. He is thought to be killed in action a short time later. After a couple of months have passed, Evelyn is ready to put her pictures safely in a book in her drawer and has said her goodbyes to Rafe. Luckily, Rafe's best friend Danny begins to look after her and starts to fall in love with her himself. And wouldn't you know it, Rafe wasn't dead after all!! Now, his best friend is dating the love of his life. Of course, running in the background of one of the messiest situations in Hollywood is the lead-up to a pesky little assault on Pearl Harbor, the attack itself, and its aftermath. Also, there is a small subplot about an African American Navy cook (Cuba Gooding Jr.) literally fighting for respect, but who cares? THE PEOPLE WANT MOAR SMOULDERING BEN AFFLECK!!!

"Leave your goddamn hula shirts at home." (Image Source)

Let's talk about what does work in "Pearl Harbor" first because there are a couple of great things about this movie. What does work are the scenes focused on Japan's preparation for their attack, the American intelligence/military trying to decipher the mishmash of messages being sent out of Japan, as well as the politics of deciding what they should do about it all. The action scenes themselves are excellent and have held up well over time. Michael Bay is known for his over-the-top, overly indulgent explosions full of mayhem and mania, and he provides just that in a grandiose display of carnage and destruction. The battle sequences are quite the spectacle and are very exciting while they last, even if Bay does fudge a few (read: several) facts in order to generate more unnecessary drama. Though it seems like more of an afterthought to the overall story, Cuba Gooding Jr.'s fight for respect is the most interesting human plot going on in the film, and we wish there would have been more of it.

"The rise and fall of our empire is at stake." (Image Source)

Now, let's get to what doesn't work. Pretty much anything involving the combination of Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale is ridiculously stupid. Their entire romance feels so unnecessary in terms of the overall story, and it detracts from everything else going on. It's like Michael Bay wanted this film to be his "Titanic," which is famous for its love triangle, so of course, that meant "Pearl Harbor" had to have a love triangle as well. It's like he was hoping that by including this subplot, he could appeal to multiple demographics across the board for maximum profit. There can be a little drama and romance for those who like that sort of stuff, mixed with a little action and a couple explosions for the crowds who like excitement and tension, sprinkled in with some military preparation and jargon for hardcore history fans. Instead, Bay settles for losing two-thirds of the audience because of his horrible slog of a forced romance. Audiences have to wade through mounds and mounds of melodrama to get to the meat and potatoes of the story. Another problem is that the movie is just too goddamn long. It worked for "Titanic," not so much for this. There isn't enough necessary story to fill its excessive runtime properly, though overly long movies are pretty much par for the course when it comes to Michael Bay. With some editing and a bit of a refocusing on anything other than the romance, "Pearl Harbor" had the potential to be a good movie. Unfortunately, it just winds up being a sporadically-cool-but-mostly-over-bloated-mess.

My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 4/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.1/10
RT Rating: 25%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "Chappaquiddick" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Chappaquiddick"

Director: John Curran
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes

The story of Senator Edward Kennedy's 1969 Chappaquiddick scandal after an incident that left a female campaign staffer dead in his car at the bottom of a pond after an automobile accident. 

"Teddy, call your mom first. Don't let her find out about another family tragedy from the news." (Image Source)

So, what you're saying is that wealthy politicians use their power and influence to keep themselves out of trouble??....noooooooooooooooooooooooo way! ShOcKiNg! "Chappaquiddick" is directed by John Curran, who has directed films like the "The Painted Veil" and "We Don't Live Here Anymore." It is written by Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan and is the first feature film writing credit for both of them. The movie tells the true story of Sen. Edward 'Ted' Kennedy (Jason Clarke) and the events just prior to and following his widely publicized automobile accident on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, an incident which left a female campaign staffer dead. It also covers the efforts of Kennedy and his staff to use their connections to contain the scandal as best they could and to keep Edward out of jail.

"I think my chance to define my legacy died with Mary Jo." (Image Source)

Anybody who has any knowledge of the car accident at Chappaquiddick will find little to nothing intriguing about this story. It is basically a rehash of the official account of what happened that fateful night in 1969. There is only minor speculating if more could have been done to save Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara) and whether or not Kennedy held more fault for the incident than what he accepted. The main focus of the film is on the aftermath of the collision and Kennedy's use of his family's political connections to make sure he faced the smallest punishment possible for a woman's literal vehicular manslaughter. It should come as no shock that wealthy and powerful celebrities and politicians use their connections and clout to get special treatment. Since most of us know that Kennedy served in the U.S. Senate until his death in 2009, there was never a question if he would face any repercussions for his actions. Because of this, the crux of the story involves watching Kennedy's staffers try to contain something that we know was successfully contained decades ago.

"This isn't about opportunity. It's about integrity." (Image Source)

"Chappaquiddick" is neither an indictment nor an exoneration of Ted Kennedy and his actions. It doesn't present any new evidence and never bothers to speculate about rumors or conspiracies. It can be commended because it attempts to stick to the official public facts of the case, but that doesn't exactly make for an exciting movie and can easily be ripped apart by people on both sides of the aisle. You'd probably get more out of reading the Wikipedia page for the Chappaquiddick incident than you would watching "Chappaquiddick" itself. Don't get us wrong, it is a well-shot movie from a technical aspect, and the actors do a decent job with what they have been given on the page. Still, we found ourselves questioning why this movie was made as the credits rolled. It can be rather dull at times. It acts as little more than a reenactment of an easily obtainable set of court documents and statements that Ted himself made post-crash. We're not really sure what the point of this movie was. But hey, at least we got to see Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan running around in their skivvies under the cover of darkness...that's gotta be a plus for someone out there.

My Rating: 4.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 4.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.6/10
RT Rating: ~80%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "The 15:17 to Paris" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "The 15:17 to Paris"

Director: Clint Eastwood
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

The true-life story of how a group of unarmed men stopped what could have been a devastating terrorist attack on a train in France.

"You risked your lives to support an idea." (Image Source)

See, you actually *don't* need a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun! All you need is are few good guys with giant huevos willing to put themselves in danger to help others. "The 15:17 to Paris" is directed by Clint Eastwood, who has directed many amazing films like "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby," and "Gran Torino." Lately, Eastwood has been focusing more on real-life American heroes as the subjects of his stories. This movie is yet another true-life story of three Americans, U.S. Ariman Spencer Stone, Army National Guardsman Alek Skarlotos, and plain ol' civilian Anthony Sadler. Along with two French Nationals, these men thwarted a terrorist attack on a train to Paris. Though there were many heroes from several countries on the train that fateful day, this particular story is mostly focused on these three Americans (more specifically Spencer Stone) who had been friends since childhood. Nearly all of the people involved in the actual incident on the 15:17 train to Paris play their real-life counterparts in this film, with the exception of the French National that first engaged the terrorist and chose to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, as well as the terrorist himself.

"My God is bigger than your statistics." (Image Source)

Every single person on the 15:17 train owes a debt of gratitude to those who helped stop the terrorists that day. There is no disputing this fact. As brave as these men were in real life and as capable as they were when taking down an armed assailant, they are not actors. Because of this, they are incapable of delivering convincing performances even when they are reenacting moments from their own lives. We might have been able to give the movie a pass if these gentlemen were the only people giving bad performances, but even professional actors like Jenna Fischer and Judy Greer, who play the mothers of Stone and Skarlotos, are terrible here. They have been given some of the worst, most eye-rolling dialogue ever written, and they deliver these atrocious words in such an overly dramatic way that the Lifetime channel called and wanted royalties from them.

"I just didn't want my family to hear I died hiding underneath a desk." (Image Source)

Beyond the bad acting, the movie itself is an absolute slog. It drags at a snail's pace until the last 15 minutes, focusing on the childhoods and upbringings of Spencer Stone and his two friends, all of which leads to the most heroic moment of their lives. Instead of concentrating on the foiling of this terrorist attack, Clint Eastwood assumed the audience wants to see how these kids were raised and discover how one of their teachers thought one of the boys learning disability. It was difficult for us to maintain our interest in this project and it was a genuine struggle to keep our eyes open while watching this plodding disaster. It is one of the most boring films we have seen in a long time, until the final moments on the train, which only last about five minutes or so. A couple of mediocre-but-worthwhile moments in a 94-minute film does not make for a good viewing experience despite its incredible premise.

We wish we could say we recommend "The 15:17 to Paris," but there are probably many other better, more entertaining ways to familiarize yourself with these men and their brave and selfless act. Just read their Wikipedia pages or buy their book instead.

**Did you know we have a podcast? Check out the episode where we discuss "The 15:17 to Paris" right here! Our review starts at 2:57!**

My Rating: 2/10
BigJ's Rating: 2/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~25%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1973)

Image Source

Movie: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Director: Norman Jewison
Year: 1973
Rating: G
Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

A rock opera re-telling of the final days of Jesus Christ. 

What better way to tell the story of Jesus Christ than through a surreal rock opera that is sung by hippies? "Jesus Christ Superstar" is directed by Norman Jewison, who helmed films like "In the Heat of the Night," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "Moonstruck." Jewison also helped write the screenplay along with Melvyn Bragg. It is, of course, a film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical of the same name. The film mainly focuses on the relationship between Jesus Christ (Ted Neely) and Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson) as Judas becomes increasingly more disillusioned with the way Jesus is handling himself and his followers. Judas is worried Jesus being viewed as a deity rather than a simple man with a message will bring trouble and death to him and his associates. The whole story is told to a blaring 70's rock soundtrack as every word in the entire production is sung.

We aren't religious people, but we can still appreciate a story like "Jesus Christ Superstar." It is shot in Israel but has a very surreal nature to it. Seeing modern objects like buses, tanks, and machine guns pop up in the story of Jesus is pretty wild. These images are obviously not meant to be taken literally. They are included as metaphors for man's propensity towards war and violence, things that are in a direct clash to the messages Jesus taught as a representative of peace and love. The play was released as America was becoming wary of the war in Vietnam, so it makes sense.

We really enjoyed this movie. Oddly enough, our favorite character is not Jesus, but Judas. Carl Anderson has an incredible voice and does a fantastic job portraying this conflicted character. That being said, Ted Neely is still very good in his own right as the titular character. We do like most of the music in this film, even though it is performed like an actual opera with constant singing rather than a traditional musical that switches between normal dialogue and the occasional song. Still, it never becomes tedious or monotonous in our opinion. There is enough variation in the music to differentiate the singing numbers and the tone that is trying to be portrayed. Many moments in "Jesus Christ Superstar" stand out to us as being memorable, but only one shines brightly above the rest. We are of course referring to Herod's musical number. It is so humorous and tonally different from the rest of the material that it makes it stand out in our minds. Josh Mostel does a splendid job in this small but extremely interesting part.

In the end, we think "Jesus Christ Superstar" is a good watch, even for those who aren't religious. We honestly had a great time watching it. It makes such stuffy material feel fresh, new, and a little more easily digestible when seen through a modern lens.

**CLICK HERE to buy "Jesus Christ Superstar" on DVD and support lololovesfilms.com!**

**CLICK HERE to buy "Jesus Christ Superstar" and on Blu-ray support lololovesfilms.com!**

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.3/10
RT Rating: 56%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "Frost/Nixon" (2008)

Image Source

Movie: "Frost/Nixon"

Year Nominated: 2009
Director: Ron Howard
Rating: R
Oscar Nominations: 5
Oscar Wins: 0
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Flashy talk show host David Frost arranges a series of interviews with former President Nixon shortly after his resignation from the presidency. Frost has set up this interview at a great personal expense, though many think he is the wrong man for the job.

A movie about a series of interviews? Sounds boring as hell. Luckily, "Frost/Nixon" is anything but a snoozefest. This film is made by seasoned director Ron Howard, who has directed numerous award-winning and nominated films like "Apollo 13," "A Beautiful Mind," and "Cinderella Man." It is written Peter Morgan and is based on his own stage play. It stars Michael Sheen and Frank Langella as the unlikely titular duo of David Frost and Richard Nixon. The film is about the lead-up and execution of David Frost's now historic interview with former president Nixon. At the time, Frost was considered a bit of a clown. Everyone said he was the wrong man for the monumental job of taking Richard Nixon to task and putting him in the hot seat post-Watergate, post-resignation, and post-pardon from Gerald Ford. Most people thought Frost would never be able to conduct the hard-hitting interview the people of the United States deserved to see, but he was determined to prove everybody wrong...while also getting huge ratings in the process.

On the surface, "Frost/Nixon" looks very obvious, like it will simply be a not-too-riveting average movie about a news interview. The actual meeting between Frost and Nixon was one of major historical significance, so when you combine a recreation of this moment with some really fantastic performances, it becomes something greater, something both compelling and timeless. In many ways, this is a classic underdog story. David Frost, a man wildly unqualified for such a lofty task, must silence the critics who say he is in over his head and must prove wrong the people who told him he should have left the interview to a "real journalist." Frost must overcome insurmountable odds and attempt to get the facts about the once most powerful man in the world and hold his feet to the fire about subjects of the utmost importance to the American people.

Michael Sheen has a tremendous charisma on screen and is amazing as David Frost. He does a wonderful job exploring a man who puts on a devil-may-care facade but deep down is struggling with the task in front of him that could ruin his career if he fails. On the other side of the coin, we have the titan, the undisputed champ, a former president who has decades of experience doing interviews and giving speeches. For such an occasion, it's Nixon's job to prepare, deny, and stall Frost's onslaught, and prepare, deny and stall he shall. Frank Langella is brilliant as Richard Nixon and captures the essence of the man without hamming it up too much (which would have been easy to do considering he was playing Richard freakin' Nixon). Langella earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in this film and it was much deserved. We honestly think his portrayal should have earned him the win. These two powerhouse performances are fantastic, but we must not forget the great supporting cast including Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, and Rebecca Hall. All of these actors add their own style to this fascinating true-life event. Couple the acting with Ron Howard's expert directing and the biting, important screenplay and you've got one hell of a compelling story. We love "Frost/Nixon" and think it has aged well in a decade, especially considering our current political climate.

**CLICK HERE to buy "Frost/Nixon" on Blu-ray and support lololovesfilms.com!**
**CLICK HERE to buy "Frost/Nixon" on DVD and support lololovesfilms.com!**

My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "12 Strong" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "12 Strong"

Director: Nicolai Fuglsig
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

The story of a team of 12 Green Berets who faced down the Taliban post-9/11 while riding into combat on horses.

They could have called this movie "War Horse," but that title was already taken. "12 Strong" is a historical military drama based on the now declassified true story of the horse soldiers of Afghanistan. The film is directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, who only has one other film credit to his name. It is written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig and is based on the book "Horse Soldiers" by Doug Stanton. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Captain Mitch Nelson, the leader of a team of Green Berets on a mission in Afghanistan just a few days after 9/11. Their task is to meet a local warlord named General Dostum, played by Navid Negahban, and help him and his army run an attack on the Taliban in the area. Also in the film are Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, and Thad Luckinbill, who play some of the members of Captain Nelson's team. Captain Nelson is inexperienced in combat, but that doesn't taint his confidence in the slightest. He makes lofty promises about what his team can deliver. The terrain they are trying to deal with in the region is perilous, and working with General Dostum is much more difficult than he expected. In order to fulfill his goal, he and his team will have to do what no United States military team has had to do in decades: ride into battle on horseback.

The story of a group of soldiers riding into battle on horseback is pretty harrowing. Charging down truck-mounted high caliber machine guns, tanks, and rockets on mounted cavalry is the stuff of legends. "12 Strong" does show these moments, but many of the combat operations also involve phoning in coordinates on a radio and waiting for planes to drop bombs on the enemy. That probably helped the situation quite a bit. This movie plays out exactly as one might expect. It is a fairly standard, well-choreographed war drama based on a true story. There is a lot, and we mean a lot, of gunfire and explosions, which may be enough to satisfy most fans of combat films. The story itself doesn't have a lot of meat and potatoes. The characters are fairly thin, and this goes double for the women in the film, who only exist to say inspirational phrases and give the men a reason to come home alive. Unfortunately, because the familial units are so tossed aside, we never feel a strong connection to any of the characters. The subplots involving each soldier's family could have been omitted, and it wouldn't have made any difference.

This isn't the biggest problem with the film. It's a little too long and a little too repetitive. Most of the actors are playing to type. Need a character who can bring some comedic relief? Cast Michael Peña! Need a hulking leader? Chris Hemsworth is your guy! Look, we enjoy Hemsworth as Thor, but he really hasn't had much success outside of his role as the God of Thunder. He loses his put-on American accent frequently. Michael Shannon gives the best performance in the film by far. Also, we love that Navid Negahban's General Dostum gets to tell Michael Shannon he has "the eyes of a killer." We've been saying that for years! Also, though it seems minor, the biggest problem we had with "12 Strong" is how distractingly bad William Fitchner's bald cap looks.

On a huge movie theater screen, you can totally see the seams.

The only way we can possibly fathom the people behind the screens making this awful, appalling choice is that they asked for a photo of John F. Mulholland Jr. and were sent this picture.

Looking at this picture, you might say, "well, this actually looks pretty close, what are you guys bitching about?" Just one problem: Mulholland is the man on the left, not the bald man on the right. C'mon, you know that's what happened.

In the end, "12 Strong" is an average 'glory of war' picture that might be a little bit too long and a little too undeveloped, but may be worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.

**CLICK HERE for a FREE 30 DAY TRIAL of AMAZON PRIME!!**

**CLICK HERE to ORDER the ALL NEW Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet!!**

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 54%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter

Movie Review: "The Post" (2017)

Image Source

Movie: "The Post"

Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

The story of the Washington Post and the decision of its owner Kay Graham to defy a court order and publish the Pentagon Papers.

The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Without them, the United States would not be the United States. Right at the top of the list embedded in the First Amendment is the freedom of the press. You cannot have a democracy without it. Throughout the years, there have been challenges to what that 'freedom of the press' truly means. One such moment was in the 1970's after the New York Times published what was known as the 'Pentagon Papers.' The federal government sued The New York Times and got an injunction on publishing any more of the documents, claiming the release of more of the papers would be damaging to the ongoing military effort in Vietnam. "The Post" is the story of what happened next. The film is directed by legendary director Steven Spielberg and stars legendary actors Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. Streep plays Kay Graham, who was the owner of the Washington Post which, at the time, was a relatively small family-owned paper about to have its initial public offering. Hanks plays Ben Bradlee, the editor-in-chief of the Washington Post. Joining them are an ensemble cast including Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Allison Brie, David Cross, Carrie Coon, and Jesse Plemons, just to name a few.

"The Post" tackles the importance of a free press and the cost of what it would mean to the American people if those in power ever tried to stifle it. It was a watershed moment in our country, one everyone should learn about from now until the end of time. Overall, this film is a very well shot historical drama that is very Steven Spielberg in its style and overall feel. It falls right in line with the movies he has made in the recent past with films like "Lincoln," "Amistad," or "Bridge of Spies." Spielberg has a keen attention to detail. Everything in this film looks very 1970's, which is something that can't always be said for period piece movies.

Meryl Streep is wonderful as Kay Graham, a woman who had to change her way of thinking in order to attack the problem presented to her. Her character starts out taking a back seat to the men around her. She plays the socialite role admirably but doesn't seem like the boss of a major publication in the beginning. Even when men speak politics after dinner, she leaves the room with the rest of the women to attend to less important gossip-type talk. At one point, Kay finds her strength and listens to her heart in order to do what is right in spite of the advice of the men around her. Streep's portrayal is very nuanced and subtle but oh so powerful at the same time. There is a specific scene towards the end of the movie that left us in awe of Streep's raw talent yet again. It is acted so well, in fact, that I didn't realize I was crying until her scene ended. Tom Hanks delivers another fine performance as Ben Bradlee but uses a gravelly vocal tone that felt a bit distracting to us. Though he does have a few shining moments, Hanks definitely takes a back seat to Streep in this instance. Other notable performances include Bradley Whitford's disagreeable portrayal of Arthur Parsons, Tracy Letts' imitation of the supportive yet cautious Fritz Beebe, Bob Odenkirk's thorough but slightly paranoid depiction as journalist Ben Bagdikian, and Sarah Paulson's powerhouse performance as Ben Bradlee's "not just another wife on the telephone" Tony. That being said, the movie does take a bit of time to really get going. The first half of the film isn't nearly as engaging as the second half despite its meticulous inclusion of the history surrounding the leadup to the publication of the Pentagon Papers. In the end, we do believe most viewers will be satisfied watching "The Post" due to Meryl Streep's superb acting, Steven Spielberg's great visuals, the movie's powerful message, and its stellar, tension-filled finale.

**CLICK HERE to buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick!**
**CLICK HERE to try AUDIBLE.com and get 2 FREE AUDIO BOOKS!**

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~88%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "The Stanford Prison Experiment" (2015)

Image Source

Movie: "The Stanford Prison Experiment"
Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Dr. Philip Zimbardo creates an experiment to study the psychological effects of the prison system by splitting 24 Stanford University students into two groups of guards and prisoners. 

Based on true events, "The Stanford Prison Experiment" is about a study that was conducted at the prestigious Stanford University. It was created in an effort to learn about the psychological effects of imprisonment and empowerment on the average person. It is a case often covered in entry-level college psychology classes to this day as the results were much better than Zimbardo could have ever expected, though his methods were less than proper. This film offers an interesting look at the pack mentality of man, how far some are willing to go when given total authority over others, and how many people will simply and quickly fall in line like sheep.

People scratch their heads and wonder how soldiers execute innocent people just like Hitler's Schutzstaffel (SS) did. People question how the guards at Abu Ghraib were able to psychologically torture and humiliate their prisoners with such zeal. Though heavily criticized, "The Stanford Prison Experiment" itself shed some light on how quickly mob mentality takes over in a person's brain. It shows how seemingly normal college students were able to fall into sadistic tendencies and/or have psychological breakdowns within the span of just a few days. The movie is interesting because the experiment was interesting, and it's shocking because the reality of the experiment was shocking. When it comes to the movie version of these events, the technical aspects are all sort of average. The camerawork, dialogue, and cinematography are all competent, but nothing truly stands out as being incredible to us. Michael Angarano, Billy Crudup, and Tye Sheridan put on standout performances, but the rest of the acting is decent, not overly exceptional.

Outside of what is borrowed from the original experiment, there isn't anything that's going to really wow you, so "The Stanford Prison Experiment" works best if you have no idea what's coming. That being said, there is nothing particularly disappointing about this film even if you've already heard of the study because it is so fascinating. The movie itself boasts some excellent, often shocking moments and a premise you're not going to forget. It is definitely worth checking out for the insane drama of it all.

**CLICK HERE for a FREE 30 DAY TRIAL of AMAZON PRIME!!**

**CLICK HERE to ORDER the ALL NEW Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet!!**

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?