Movie Review: "Collateral Beauty" (2016)

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Movie: "Collateral Beauty"

Director: David Frankel
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Howard is the owner of an advertising firm. He has fallen into a deep depression since the death of his daughter a few years prior. The three co-owners of the company and Howard's best friends, Whit, Claire and Simon , want toSimon,ce the board that he is mentally incompetent in order to sell the company and save everyone's jobs. Their solution is to hire three actors to create a ruse to convince Howard he is talking to three abstracts, Death, Time, and Love, and film him while doing so so they can use the tapes to prove their case.

"Collateral Beauty" is directed by David Frankel, who is known for directing films like "Marley & Me" and "The Big Year." It is written by Allan Loeb, who has written movie such as "The Switch" and "Just Go With It." It stars Oscar nominees Will Smith, Edward Norton, and Keira Knightly, and Oscar winners Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren, as well as Michael Peña, Jacob Latimore, and Naomie Harris. The question is, with such a cast ripe with talent and with a release date in the right season for supreme heartstring-tugging, how the hell did Hollywood produce such a sappy, contrived, melodramatic, manipulative donkey fart of a movie like "Collateral Beauty"?

We saw the trailer for this film several months ago and thought, "this looks like the standard emotional Oscar bait and/or inspirational magical holiday film about overcoming grief. We could be into this if it's done right." We're here to tell you it is absolutely not any of this. If you've seen the trailer (honestly, if you've been to the movies anytime in the past 6 months, you've probably seen the trailer for this film), forget what you saw because whatever you think "Collateral Beauty" is about is wrong. The trailer is so far from the plot of the movie itself, those responsible for this bomb should sue the trailer making company for misleading the public.

What this film is actually about a group of coworkers, Whit, played by Norton, Claire, played by Winslet, and Simon, played by Peña, who hire three actors so they can convince the board of their company their boss Howard, the majority stockholder, and THEIR BEST FRIEND, is crazy, mentally unstable, and incapable of making rational decisions. They do this so they can sell the company, which has been floundering since Howard fell into a depression after the loss of his young daughter. Selling it will save the jobs of all of the employees and earn the three of them a big ol' fat payday. MERRY F*CKIN' CHRISTMAS!!! Of course, there's more than meets the eye with these three actors, named Brigitte, played by Mirren, Raffi, played by Latimore, and Amy, played by Knightley, who are chased down by Whit while looking for some tail. Whit, Claire, and Simon all have problems of their own, and though they think what they are doing may be for a solid reason in favor of the greater good, it's still a pretty humongous dick move.

This is a movie that thinks it's deeper and smarter than it is. David Frankel and co. try to create twists and turns in the story, but ultimately, it is so clumsily handled that we see these "gotcha!" moments coming from miles away. What's worse is when we see the movie heading towards these turns, we are forced to sit there silently and think to ourselves, "how dumb would it be if such and such were to happen? There's no way they would do something this obvious, right?" By the end of the film, of course, such and such has happened, and the minute the other 3 patrons left the theater in front of us, the time to stew in our anger began. The longer we think about it, the more pissed off we get at whatever idiot writer thought such a direction could have possibly made for an entertaining, redemptive film. Each and every moment meant to shock the audience left us rolling our eyes at how intentionally emotionally deceptive it all is. It's all done for money (and this applies to both real life and within the movie itself), and given how carelessly facile the plot it, it is clearly made by people who have never truly grieved a day in their lives. The more you think about how much potential is truly squandered here, the more you'll wind up hating this movie.

Let us reiterate. Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet. Oscar nominees Will Smith, Keira Knightley, and Edward Norton. Soon to be Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (we're projecting here, but hopefully). Drink it in, folks. Five to six people who, at one point in their respective careers, have been at the top of their game, and none of them, not one of them, make "Collateral Beauty" anything better than a vindictive, bitter, steaming pile of disingenuous, flawed garbage. This film is the definition of "click-bait." It's shallow, a terrible waste of precious movie watching minutes, and if not even Helen Mirren can make it better? You know you're screwed.

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My Rating: 2.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 3/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 13%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Movie Review: "Jackie" (2016)

Movie: "Jackie"

Director: Pablo Larraín
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

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Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman) recounts the events following the assassination of her husband from her point of view.

"Jackie" is directed by Pablo Larraín, who is known for his films "The Club" and "Neruda." It is written by Noah Oppenheim, who prior to this had written only young adult novel adaptations like "The Maze Runner" and "Allegiant." It stars Natalie Portman as the titular Jackie Kennedy, and is centered around an interview between her and an unnamed reporter, played by Billy Crudup, as she tells the events following her husband's assassination. The film also touches slightly on the fact that Jackie was the first real television-era first lady of the United States, and how the media played a large role in not only her marriage to and the death of her husband, but the public persona and perception of the Kennedy family as a whole.

This film is all about Natalie Portman as she attempts to crack the shell of Jackie Kennedy with her performance as this deeply layered character. Not only was Jackie mourning the loss of her husband, but she was also concerned with cementing his legacy and comforting her children, all while doing her best to remain strong and poised for a watching, waiting, judging nation and world. It really is a powerful portrayal, and Portman nails the part perfectly, from the iconic look aided by Madeline Fontaine's costume design, to the elegant walk and the accent. She truly becomes Jackie, so much so that at times, she is unrecognizable and indistinguishable. This is the type of role actors live for, allowing her to display a full range of emotions as well as deep level of simultaneous vulnerability and strength. Joining Portman are Peter Sarsgaard as Bobby Kennedy, Greta Gerwig as the first lady's assistant and confidant Nancy Tuckerman, Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy, who was likely chosen for his striking resemblance to the late president, as well as John Hurt, Richard E. Grant, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, and Max Casella. Though all of them are fine in their respective roles, no one really come close eclipsing Portman in terms of greatness. She even rises above the movie as a whole, helping elevate what, without her, would be a rather conventional biography. Unlike past films about the Kennedy family, it does try to crack through and go beyond who Jackie was perceived to be and tries to show the complex woman she was past all of the pearls and dinnerware.

Pablo Larraín has created quite a film in "Jackie." Some will love it, others will hate it, but either way, it provides a very in-depth look at a woman concerned with image and power while being doused in vanity and sorrow. It is very documentarian in its execution as the camera stays close and tight on Portman's person almost at all times. The middle of the frame is used often and is done with purpose. Real life footage is also used and spliced in with the movie seamlessly to create an even more realistic feel. While it's mostly subtle, the film as a whole can venture into a little bit of a frenetic pace while the actual assassination is occurring. At its core, "Jackie" is a character sketch about a fascinating, layered character held up by the strong, weighty performance by Natalie Portman. She is vulnerable and sympathetic, but is also commanding and strong. The rewatchability factor might not be there, but it will sure as hell stand for decades to come as a lesson in brilliant acting.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" (2016)

Movie: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

Director: Gareth Edwards
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 13 minutes

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When the Rebel Alliance discovers the Empire is building a planet-destroying super weapon, much hope is lost. The daughter of an imperial engineer who helped construct the weapon, an imperial defector, and a rogue group of rebels defy orders and try to locate and steal the plans for this Death Star. With these plans, the Alliance will be able to discover its weakness and hopefully destroy it. 

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is the first spin-off into the Star Wars expanded universe. This is a new story with an almost entirely new cast of characters that fills the time gap between episodes III and IV. The film is directed by Gareth Edwards, who is best known for directing 2014's "Godzilla." It stars a tremendous cast including Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Forrest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, and Alan Tudyk.

"Rogue One" tells the story of how the rebels acquired the plans to help them destroy the Death Star. It revolves around Jyn Erso, played by Jones, who is the daughter of Imperial engineer Galen Erso, played by Mikkelsen. He is a key figure in the development of the Empire's super weapon. He also secretly supports the Alliance and sends a pilot, played by Ahmed, attempting to defect with a message for militant separatist Saw Garrera, played by Whitaker. Though Ahmed, Mikkelsen and Whitaker don't get a whole lot of screen time, they are excellent when they gets the chance. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna are equally as captivating as Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor.

"Rogue One" sure as hell puts the war in "Star Wars" and is simply amazing, and not just for fans of the franchise as a whole. This story contains some breathtakingly brilliant visuals with some of the best visual effects we have seen implemented in any film to date. In addition to its stunning look, the movie takes audiences on a roller coaster of emotions from sorrow, to laughter, to pure elation, and even a little hope thrown in for good measure. It fits in seamlessly with episode IV, including a few cameos from familiar characters, particularly the universe's most bad ass villain Darth Vader, again voiced by James Earl Jones. Vader finally gets a scene that truly displays the awesome fear and brutality of his character as we've never seen before. The battle scenes are epic, some of the best ever depicted in a Star Wars movie. "Rogue One" also serves to add layers to the Alliance and shows that not everything they do is perfectly moral. They have assassins and spies and are willing to do immoral things in the fight for what they believe is the greater good.

Though we believe "Rogue One" is a movie for Star Wars fans first, it's never too late to get invested. This film can actually be seen as both: it is a good starting point for beginners, and seasoned vets of the series will get the many references and ties to other movies in the franchise. This is the prequel we have always wanted and have been waiting for. It really serves to show what potential was wasted in episodes I, II, and III. Though some scenes are elongated for dramatic emphasis and there could have been a teensy bit more character development here and there, "Rogue One" is damn incredible.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "La La Land" (2016)

Movie: "La La Land"

Director: Damien Chazelle
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 8 minutes

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An aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and struggling jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) find love and chase their dreams in the city of Los Angeles. 

"La La Land" is written and directed by Damien Chazelle, who burst onto the directorial scene in 2014 with his award winning film "Whiplash," one of our favorite films from that year. It stars Emma Stone as Mia, an aspiring actress who spends her time going to crappy auditions for crappy parts and working as a barista at a coffee shop on the Warner Bros studio lot. Joining her is Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, a struggling jazz musician who dreams of one day opening his own club in the city. He is a talented musician, but his traditional views on jazz music make him difficult to work with. Mia and Sebastian don't have the greatest start to their relationship, but after running into one another at a party, they strike up a friendship, begin dating, and eventually, after many months, their relationship endures hardships along the road to reaching their dreams.

We have been looking forward to "La La Land" for many, many months, and it certainly did not disappoint us in the slightest. This film features both a love letter to and a scathing review of the city of Los Angeles. It is also an ode to all of the people out there who have the courage, or foolishness, to chase their dreams. It is a modern tale of love wrapped in an homage to old Hollywood films and studio musicals, and it is damn near perfect. The film bubbles and bursts with vivid colors and stunning imagery as it captures a nostalgic look in a modern era. There may very well be undiscovered colors created here, that's how spectacular of a color palette Chazelle is working with from start, with a 'presented in Cinemascope' marquee, to finish, with a look at dream versus reality. It is an utterly splendid experience to look at as a member of the audience. It's not all sunsets, flashy dresses and cool cars. Rather, it's a vast display of proficient technical prowess as the playing of light and shadows, sounds and mood, and various camera shots come into play to make this a standout picture from scene to scene. "La La Land" is not only beautiful, but extremely well made and delicately captivating due to the attention to detail and effort put into each and every frame. The tunes also aid in its brilliance. Some are simple songs, but there are a wide range of them. Several numbers are tender and intimate, others are toe-tappingly fun and supremely catchy, and there are even a few that could elicit a laugh.

Knowing that Ryan Gosling really learned to play the piano and that he and Emma Stone are singing all of the music only makes it that much more special and personal. Speaking of Gosling and Stone, they offer two magnificent performances here. Stone is absolutely brilliant as Mia, who goes from audition to audition chasing her dream of being an actress, and Gosling is excellent as Sebastian, who has to succumb to pressures of playing modern music, even as a jazz purist. Together, they share a truly palpable, realistic, smoldering, spectacular chemistry. Both actors are absolutely charming, as is the film as a whole.

Words cannot express how much I truly loved "La La Land," and not just because of the chemistry between its actors, the fantastic music, and its technical achievements. This is what we want to experience when we go to the movies, to be immersed in a story, to be captivated by the screen from start to finish, and to feel something when we leave the theater. We want to watch movies that inspire us, that make us believe, that make us smile, or cry, or laugh, or be happy, that nudge us to take a chance. Though BigJ was a little less moved by the film, we both agree "La La Land" is a truly gorgeous piece of cinema with beautiful costumes, vibrant sets and colors, brilliant music, dynamic camerawork and flawless cinematography. You are doing yourself a disservice if you do not see this stunning movie.

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My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Manchester by the Sea" (2016)

Movie: "Manchester by the Sea"

Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes

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Handyman Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) must return to his hometown of Manchester when his brother suddenly dies of heart failure. He must settle his brother's affairs, which includes becoming the guardian of his brother's teenage son Patrick (Lucas Hedges), all while being faced with even greater tragedies from his past. 

"Manchester by the Sea" is a character-driven drama written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. It stars Casey Affleck as Lee Chandler, a very unpleasant handyman living in a single room basement apartment in Boston. When his brother Joe, played by Kyle Chandler, suddenly dies of heart failure, Lee returns to his hometown for the first time in about a decade to settle his brother's affairs. Upon talking to a lawyer, he is shocked to find out that he was named the guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick, played by Lucas Hedges, with the intention that Lee would move back to Manchester to take care of him.

There are movies that will give audiences a slight emotional response. Then, there's "Manchester by the Sea," which is so clearly written from a place of honesty and truth that there's no way it's not based on a real experience by a real person. This is a movie all about people and relationships. It focuses on the character of Lee, and as the film gets started, we found ourselves unclear why he was acting so abrasively. Lee obviously pushes everyone away from him, even during minor, inconsequential interactions, but as incidents in his past are revealed, we start to understand him and why he is the way he is. He is a guy who has faced many difficult times in life, even prior to losing his brother. He is closed off, in a place of self-imposed exile, and coming back to Manchester has only worsened the never-closing wound.

Anyone who has faced loss in their life and has had to deal with a sea of paperwork, funeral arrangements, numerous phone calls, tons of driving, comparing sob stories, and funeral pleasantries will and can relate to this. "Manchester by the Sea" offers a frank, sincere portrayal of all the stuff that comes along with losing a loved one and handling their affairs. It's brilliantly acted. Casey Affleck gives a masterclass display of nuanced subtlety. Nothing he does ever feels fake or shoehorned in. Lucas Hedges also does an amazing job as the grief-stricken teenager who copes with the loss of his father through distraction and suppression of pain. He is really allowed to shine in one scene in particular involving frozen meat, when all of those emotions come pouring out. We know this feeling all too well. Joining them is Michelle Williams, who is wonderful in just about everything she does, but it is especially apparent here. She is certainly worthy of award consideration here despite her limited screen time.

Sitting here writing this review, I am typing with tears streaming down my face. "Manchester by the Sea" deals with loss in such a profoundly nuanced, intricate way. It says so little and yet so much in the small glances, the tiny things here and there that add to the immense minutiae of death and loss and tragedy that should only be understood through personal experience, but somehow, even if you've never felt the painful sting of grief, you will know what it feels like if you watch this movie, that's how visceral the pain is. This is certainly one of the best films of 2016, even in all its drama. The emotional weight of it has carried into our lives days after seeing it. It has and will draw tears from those who can find a personal connection to the story or even those who simply empathize with Lee and Patrick in their time of need. The acting is brilliant, the direction astounding, the score is haunting, and the writing forthright. We will say this is not the type of movie we could watch over and over again because the subject matter is just too hard for us, but it is absolutely, positively worth your time.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~97%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Nocturnal Animals" (2016)

Movie: "Nocturnal Animals"

Director: Tom Ford
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes

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A writer sends his ex-wife his novel, a dark and disturbing tale of murder and revenge he has dedicated to her. 

"Nocturnal Animals" is written and directed by Tom Ford, who is known for his other film "A Single Man," which was made 7 years ago. This movie is based on the novel "Tony and Susan" by Austin Wright. It stars Amy Adams as art dealer Susan Morrow, who is very unhappy in her marriage and her life. One evening, she receives a book from her ex-husband Edward Sheffield, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, entitled "Nocturnal Animals." The book is named after what Edward used to call Susan (since she has trouble sleeping) and is also dedicated to her, though the two have not spoken in nearly two decades. The story is a dark, twisted tale of murder and revenge, focused on a character named Tony, also played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Three story lines run throughout the film that are cut and interspersed together. First, there's the story of Susan's life, which explores her job, her marriage to her husband Hutton, played by Armie Hammer, and her reading Edward's book in the present. The second is the story told within the book itself, which bares some similarities to Susan and Edward's real life together. Finally, the third part deals with flashbacks of Susan and Edward's life together when they were young and in love with hopes and dreams. There are A LOT of metaphors going on between what happens in the novel and how Edward felt upon the breakdown of his marriage in real life. 

"Nocturnal Animals" is an alluring, highly intriguing movie that will stick with you and make you think about it long after it's over. It has vicious, passionate undertones and an immeasurably deep, complex, gorgeous color palette. Tom Ford loves to play with shapes and colors and sounds and distinctively different styles between each of these stories to create something truly breathtaking in terms of look and feel. Dear god, this movie is astounding. The acting is truly brilliant all around, and we would not be upset if anyone from this film got nominated for any type of award. Amy Adams is amazing as always, showing a wide range with just one character. Susan is both fragile and strong, vulnerable and tough. Gyllenhaal is fantastic as well. He is such a brilliant actor, one of the utmost best of our generation, but he often gets overlooked. He deserves more recognition for his part(s) in this movie. Michael Shannon, oh, Michael Shannon. Our love for him knows no bounds. We cannot believe that at one point, we disliked this man. He is absolutely, positively marvelous here (and as always). He manages to bring to life a fictional cop with a "fuck it" attitude so well, we would not be surprised if this was his year to win big come awards season. We must also mention Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who really came out of nowhere with such an incredible performance. He plays an effectively creepy, dirty, disgusting, sinister sociopath with such precision that he is almost unrecognizable.

Tom Ford keeps proving that he is far more than just a fashion designer and that he is, in fact, a very capable, talented filmmaker. We hope to see more of his innovative works in the future, especially if they are anything like "Nocturnal Animals." This is not the type of film everyone will enjoy, especially with some of its twisted themes and visuals. Even many cinephiles will see this movie as merely pretentious drivel, the inner workings of failure, revenge, intention, and loss worked out in metaphors, but we absolutely loved this captivating, intense, bleak film.

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My Rating: 9.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~72%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Miss Sloane" (2016)

Movie: "Miss Sloane"

Director: John Madden
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

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A lobbyist tries to stay one step ahead of a rival lobbying group while attempting to garner support for gun control legislation that will require universal background checks for all gun sales nationwide.

"Miss Sloane" is a political thriller directed by John Madden, who is known for films like the Oscar winning "Shakespeare in Love" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." It stars Jessica Chastain as the titular Elizabeth Sloane, one of the most ruthless, cunning lobbyists on Capitol Hill. She is approached by the nation's largest gun lobby to try and kill an upcoming gun control bill by trying to convince women to like guns. Miss Sloane, however, agrees with the bill, and much to the chagrin of the gun lobby, she goes to work for the competition to make sure the bill passes. Joining Chastain are Mark Strong and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who are working with her in support of the gun control bill, and on the opposing team are her former coworkers, played by Sam Waterston, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Alison Pill.

This film examines the disgusting back-room wheeling and dealing that goes in the U.S. government, as well as the dark sludge of the swamp we call the U.S. Senate. Jessica Chastain does a fantastic job as the strong-willed, dynamic, crafty, and powerful lobbyist Elizabeth Sloane, who has a very small circle of trust, no family or friends, and lies through her teeth and in her sleep. Sloane is always one step ahead of her opposition and she's clearly the smartest person wherever she goes. Chastain conveys this with the utmost brilliance. Her performance could even be Oscar-worthy, though she will likely wind up a dark horse for a nomination at best as this is another excellent year for women in cinema. Though Chastain is the driving force of the film, the superb acting doesn't stop there. Gugu Mbatha-Raw has really made an impact in the last few years and is stellar here as a woman who has dedicated her life to fight for better gun laws, but is hiding a painful secret. Michael Stuhlbarg has also been a powerhouse figure in the last couple of years, and with brilliant performances in "Steve Jobs" and "Pawn Sacrifice," his acting here falls right in line with these other performances in a splendid fashion as an opposing ruthless player in this seedy game.

Of course, there's no doubt "Miss Sloane" is a politically charged film that will polarize viewers long before it ever hits the screen. There is a lot of fast-paced, punchy dialogue, courtesy of first time screenwriter Jonathan Perera, though there isn't much subtlety about the message being sent here. This will isolate many viewers off the bat. It received a slew of one star votes on IMDb as soon as ratings opened on the film. We personally prefer to judge each individual piece on its own merits rather than its message, though we do happen to agree with many of the points presented here. What winds up on screen is a dynamic performance from Jessica Chastain, excellent supporting performances from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Mark Strong, and an interesting, captivating thriller in the same vein of "All the President's Men" or "Frost/Nixon." We wound up finding this film almost always engaging (it was especially so for the patron sitting behind us who were clearly captivated at the end of it all and gave a wild clap before the movie ended). As we watched the complex events unfolding on screen, we went through a bevy of emotions from anger to sadness to disapproval to stunned. Though some instances may feel a bit convenient and it is quite messy at times, it is pretty riveting.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~60%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Office Christmas Party" (2016)

Movie: "Office Christmas Party"

Director: Josh Gordon & Will Speck
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

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When manager of the Chicago branch of Zenotech Clay Vanstone (T.J. Miller) learns his sister/CEO Carol (Jennifer Aniston) is planning on shutting down his branch, he decides to throw a big office party to land a huge client named Walter Davis (Courtney B. Vance) to hopefully save all of their jobs.

"Office Christmas Party" is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, who are best known for directing films like "Blades of Glory" and "The Switch." It stars T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone, Chicago branch manager of Zenotech. He is a laid back boss who tries to do fun things for his employees, and he's a bit of a party guy. Let's face it, he's the same character T.J. Miller always plays. Joining him are Jason Bateman and Olivia Munn as department heads Josh Parker and Tracey Hughes, who are second and third in command at the Chicago branch. Much like Miller, Bateman and Munn play to type the entire film. Bateman once again does what his wildly successful "Arrested Development" character Michael Bluth does as the witty, sarcastic, dry straight-man, and Munn is the tech smart, nerdy and ~*super relatable~* hot girl. Also in the film is Jennifer Aniston, who plays Carol Vanstone, Clay's older sister and CEO of Zenotech. Carol is bit of an asshole who only cares about the bottom line. When Clay's branch only grows 6.5% instead of 7% in their fourth quarter, she threatens to shut them down, or at the very least, lay off 40% of the staff. In order to save jobs within the company, Clay needs to land a big client like Walter Davis, played by Courtney B. Vance. In order to do just that, Clay, Josh and Tracey plan to show him a good time at their office Christmas party, which very quickly goes spiraling out of control, turning into a boisterous, disorderly insane rager. Also in the film are Kate McKinnon, Rob Corddry, Vanessa Bayer, Randall Park, Sam Richardson, and Jillian Bell. Almost every single one of them plays to type like Miller, Bateman, and Munn. They each have their shtick and they certainly stick to it.

This is your expected raucous party movie where someone throws a big shindig for typically stuffy people that winds up going way over the top in a very short amount time. Similar themes can be seen in "Bad Moms" from earlier this year, as well as "Sisters" from this time last year. Luckily, "Office Christmas Party" spends most of its time at the actual "nondenominational holiday mixer," but what comes before and after it is mostly pointless plot-building for a story that doesn't really need to be shoehorned in there. We will say this movie does have a couple of big laughs, but if you've seen the trailers, you've already seen 90% of the best jokes. There are a scant few genuinely funny moments that didn't appear in the trailers because they are a little too R-rated. Randall Park's character has one of the better scenes in the film, as well as the paid-for Jesus galloping on horseback, also shown in the trailer. Almost nothing is left to the imagination as the story navigates through its linear formula with only mediocre success.

We were really looking forward to "Office Christmas Party," but left feeling pretty underwhelmed. We hate it when good comedies have their best jokes ruined and spoiled by their trailers, and that's what has happened here. As long as you can stand Kate McKinnon being super weird and goofy, Jason Bateman being sarcastic and stuffy, T.J. Miller being loud and obnoxious, the obvious attempts to make the whole thing feel more heartstrings-tugging, and only mildly good chemistry between coworkers, friends and lovers, this comedy is for you. As laughs fade, as they often do here, the plot should be the fallback, but this comedy is thin and contrived. We left the theater a little disappointed in this movie. We aren't too harsh at judging the plot lines of comedies since laughter is their number one goal, but most of the actual story here is lame and trite.

My Rating: 5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~44%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "Rules Don't Apply" (2016)

Movie: "Rules Don't Apply"

Director: Warren Beatty
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 6 minute

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The story of a young actress named Marla (Lily Collins), her driver/real estate entrepreneur Frank (Alden Ehrenreich), and how they are brought together and torn apart by reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty), for whom they both work.

"Rules Don't Apply" is written and directed by Warren Beatty, who is the Oscar winning director of "Reds" and the Oscar nominated actor from "Bugsy," among many other films. That being said, it has been 18 years since Beatty has directed a feature film and 15 years since he's even appeared on screen. This project in particular has been in the works for decades, only now finally coming to fruition. Unfortunately, it was most certainly not worth the wait.

The film tells the story of a young devout Baptist girl from Virginia named Marla Mabrey, played by Lily Collins, who has moved to Hollywood as an actress on retainer to Howard Hughes, played by Beatty himself, of course. Upon arriving in L.A., she meets a driver who also works for Hughes named Frank Forbes, played by Alden Ehrenreich. Forbes hopes to talk to Hughes about investing in a piece of real estate in order to develop affordable housing near Mulholland Drive. Marla and Frank hit it off and begin a friendship, but Hughes has strict rules about those he employs and his actresses not being in relationships.

This movie is as spastic and unfocused as the billionaire Hughes himself. We wonder if Warren Beatty took the title as an opportunity to rewrite his own book on filmmaking because the rules certainly do not apply to this mess of a movie, and not in a good or explorative way. We aren't totally sure if the disjointed narrative here was intentional or just a result of the struggle Beatty had trying to find out what story he actually wanted to tell. What starts out as a bit of a farcical rom-com starts to shift into an offbeat biopic once Hughes is introduced. Hughes and his eccentricities start to become the focus of the back half of the movie where the budding romance that never was serves as the focus in the first half. In many ways, this feels very reminiscent of his film "Bugsy." Beatty takes these historical figures, a mobster there and a billionaire (who in this case has serious mental problems) here, and turns these individual's eccentricities into comedic quirks. The jokes consist of Hughes not wanting to meet people in person, his inability to hold a conversation, and his strong desires that readily change, like his demand for hundreds of gallons of banana nut ice cream only to wind up wanting french vanilla.

However, try as he may to make these instances humorous, we never really laughed and we most certainly never really felt anything for any of the characters. There are some interesting costume choices and a few instances of alluring camerawork as Beatty tries to capture 1960's Hollywood, but these cool choices get buried in sea of jagged storytelling and mediocrity. The acting is okay, but nothing spectacular. Ehrenreich and Collins give the better of the performances, but mostly the movie is just boring and maddening with a thousand cuts per 10 minute time period, as well as some really terrible and disjointed dialogue.

Just one more thing. There is a tradition in Hollywood of creating romantic interest between an old actor and a young leading lady. It would appear that Beatty has gone for a record here by creating a romantic encounter between his 79-year-old self and his leading lady Lily Collins, who is 52 years his junior. We understand his sentiment and his wanting to keep things how they often happened at that time period in Hollywood, but it's just an observation that made for uncomfortable movie watching. Woody Allen's now got nothin' on Warren Beatty.

"Rules Don't Apply" attempts to coax warm, fuzzy feelings out of its audience by showing old Hollywood and the quaintness of it all, but this feels like a disingenuous, sloppy, sub-par account of a story about a person that has been explored in a far better film. Some may argue Warren Beatty has "lost it" like Ron Howard or Robert Zemeckis have in their later years. We would argue he never had it. Avoid this one at all costs.

My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 4/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 56%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

Movie Review: "Man Down" (2016)

Movie: "Man Down"

Director: Dito Montiel
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes

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A marine and Afghanistan war veteran named Gabriel (Shia LaBeouf) navigates a post-apocalyptic landscape in search of his son, who was taken from him.

"Man Down" is directed by Dito Montiel and is written by Adam G. Simon. It stars Shia LaBeouf as U.S. Marine Gabriel Drummer. He is married to a woman named Natalie, played by Kate Mara. The pair have one young son together named Jonathan, played by Charlie Shotwell. The only other person in Gabriel's life is his best friend/informally adopted brother and fellow Marine Devin Roberts, played by Jai Courtney. The film is told in a non-linear fashion and opens with Gabriel and Devin navigating what appears to be a post-apocalyptic America in search of Gabe's wife and son. Then, it all flashes back to Gabriel and his family prior to the war in order to set the stage to show the events that happen prior to him being shipped off to Afghanistan. This allows the audience to get a glimpse into just how much he loved his wife and son. The other portion of the movie is about Gabriel in Afghanistan, primarily told through an interview between Gabriel and military Counselor Peyton, played by Gary Oldman, who is asking him questions about a recent incident that occurred in Afghanistan.

This is another one of those movies that is really hard to really talk about without spoiling everything. We will say the non-linear timeline really serves the narrative well in this film. The audience is left searching for answers as information slowly comes together. Some audience members will absolutely despise what "Man Down" does in the end, and others won't, but pay attention closely because things are ultimately said and done very slowly to give you clues and hints as to what all is going on. Shia LaBeouf does an exceptional job as Gabriel Drummer, surprisingly enough. He sells his role as both the loving family man and as the well-trained Marine while offering a very layered and thoughtful performance. No matter how he acts in his personal life, he is certainly a damn fine and talented actor when he wants to be. It's really him who carries the entire film. This is not to say that the supporting cast isn't good in their own right. They all do a fine job, but it's LaBeouf that really shines.

The biggest downfall of the film is its pacing. At merely 92 minutes long, it feels twice that length. The film is very slow, and it isn't until the third act where everything starts to come together. This is when we got really engaged in the story. Again, this is where the film will lose the majority of its audience, put off by the ending in a manipulated fashion. We are somewhere in the middle. The ending is packed with emotion, but it made us wonder if the entire thing up until this third act actually earned such a powerful ending.

We found "Man Down" to be a mostly interesting and unique take on a subject that has been covered many times before, but in a vastly different fashion. The ending doesn't completely make up for the molasses-slow beginning, but it is just enough to salvage it and make it worth watching if you can stick it out to the end. Realistically, it still isn't worth the cost of a full priced movie ticket, but hey, if it's on television or out at Redbox, why not? Shia LaBeouf gives an excellent performance, and though he's not given much to do, Gary Oldman as the exposition character is always a treat to see on the big screen.

My Rating: 5.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 9%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Incarnate" (2016)

Movie: "Incarnate"

Director: Brad Peyton
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes

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Dr. Seth Ember (Aaron Eckhart) has the unique ability to enter the minds of the possessed in order to evict the parasitic entities that have latched onto their victims. He receives a request from the Vatican to help evict an archdemon from a young boy (David Mazouz), a demon he has faced in the past, one he calls Maggie.

"Incarnate" is directed by Brad Peyton, who is known for films like "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and the global box office juggernaut "San Andreas." It stars Aaron Eckhart as Dr. Seth Ember, a wheelchair-bound scientist of sorts who has an unexplained ability to enter the minds of possessed people. He uses this gift to evict, as he calls it, parasitic entities, as he calls them (demons to the layman), by breaking down the false reality these demons use to trap their victims. The latest demon Ember must face is one with strong ties to his past, an entity he calls Maggie, who has entered the body of an 11-year old boy named Cameron, played by David Mazouz, who lives with his mother Lindsay, played by Carine van Houten.

"Incarnate" is your standard exorcism movie with a little bit of a twist. Unfortunately, it's a twist that isn't all that new or all that interesting. Going into the mind of a patient (or any person for that matter) is something we've seen in many, many, many films in the past. We've seen it in far better movies like "Identity," "The Cell," "Inception," and even "A Nightmare On Elm Street." The only difference here is the exorcism angle, but without all the religiousy mumbo jumbo. This doesn't feel like a horror at all, even though it is billed as one. This film has the feel of a low budget comic book film, like a cheap knock off version of "Constantine," but with worse CGI.

Look, we have to call 'em like we see 'em, and "Incarnate" is pretty damned awful. We usually like Aaron Eckhart, so we get perplexed when he makes career choices like this. He does a movie like "The Dark Knight," which is still in our top 3 favorite comic book movies, and then he does "I, Frankenstein." He does a fantastic film like "Thank You for Smoking," and then he does a major stinker like "Battle: Los Angeles." About two weeks ago, we saw him act his heart out in a rather brilliant part in "Bleed for This," and now, here we are. This is another terrible role for him. The acting across the board is pretty bad, but Eckhart should know better by now. In addition, most of the dialogue is downright laughable, and when delivered in Eckhart's Harvey Dent gravel-voice, it makes it even worse. David Mazouz has only been in a few films, but he's not off to a great start between this and another one of this year's horror flops, "The Darkness." On top of all of this, the whole film is completely predictable, down to the last frame. There is one point early on when a little exposition is delivered and one character offers another a specific item necessary for the rest of the movie to play out as it needs to. It is right then, at this point, when we realized we knew exactly how it would end. We could have stopped watching there because we predicted the ending with 110% accuracy. We don't mention this to show off how awesome our prediction abilities are (though they have gotten pretty good over the last 4 years of going to every single movie in the theater), but rather to merely point out how carelessly "Incarnate" is put together.

It's hard to fathom how an actor like Eckhart can go from such highs to such lows and stay in the game for as long as he has. Other lesser actors would have been forgotten and dismissed long ago. "Incarnate" is completely forgettable, a movie you can definitely skip.

My Rating: 3/10
BigJ's Rating: 3/10
IMDB's Rating: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 21%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Movie Review: "Allied" (2016)

Movie: "Allied"

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minute

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During a joint assassination mission in Casablanca, a Canadian spy named Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) and a French spy named Marianne Beauséjour (Marion Cotillard) fall in love. Upon returning to England where Max is stationed, the two get married and have a child. Their love is tested, however, when Max is told Marianne may be a German spy.

"Allied" is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who has an extensive resume including films like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," the "Back to the Future" trilogy, and of course, the Oscar winning "Forrest Gump," among many others. It is written by Steven Knight, who was a writer on films like "Pawn Sacrifice," "The Hundred-Foot Journey," and "Locke," among many others. It stars Oscar nominee Brad Pitt and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard in the two leading roles. With all of this talent behind the film, one must ask, what could possibly go wrong? That question is answered in the first five seconds of the film when a horribly CGI'ed Brad Pitt parachute landing is the first thing displayed on screen. We have to admit, we were put off by this choice because of first impressions and all that jazz, but when the actual story begins, it's not all awful, though the film itself winds up being a bit of a mixed bag.

The overall concept is intriguing. Two spies from two different countries fall in love, get married and have a kid, only to have it turn out that one of them may or may not be working for the enemy. It's a concept that feels like it deserves better than "Allied," like there could have been a lot more done and said about the subject than what wound up on screen here. There are a couple of engaging moments of genuine tension and exciting action, but from minute 25:01 to 1:40:59, there are gigantic portions filled with lulls that drag on a bit too long and don't seem to simmer just right. Nothing in the middle is there to bridge the mostly good beginning and the rigid, question-filled end to the point where it makes "Allied" a worthwhile story. The sets are nice and the costuming is brilliant, though everything seems a bit too polished and very un-1940's. Marion Cotillard offers a strong performance with what she is given, though Brad Pitt is mediocre at best as her counterpart. Look, we don't want to be jerks and we really, really don't like to pick on actor's looks, but there was something off about Pitt's face throughout the duration of the movie. We aren't sure if Zemeckis implemented a digital de-aging on his face, or if Pitt himself had some sort of work or fillers done, but he looked as if he had been unnaturally smoothed out to make him appear younger. We mention this because it was extremely distracting the entire film, and also speaks to our main problem with the film as a whole. Everything seems a little too artificial to be taken seriously.

In the end, though there is a sprinkling of excitement, a small dose of action, and a couple instances of tension, the uneven pacing and tone of "Allied" winds up hurting its overall feel. There is nothing offensively bad about the movie, but there isn't anything that remarkable about it, either. Cotillard's performance may be worth seeking out, but it's not worth the price of admission to see it in the theater, even with a great ending.

My Rating: 5/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 61%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Moonlight" (2016)

Movie: "Moonlight"

Director: Barry Jenkins
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

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The story of Chiron told at three different points of his life as he grows up in the slums of Miami.

"Moonlight" is directed by Barry Jenkins, who also wrote the screenplay based on a story by Tarell Alvin McCraney. The film chronicles the story of an individual named Chiron through three stages of his life. The first stage features Chiron as a young boy, referred to as Little, played by Alex Hibbert. The next portion covers his life as a teenager, who simply goes by the name Chiron, played by Ashton Sanders, and finally, we see a glimpse into the life of Chiron as an adult, who now goes by the nickname Black, played by Trevante Rhodes.

Chiron lives in a rough neighborhood in Miami where drugs and violence are the norm. His mother Paula, played by Naomie Harris, appears to be a normal, caring mother, but rapidly descends into a full-blown drug addict. The only father figure in Chiron's life is a local drug dealer named Juan, played by Mahershala Ali, who seemingly takes him under his wing and gives him food, a place to stay on occasion, and advice as he navigates a rough childhood where he is constantly bullied. On top of all of this, Chiron is gay. He's not fully aware of it himself for much of his life, even though everyone else seems to know the truth. As a teenager, Chiron is still bullied by the same kids out in the open. He doesn't really fit in anywhere. He still has one childhood friend named Kevin, played at this stage by Jharrel Jerome, though Kevin has a penchant for openly discussing the girls he has sex with at their school. Kevin and Chiron seem to have a mutual understanding with one another, and their relationship is much deeper than it appears on the surface. Events occur which break them apart, and after a decade, Chiron, now an adult and played by Rhodes, has followed in the footsteps of the only man he's ever really known, masking himself with jewels, weights, dollars, and fronts. After receiving a phone call from Kevin, now played by André Holland, all of the feelings he once had, the ones he has tried so desperately to suppress, come flooding back to him.

The topic seen in "Moonlight" is not one frequently covered in cinema. We have seen many 'life in the hood' types of movies, as well as many others chronicling the gay experience, but this is the first time we've seen the two combined in such a flawless, subtle way featuring an entirely black cast. Barry Jenkins does a master job delivering a beautifully understated film that tries extremely hard to give an honest look at this subject. More than anything, what truly stands out is the acting. The three actors who portray Chiron, Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes, do a fantastic job selling his shy insecurity as he journeys from an introverted kid, to a bullied teen who is struggling with his identity and his place in the world, to the yolked-out adult who puts on a hard front, but deep down, falls back to a shy introversion when uncertainty arises. Mahershala Ali is brilliant as Juan, who despite being a drug dealer, winds up being one of the few positive influences in Chiron's life. Though his role is short and sweet, his on-screen performance is powerful and meaningful enough that his impact is felt throughout the film. We cannot wait to see more good things from Ali as he continues to impress us with his acting abilities. Then, of course, there is Naomie Harris, another actress who has really made a name for herself in the last decade and a person we continually look forward to seeing on screen. Harris is wonderful as Chiron's crack-addict mother. We watch her spiral down deeper and deeper as the movie progresses, creating quite a strained relationship with her son. Finally, André Holland as the adult Kevin is also excellent in yet another subtly powerful performance.

"Moonlight" is an extremely well put together piece of cinema that is very interesting and compelling. BigJ did not enjoy some of the camerawork and editing, though I never had a problem with these aspects and thought they served to aid in Jenkins' seductive, flowing, lush storytelling. If you let it, this film will keep you engaged and on the verge of tears. Though BigJ was less emotionally moved than I was, we both agree this film deserves all of the accolades it has been receiving, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for the cast and crew of this delicate, aching piece of cinema.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Bad Santa 2" (2016)

Movie: "Bad Santa 2"

Director: Mark Waters
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minute

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Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and Marcus (Tony Cox) reunite in order to rob a charity with the help of Willie's estranged mother Sunny (Kathy Bates).

Well, it's been 13 years since the release of "Bad Santa," which we like, but don't love like everyone else seems to. This being the year of the long delayed sequel and clearly out of ideas, writers, producers, and filmmakers threw up their hands and thought, "why don't we make "Bad Santa 2?" People want that, right?" In the wise, boisterous words of our president-elect: WRONG.

The film is directed by Mark Waters, who is known for other films like "Vampire Academy" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins." This isn't a movie that was made because there was more to tell about the continuing adventures about Billy Bob Thornton's Willie Soke. It is clear this movie was made as an attempted cash grab, nothing more. Waters and his crew take a recycled story, fill it with recycled jokes, and have the actors involved phone in their performances only for a paycheck and BOOM!, we have a movie...well, if you can call it a movie at all. Writers Shauna Cross and Johnny Rosenthal thought to themselves, "everyone loved the crass, boozing, smoking, angry, sex-obsessed mall Santa and his foul-mouthed, sarcastic elf sidekick in 2003, so if we make them twice as crass and twice as foul-mouthed and add the f-word twice as much, it will be twice as funny!" WRONG AGAIN. The original film was a dark comedic satire that walked a fine line between outright offensive and mildly endearing in its undertone. That movie had a slight character arc for Willie as he went from a completely self-centered asshole to an asshole who finally thought of someone besides himself. In this atrocious, awful sequel, he has no arc and he manages to somehow be far less endearing.

Willie still hangs around Thurman Merman, played by a now grown up Brett Kelly, but even that entire plot point has lost its charm. Thurman as a character is written to be extremely stupid, and it was cute when he was an oblivious eight year old, but now, at 21 and on the verge of "getting his cherry popped by Willie," it just comes off as sad. We started to wonder if this character is meant to have some form of mental disability, and if so, are they making fun of this for the sake of low hanging fruit jokes? That being said, Brett Kelly is the only one who seems like he is putting any effort into his performance at all. Tony Cox, who was the prime source of laughs for us in his great original performance that was full of sarcastic wit, is reduced to mostly fielding jokes entirely based on his physical stature. Sure, this happened in the original, but again, it's like the writers knew this was the case and doubled up on the 'little people jokes,' some of which were so offensive in combination with digs at Cox's race, they made us drop our jaws at how low those behind the screen were truly willing to go to be smutty in the name of giggles. And don't even get us started on Kathy Bates and how this Oscar winning actress is left spewing a constant stream of verbal diarrhea that is passed off as dialogue. Every single one of them, guaranteed, did this film for a quick paycheck, and it certainly shows. None of the main three characters wind up being likable in the slightest this time around, and on top of that, the cardinal sin is they aren't funny, either.

"Bad Santa 2" involves Willie, Marcus, and Sunny attempting to rob a charity, which is operated by Diane and Regent Hastings, played by Christina Hendricks and Ryan Hansen, a couple who are only staying together for the charity and haven't had sex together in 10 years. Of course, Regent is cheating on Diane and is skimming money from their charity, and Diane is portrayed as a complete and total dingbat half of the time, and a smarmy skank the other half of the time because, you know, women are only allowed to be in comedies if they are whores or idiots! This tired cliche doesn't go unnoticed here, and it doesn't serve to move the plot forward at all. We are completely ambivalent to their problems and their characteristics, they only serve as a reason for the crime-oriented shenanigans to take place.

At one point, as the only two souls in the empty theater in Southern California, we began to write down all of the dirty, beastly, terrible, uncomfortable things being discussed in this sequel that should have never been made. The crux of the film relies on the audience to laugh at its jokes about felching, 13 years olds having sex and getting pregnant, abortions, midget genocide, making fun of domestic violence and pedophilia, mocking people with Parkinson's disease, and "babies with beer bellies." No one will because none of it is funny. We're all for "too much" dirt and grime a la "Sausage Party" from earlier in 2016, but the dirt and grime in "Bad Santa 2" is never necessary, never fitting, and most importantly, never makes one solid joke. There will be a section of the population that will love the anti-PC rhetoric that Kathy Bates' Sunny spews out time and time again, and if we're being honest, we don't want to know those people because they probably enjoyed this sequel. It's better if we forget this movie exists, even if you are a fan of the original like we were. Don't pay money for this, hell, don't even watch it for free. It's just a waste of time and money and effort.

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My Rating: 1/10
BigJ's Rating: 1.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 22%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Movie Review: "Loving" (2016)

Movie: "Loving"

Director: Jeff Nichols
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 1 minute

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An interracial married couple living in Virginia are arrested under anti-miscegenation laws. The two are forced to leave the state for 25 years or face jail time. After writing to Robert Kennedy, the couple eventually are contacted by the ACLU, who fights for their cause and eventually takes the case all the way to the Supreme Court. 

"Loving" is written and directed by Jeff Nichols, who has gained notoriety with his films "Mud" and "Midnight Special." It tells the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, played by the utterly fantastic Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga. They were a couple living in Virginia who were arrested several times after getting married in Washington DC for having the audacity to be together and for trying to live their lives as they were close to where their families resided. Though this movie is ultimately about an important landmark case in the civil rights movement, Nichols manages to make it a very human story, focusing on Mildred and Richard first over any back and forth legal fights. Where some directors may have been tempted to show shocking displays of overt racism in the 1950's-1960's south and/or dramatic grandstanding in a sympathetic courtroom drama, Nichols take the opposite, more refreshing route, staying glued to this couple who never wanted to be in the spotlight, but were thrust into it in order to protect their rights to love one another and to raise their family they way they wanted where they wanted. The Lovings, their lives, and their desire to simply be together no matter what is the most important thing here. It is small enough and dramatic enough without overdoing it, and we appreciate the choices Nichols has made to tell such a painful, heartbreaking and true narrative in a moving, emotional, and simplistic way. It helps that he is working with two powerhouse actors in Edgerton and Negga, who not only have subdued passion with one another, but also wildly excel in their understated performances. We would not be surprised or upset if either of them get nominated for awards going forward, and they definitely deserve all of the positive recognition coming their way.

Sometimes, it is important to remember that these big civil rights movements aren't about the politics, but about the people behind them. It is also a reminder that racism isn't always overt, and that not all racists wear white robes and burn crosses. There are also many parallels that can be drawn between parts of this film and issues affecting the country today, ones we never thought we'd need to discuss in 2016. The arguments against the Lovings getting married are very similar to the arguments we hear against similar issues today, often involving God's will, what is deemed natural or unnatural, or how it will impact the children moving forward. It's very poetic that the case that fought for racial marriage equality was 'Loving vs. The State of Virginia.'

If there is one real critique we have of "Loving," it's the same one we have had for all of Nichols' films. His pacing is always a bit slow and does feel a touch too long, though we're starting to realize low and slow may be his calling. Here, it definitely feels intentional in order to help the audience understand just how long the process actually was for Richard and Mildred. In the end, "Loving" made me cry from start to finish, and made BigJ tear up a couple of times as well. Jeff Nichols was the perfect choice to direct this movie, and Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga are brilliant and deeply moving in their respective roles. This is a very touching, very poignant, very important story about love and the freedom to love whoever you want wherever you want.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review #526: "Moana" (2016)

Movie: "Moana"

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, & Don Hall
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minute

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Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), daughter of the chieftain of their island, sets out on an oceanic adventure to find the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in order to have him return the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, which he stole centuries earlier.

"Moana" is the latest film from Disney Animation Studios. It is the second film from the studio this year, the first being the box office and critical juggernaut "Zootopia." Newcomer Auli'i Cravalho voices the titular Moana, who is the daughter of her tribe's chieftain. She has been drawn to the ocean ever since she was a very little girl, but her father has laws about not going beyond the reef that surrounds their island. Recently, however, the island has begun dying and the fishing grounds have dried up. The ocean has chosen Moana for a mission to save her people. That mission is to find the demigod named Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, so he can return the heart of the goddess named Te Fiti, which comes in the form of a green stone, that he stole centuries early. If she succeeds, all of the dying life can be restored, not just on her island, but for all of Polynesia.

It is safe to say that Disney is having a fantastic 2016, even if no one else is. Now, they can add "Moana" to their list of stellar achievements. This is a beautifully animated family adventure film bolstered by brilliant voice over work, ever-evolving, lush, nearly photo-realistic animation, and well developed characters. Auli'i Cravalho does a fantastic job as Moana, who has a stellar vocal presence for such a young woman. Moana is a strong female protagonist, and though she has been labeled the latest in the Disney princess line, she is not your typical princess. This is one of the few Disney princess movies where the princess doesn't have a love interest. She is the hero of the story and is never a damsel in distress. Of course, this does not mean she can do everything by herself and she finds the help she needs in Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, who eventually teaches her how to properly sail. Is there a more charismatic actor working right now than Dwayne Johnson? Get used to seeing him everywhere, because he is here to stay. Johnson plays his typical self, even in animated form, and does a flawless job helping bring the Polynesian folk hero Maui to life. His charm pours out of him, even when he's not physically on screen. He even gets a chance to showcase his vocal chops, and who knew the dude could sing in addition to all of the other fabulous things he can do?! Speaking of music, there are some really masterful, fitting songs written in part by "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina. Finally, New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement also gets a chance to sing a very David Bowie-esque tune as one of the antagonists of the movie, which is one of the best on the soundtrack.

"Moana" gives many of the other Disney princesses a run for their money in a film filled with genuine heart, a fantastic message for kids and adults alike, a ton of glorious humor, a pivotal story, and an exciting, fun, and emotional adventure. It's everything we look for in an animated feature wrapped up with some outstanding music and voice over work. This is the type of movie that can be truly enjoyed whether you are young child or just young at heart. Please take not only your girls, but your boys to see this magnificent movie!

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!