Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's Leap!

Leap!
Director:  Eric Summer
Writers:  Eric Summer
Starring:  Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Carly Rae Jepsen
Social Handles: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
#LeapMovie

11-year-old orphan, Félicie (Elle Fanning) has one dream – to go to Paris and become a dancer. Her best friend Victor (Nat Wolff) an imaginative, but exhausting boy with a passion for creating has a dream of his own, to become a famous inventor. In a leap of faith, Victor and Félicie leave their orphanage in pursuit of their passions. But – there’s a catch, Félicie must pretend to be the child of a wealthy family in order to gain admittance to the prestigious and competitive Opera Ballet School in Paris. And with no professional dance training, she quickly learns that talent alone is not enough to overcome the ruthless, conniving attitudes of her fellow classmates, led by the devious Camille Le Haut (Maddie Ziegler). Determined to succeed, Félicie finds her mentor in the tough and mysterious school custodian, Odette (Carly Rae Jepsen) who, along with Victor’s encouraging friendship, help her reach for the stars.

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“Life’s greatest adventures begin with a single… leap!” That is the tag line for this week’s film, Leap! What a great tag line. The tag line is hopeful, inquisitive, and positive, just like the movie. Leap! opens this weekend.  Take the kids.  It’s a quirky good time with a positive message.

Best of all, Leap! is an endearing underdog story. I love underdog stories! Who doesn’t love to see a little guy persevere through obstacles?! The message of Leap! is the positive message that children should hear about working towards their dreams.  I appreciated that the story is conveyed through a period piece.  The story takes place in France, in the past. It feels a little like a fairy tale, but real enough that that this could be anyone’s story of determination.

The voice cast of Leap! reads like a who’s who of young Hollywood.  Elle Fanning (as Felicie), Nat Wolff (as Victor), Maddie Ziegler (as Camile) and Carly Rae Jepsen (as Odette) all bring great energy to their characters.  The youthful cast delivered an authentic and endearing touch to the film.

I brought my children to see Leap! and both (a boy and a girl) enjoyed it immensely.  The liked that the soundtrack was made up of some of their favorite contemporary hits.  My kids loved the climatic dance-off. Both identified with Felicie and Victor. And six years after her last dance class, my daughter asked if she could start taking classes again.  So, it must have made an impression.

All in all, Leap! is a good time.  It has a great message.  At just under ninety minutes long, I thought it was a nice bit of family time.  There is not much worth seeing at the theater during later August and early September.  But Leap! is a stand-out.  Take the family to see Leap! when it opens everywhere this weekend.

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's WIND RIVER

WIND RIVER

CAST: Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Julia Jones, Kelsey Asbille, and James Jordan
DIRECTED BY: Taylor Sheridan
WRITTEN BY: Taylor Sheridan
OPENING DATE: August 11, 2017 (Houston)
RATING: R
RUN TIME: 107 Minutes

WIND RIVER is a chilling thriller that follows a rookie FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) who teams up with a local game tracker with deep community ties and a haunted past (Jeremy Renner) to investigate the murder of a local girl on a remote Native American Reservation in the hopes of solving her mysterious death. Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, WIND RIVER also stars Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Julia Jones, Kelsey Asbille, and James Jordan.

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This week's Wind River is written by Taylor Sheridan, the same writer who penned Sicario and Hell or High Water, and that was enough to get me into the theater.  I had enjoyed both of Sheridan's prior scripts and I was equally impressed by his latest work. Wind River is a not to be missed, wonderfully written, revenge mystery.  

Set against a desolate and snow-covered Native American reservation, there is an immediate sense of intrigue and desperation. I was hooked from the first scene. The story continues the initial intrigue with superb development of the lead characters. Cory's (played by Jeremy Renner) back story is by far the best developed of the plot. I appreciated that every bit of his character's development answered a question about the plot, and, in turn, caused several more questions. Opposite Cory was Jane (played by Elizabeth Olsen), an FBI agent whose job it is to solve the mysteries. Because there are several mysteries to solve from the story, in addition to the big one central to the plot, but you won't read any spoilers here. 

Jeremy Renee carries Wind River wonderfully. I enjoyed his emotional range, without over dramatics. Elisabeth Olsen is great in this, too. Even though she is portrayed as a novice agent in the film, she shows a lot a maturity and capacity for dramatic roles.

The ensemble cast was enjoyable. Gil Birmingham (as Martin) and Graham Greene (as Ben) add to the diverse and authentic feel of the film.

My favorite in the ensemble is definitely the mountain. The mountain is too integral to the story to refer to it as the setting. Everything positive and negative in the story derive from the snow-covered mountain. The snow made it easy to find blood and foot prints, but not much else.  The mountain should get screen credit somewhere. 

All in all, Wind River is a great thriller. It's tense and excellently written. The film looked great on the big screen. You can see Wind River when it opens everywhere Friday. 

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's The Founder - #TheFounder

The Founder
Release Date: 1/20 Wide 
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 115 min
Official Social Media: Facebook | Twitter

Directed by John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS), THE FOUNDER features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel (THE WRESTLER) details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The film also stars Laura Dern as Ray Kroc’s first wife Ethel; John Carroll Lynch as Mac McDonald and Nick Offerman as Dick McDonald.

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Michael Keaton deserved an Academy Award, but not for his performance in this week’s The Founder.  The best performance of Keaton’s career was The Birdman.  His role in that film was nuanced, genuine, and deep with a wide-range of emotion.  Unfortunately, someone else had a better performance and won the Oscar that year.  Since then, it feels as if Keaton has been on a hunt for a movie that will get him enough attention to win an Academy Award.  The Founder isn’t that film.  Keaton’s performance as Ray Kroc, the founder of the McDonald’s conglomerate, isn’t that performance.

The movie feels as if Keaton was trying too hard.  There is no doubt that Ray Kroc was a character.  Kroc’s deeds and misdeeds have been well documented.  But, it seemed like Keaton was exaggerating most of his performance.  And Keaton’s performance is everything about this film.  Other actors are in it, of course.  And some of those actors, especially Laura Dern (as Kroc’s wife Ethel Kroc) give compelling performances, but the title character is Keaton.  So, every time that Keaton’s acting was larger than “larger than life,” I was less convinced about his performance.  And it happened a lot.

My fave performances came from Nick Offerman (as Dick McDonald) and John Carroll Lynch (as Mac McDonald).  I think both of them stole most of the scenes they were in.  They played great off of each other and Keaton.  They also provided much appreciated comic relief.

McDonald’s is an entertaining and interesting facet of Americana.  We all know McDonald’s.  It’s everywhere. I can literally see a franchise out of my office window.  So, it is interesting to see some of the making of the burger giant in this film.  But this isn’t really a story about the chain of restaurants.  It isn’t called “McDonald’s,” it’s called The Founder. Anyone looking to get some real insight into the restaurants will be disappointed.

I also would have liked to see a deeper story about Kroc.  The writing felt somewhat superficial. There was a lot of scratching of surfaces into the persona of Kroc, but nothing delved too deep.  I was missing a complicating factor, something to give the story some excitement.  All I got was a very linear story about one man’s domination of his business.  The events seemed too easy, too safe.

As far as biopics go, this is a good one.  It isn’t great.  It would play fine at home as I didn’t feel any advantages to sitting in a theater for this one.  No great cinematography.  No wonderful score or soundtrack.  Probably no awards consideration for The Founder.  It is just an interesting story.  If you’re up for an interesting story, a slice of Americana,The Founder is playing everywhere starting today. 

#Houston Grab Passes to #TheFounder @ Studio Movie Grill City Centre 1/17

The Founder
Release Date: 1/20 Wide
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 115 min

Directed by John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS), THE FOUNDER features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel (THE WRESTLER) details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The film also stars Laura Dern as Ray Kroc’s first wife Ethel; John Carroll Lynch as Mac McDonald and Nick Offerman as Dick McDonald.

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Want to see The Founder? Click the poster below to grab passes to the screening on Tuesday, January 17th. Seats in the theater are first-come, first-serve, so please arrive early.

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's Lion - #LIONmovie

LION
Starring: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham
Directed By: Garth Davis
Written By: Luke Davies, based on the true story 'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierley
Produced By: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Angie Fielder
Official Media: Website | Facebook
Hashtag: #LionMovie

Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

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2016 has been a one of a kind year. There is so much going on in global, national and local venues, that I am very ready for this year to end. The movie offerings of the year we a mixed bag. I know that there must have been good movies, but the bad ones are easier to remember. And just when I thought I had seen the last good movie of 2016, I strolled into a local museum to catch Lion, a true story of self-discovery on a universal scale. Lion blew me away!

It is one of the best films I have seen all year. Probably, it qualifies as one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is a story young man looking for his place in the world, literally and figuratively. Very relatable. The film is roller coaster of emotion. Bring tissues.

The cast of Lion is top notch. Nicole Kidman (as Sue), David Wenham (as John) and Rooney Mara (as Lucy) all have strong supporting performances with Kidman giving an award quality portrayal of Saroo's mom. But, this film isn't about the people in Saroo's life, it's about Saroo. I cannot say enough good things to do justice to Little Saroo as played by Sunny Pawar. That kid captivated me from the first scene of the film and, again, in every scene he was in. Pawar's portrayal tugs at the heartstrings. He is charming and vulnerable. It's the kind of performance that makes one want to call their parents after the movie. And, then Little Saroo grows up, and one might think that the emotion of the film is over, but that is when Dev Patel picks up the Saroo baton to continue the story with real and complex human emotion. Patel gives a raw and gut-wrenching performance. Anyone who has questioned their place in the world is sure to relate. Saroo's story was so moving that I tried not to blink, for fear I would miss some of the nuances, or scenes of the movie.

The scenes or better said, the scenery, deserves its own discussion. I loved the technical work of the film. The broad, sweeping shots in India served not only to identify the complexity of the Saroo's predicament, they also highlighted the beauty in a part of the world with which I am not personally familiar. Australia also, was shot beautifully.

The music of the film brought all of the components of the movie together wonderfully. Without being loud or obtrusive, it helped to give additional depth to the quiet moments.

Lion is as powerful and majestic as the title leads you to believe. And, as if that weren't enough, it is based on a true story. It is a must-see. It is the kind of film that makes me love watching movies. It is sure to strike a chord with even the harshest of cynics. You may have to venture to an art house theater to catch it, but it is worth a trip. Lion opens on Christmas Day.

#Seattle Grab Passes to #LionMovie @ AMC Pacific Place 12/14

LION
Release Date: November 25, 2016
Genre: Drama
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Starring: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham
Directed By: Garth Davis
Written By: Luke Davies, based on the true story 'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierley
Produced By: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Angie Fielder

Official Media: Website | Facebook

Hashtag: #LionMovie

In LION, five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) gets lost on a train traveling away from his home and family. Frightened and bewildered, he ends up thousands of miles away, in chaotic Kolkata. Somehow he survives living on the streets, escaping all sorts of terrors and close calls in the process, before ending up in an orphanage that is itself not exactly a safe haven. Eventually Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), and finds love and security as he grows up in Hobart. As an adult, not wanting to hurt his adoptive parents’ feelings, Saroo (Dev Patel) suppresses his past, his emotional need for reunification and his hope of ever finding his lost mother and brother. But a chance meeting with some fellow Indians reawakens his buried yearning. Armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, Saroo sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

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For your chance to see this remarkable film, click poster for your Lion passes showing at AMC Pacific Place 11, Seattle:

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Houston Grab Passes to #LionMovie @ The Museum of Fine Arts 12/13

LION
Release Date: November 25, 2016
Genre: Drama
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Starring: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham
Directed By: Garth Davis
Written By: Luke Davies, based on the true story 'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierley
Produced By: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Angie Fielder

Official Media: Website | Facebook

Hashtag: #LionMovie

In LION, five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) gets lost on a train traveling away from his home and family. Frightened and bewildered, he ends up thousands of miles away, in chaotic Kolkata. Somehow he survives living on the streets, escaping all sorts of terrors and close calls in the process, before ending up in an orphanage that is itself not exactly a safe haven. Eventually Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), and finds love and security as he grows up in Hobart. As an adult, not wanting to hurt his adoptive parents’ feelings, Saroo (Dev Patel) suppresses his past, his emotional need for reunification and his hope of ever finding his lost mother and brother. But a chance meeting with some fellow Indians reawakens his buried yearning. Armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, Saroo sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.

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For your chance to see this remarkable film, click poster for your Lion passes showing at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston:

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's Hands of Stone - #HandsOfStone

Hands of Stone
Release Date: August 26th 2016
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Biopic | Action | Sports | Drama
Directed by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Written by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Produced by: Jay Weisleder, Jonathan Jakubowicz, Carlos Garcia De Paredes, Claudine Jakubowicz
Starring: Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Usher, Ruben Blades, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro, Oscar Jaenada, Ana de Armas

HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)

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Biopics come in all shapes and sizes.  It used to be that only those who lived a remarkable life were worthy of the effort.  These days, all it takes a remarkable event.  A shocking event will suffice.  It has gotten so that Hollywood biopics are less about the people and more about the events.  Thankfully, the week’s biopic, Hands of Stone, accomplishes to tell the story of the events and the man, boxer Roberto Duran,  well.  The movie plays with a ton of heart and makes for an entertaining view.

 

From beginning to end, Hands of Stone is oozing with Panamanian pride.  I appreciated that the film was respectful to the culture and the people of Pamana.  So many times, I have seen movies that poke fun of forieign cultures. This isn’t that.  The culture, the people, the sentiment are all presented in a tasteful and respectful way.  The historical period covered during the life of Roberto Duran was, at times, tumultuous.  The United States is portrayed as being a source of frustration, almost oppression, for the local Panamanians.  That’s real.  I believe that events actually happened the way that the film portrayed the events.  It didn’t feel like the Panamanian’s frustrations were whitewashed or down-played.  I even appreciated that the Americans and the United States was shown in a less than positive light.  For better or worse, it is all a part of American history.

 

The script and the story of Hands of Stone bounce around like a boxer in a fight.  The plot was either running or standing still.  Parts I wanted to go faster didn’t and parts I was done with lingered too long on screen.  Felt somewhat uneven, if it wasn’t done on purpose.  If it was, then, it’s genius.  Either way, there is definiently enough good in the story to make it an enjoyable experience.  I would have liked to see more about Duran’s early career and his family dynamic.  It takes real effort to become the fighter that Duran was.  I would have liked to see some of that.  I could have done with less on the Sugar Ray Leonard fight.  After all, that series of fights is not really what defined Roberto Duran.

 

Edgar Ramirez portrays Roberto Duran.  I enjoyed the performance.  I am used to seeing Ramirez play a thug or thug-like roles. Here, Ramirez played as Duran as a great combination of part thug and part hero.  The entire cast was really great.  I think they managed to carry the film farther than it should have gone given some script issues. Robert DeNiro never disappoints.  I loved him as a humble, quieter, sort as Ray Arcel .  I’m used to seeing DeNiro as larger than life, and I appreciated how unassuming DeNIro played the aging Arcel.  I would have liked to see more of Arcel's life, given his contributions to boxing. I have no complaints about any of the cast except for Usher’s portrayal of Sugar Ray Leonard. I don't feel that Usher's acting abilities are big screen ready.

Hands of Stone is a great movie. It is genuinely a fun boxing movie and a compelling story which younger generations might not otherwise know. It's one of my favorite sports films. The action and cast played wonderfully on the big screen. Through the ups and downs, I couldn't help but to root for Duran. See Hands of Stone at a theater near you starting Friday. 

#Houston Grab Passes to ‪#‎HandsOfStone‬ @Edwards Marq’E 8/17 - #‎ManosDePiedra‬

Hands of Stone
Director: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Produced By: Jay Weisleder, Jonathan Jakubowicz, Carlos Garcia De Paredes, Claudine Jakubowicz
Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Usher, Ruben Blades, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro, Oscar Jaenada, Ana de Armas
Release Date: 8/26 Wide
Genres: Biopic, Action, Sports, Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 105 min

HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)

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Click Movie Poster To Grab Your Passes

Location:
Edwards Houston MarqE Stadium 23 & IMAX
7620 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024

Date & Time:
August 17, 2016
Wednesday @7:00pm
(Have your pass ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Houston Grab Passes to #SingStreet Movie 4/27!

SING STREET
Release: April 29th 2016 (Houston)
Director: John Carney
Written By: John Carney
Producers: Anthony Bregman (Likely Story), Kevin Frakes (PalmStar Media Capital), Raj Brinder Singh (Merced Media Partners), Paul Trijbits (FilmWave), John Carney (Distressed Films)
Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor, Lucy Boynton, Mark McKenna
SING STREET Official Socials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
#SingStreet

SING STREET is inspired by writer/director John Carney’s life and love for music, and tells the story of a 14-year-old named Cosmo growing up in 80’s Dublin who must break free of a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, deal with his drop-out older brother’s antics, and survive a new public school where the kids are rough and the brothers are tougher.

Cosmo writes a song, forms a scrappy band with some school mates, writes more songs, and shoots some wicked music videos. How to shoot pop videos in a recession ridden country? Beg, borrow and steal. And steal.

But when he realizes he can’t save his family, he must make a family of his own.

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Do you want to see SING STREET before it hits theaters? Click the movie poster below to grab passes for you and a friend to check out an advance screening on Wednesday, April 27th in Houston! Seats in the theater are first-come, first-serve so PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY!

CLICK MOVIE POSTER TO ENTER!

LOCATION:
River Oaks Theatre
2009 W. Gray
Houston, TX 77019

DATE AND TIME:
April 27, 2016
Wednesday @7:00pm
(Have your pass ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first come, first serve not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

Brand New Adam Levine Song Released for #SingStreet Movie + More!!!

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Who doesn't love Adam Levine's voice? We all remember his singing in the movie Begin Again right? Well he is back at it again with "GO NOW" which Levine co-wrote and recorded for the film.

So on behalf of The Weinstein Company and their upcoming film SING STREET, they are pleased to announced the brand new song. You can pre-order the SING STREET Soundtrack on iTunes | Amazon.

But wait best part is you can watch Adam Levine's Music Video for "GO NOW" HERE:



SING STREET hits theaters in limited release on April 15th 2016.

Video Movie Review: The Hateful Eight

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The Hateful Eight
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Official Sites: Website | Facebook | Twitter | IMDb | Instagram

Some time after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the winery Wyoming landscape. Bounty hunter John Ruth and his fugitive captive Daisy Domergue race towards the town of Red Rock, where Ruth will bring Daisy to justice. Along the road, they encounter Major Marquis Warren an infamous bounty hunter; and Chris Mannix a man who claims to be Red Rocks new sheriff. Lost in a blizzard the bunch seek refuge at Minnie's haberdashery. When they arrive they are greeted by unfamiliar faces: Bob, who claims to be taking care of the place while Minnie is gone; Oswaldo Mobray, the hangman of red rock; Joe Gage, a cow puncher; and confederate general Sanford Smithers. As the storm overtakes the mountainside, the eight travelers come to learn that they might not make it to Red Rock after all...

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Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's The Hateful Eight

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The Hateful Eight
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Official Sites: Website | Facebook | Twitter | IMDb | Instagram

Some time after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the winery Wyoming landscape. Bounty hunter John Ruth and his fugitive captive Daisy Domergue race towards the town of Red Rock, where Ruth will bring Daisy to justice. Along the road, they encounter Major Marquis Warren an infamous bounty hunter; and Chris Mannix a man who claims to be Red Rocks new sheriff. Lost in a blizzard the bunch seek refuge at Minnie's haberdashery. When they arrive they are greeted by unfamiliar faces: Bob, who claims to be taking care of the place while Minnie is gone; Oswaldo Mobray, the hangman of red rock; Joe Gage, a cow puncher; and confederate general Sanford Smithers. As the storm overtakes the mountainside, the eight travelers come to learn that they might not make it to Red Rock after all...

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The Hateful Eight (ironically enough) is the 8th film by Quentin Tarantino. Going into The Hateful Eight everything was kept pretty obscure, the most we knew going in was that because of a blizzard, eight strangers paths cross when seeking refuge. Keeping it this vague is exactly what you want when dealing with a movie like this.

One of the best ways I can describe this film is if Tarantino took his very own Reservoir Dogs, threw it in a Western, along with the movie/game "Clue," you would get The Hateful Eight. The Hateful Eight is not only one of the most fun experiences I've had watching a movie all year but also one of the best cinematic experiences I've had all year. It has everything you want from a Tarantino film, from the rich dialogue to the unique, one-of-a-kind characters.

Tarantino brings an a-list cast and this a-list cast are all on their A-game, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Demian Bichir, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern. Everyone absolutely knocks it out of the park with their rolls, great performances left and right, Tarantino tends to bring out the best out of everyone, every time. All the characters/ actors here are all captivating but it's the character of Samuel L. Jackson's "Major Marquis Warren" that steals the show, right behind Walton Goggins's character who's also a thrill to watch, but it's Sam Jackson that steals all the scenes he's in. There's this one particular scene he has with Bruce Dern's character, that he just blows you away. Again, all the actors here are just extraordinary.

This is a three hour film in which most of the movie we have all our characters stuck inside a cabin. And while yes, since this is a Quentin Tarantino movie we are due for a full on Tarantino-like massacre scene, it's the brilliant dialogue that carries the film and keeps you so invested throughout it. Whether we had the characters meeting for the first time, or sharing a story, it's the dialogue, that in depth dialogue that Tarantino's known for, that not only makes the characters and their meetings with one another standout, but has you glued to the screen the entire time. Something I also enjoyed throughout the story, was that it didn't only completely focus on the mystery between the eight strangers but also started touching on a few relatable topics such as morals and racial issues.

The great cinematography by Robert Richardson and score by Ennio Morricone went absolutely perfect with the film. Tarantino shooting the film in 70mm, added more to the cinematography, allowing wider and grander shots of the snowy landscapes, also allowing much more detail to be captured when our characters were stuck inside the cabin.

A little something special Mr. Tarantino did with his release of The Hateful Eight, was both shooting it in 70mm and giving it a roadshow theatrical release. Tarantino at the end of the day is a big a movie buff like the rest of us, and wanted to give us a special treat. Roadshow theatrical releases were a big thing back in the day (particularly in the 60's), and they would give you souvenir programs for the movie you're going to see, having an overture before the movie starts, as well as having an intermission throughout the film. Having a unique cinematic experience like this doesn't come around that often these days, it's definitely something I'd recommend doing if your local theater is showing The Hateful Eight in it's 70mm presentation.

At the end of the day I'm really glad Tarantino didn't completely cancel the making of this film after the script leak like he had originally intended, because The Hateful Eight is one of my favorite movies of the year. Tremendous performances to go along with such intriguing characters, top notch cinematography, awesome score, everything you'd would want in a Tarantino/ mystery-who done it film, and an overall great cinematic experience. I absolutely loved The Hateful Eight.

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Christmas Movie Guide!

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 Christmas Day Movie Guide

Joy

The Revenant

Yellow Day

Point Break

The Hateful Eight

Daddy's Home

Concussion

All these films open today in theaters on Christmas. 

#Houston Grab Passes to See #CarolMovie @ Landmark River Oaks 12/17

In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light.

CAROL
The Weinstein Company
Official Site | Facebook
@CarolMovie
#CarolMovie
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy and Sarah Paulson
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Produced by: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley & Christine Vachon
Written by: Phyllis Nagy
Running Time: 118 mins.
MPAA Rating: R

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Click Movie Poster for Passes

CODE: OUATCAROLHOU

LOCATION:
River Oaks Theatre
2009 W. Gray
Houston, TX 77019

DATE & TIME:
December 17, 2015
Thursday @ 7:00pm
*30 Admit-Two Passes*
(Have your passes ready to show at the door)

These tickets are on a first come, first serve not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's #Macbeth

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Macbeth

RUN TIME: 110 minutes
DIRECTED BY: Justin Kurzel
PRODUCED BY: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Laura Hastings-Smith
STARRING: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor, Elizabeth Debicki, David Thewlis

From the producers of THE KING’S SPEECH comes the story of a fearless Scottish General, Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), whose ambitious wife (Marion Cotillard) urges him to use wicked means to gain power of the throne. A thrilling interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous and compelling characters, MACBETH is a dramatic reimagining of the realities of war-torn times and a tale of all-consuming passion and ambition. Academy Award® winners Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films (SHAME, TRACKS, MR HOLMES) produce with Laura Hastings-Smith (HUNGER). See-Saw developed the project alongside Film4. STUDIOCANAL majority financed with Film4.

MACBETH

The Weinstein Company

Macbeth Facebook Page

#Macbeth

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Everyone knows the story of Macbeth. Treachery, witchcraft, madness. I had to read the play twice during my educational years. Never really grabbed me like some of other’s Shakespeare’s works. But, I could not pass up Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in the lead roles. At the end of the film, I was glad that I had made the time to see Macbeth.

I think Macbeth is a great movie for those who have to study it in school. It has all the bells and whistles that younger movie fans will appreciate. The scenery is intense and dramatic. The costumes were cool to see. The musical score was super eerie. The battle scenes were brutal and well-choreographed.

As far as the acting performances go, Cotillard was especially compelling in her role as Lady Macbeth. I sat in the theater thinking that she could probably convince anyone into murder and treason. She was mesmerizing on-screen. She made the film a better experience. I appreciated Fassbender’s acting and artistry as Macbeth, but I didn’t like him in the role. He seemed to be trying too hard. I felt that his dialogue was coming too slow, like he was enunciating too perfectly, and that lessened the effects of the madness.

All in all, it is a good film. It’s an exercise in the art of good film making. If you have never seen a Shakespeare film adaptation, this is a good place to start. If you have any student studying Macbeth, I would certainly recommend it. It is probably the best film adaptation of the play that I have seen. I am not crazy about the source material, but I love movies enough to know when others will appreciate something that I was not able to appreciate as much. Lost story short, you might like it. I appreciated it as an work of art. See Macbeth for yourself when it opens in theaters on 12/11.

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Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's No Escape

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No Escape

Release Day: August 26th 2015

Director:  John Erick Dowdle
Writers: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
Main Cast: Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence including a sexual assault, and for language
Genres: Action | Thriller
Running Time: 103 min

Official Site: Facebook

An intense international thriller, NO ESCAPE centers on an American businessman (Wilson) as he and his family settle into their new home in Southeast Asia. Suddenly finding themselves in the middle of a violent political uprising, they must frantically look for a safe escape as rebels mercilessly attack the city. Directed by John Erick Dowdle and written together with his brother Drew, NO ESCAPE stars Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan and Lake Bell.

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Survival movies are, I think, the new horror genre. They are more real. Ghosts and goblins are tame compared live, armed psychos out for blood. Throw the entire family into a survival situation, set it in a "fourth world" country and you get the makings of this week'a heart-pounder, No Escape.

No Escape stars Owen Wilson (Jack) and Lake Bell (Annie) as Americans transferred to Asia for work. Jack and Annie don't pretend to be thrilled about the move to Asia with their two girls, and then a war breaks out where foreigners are being hunted. If Jack and Annie are to survive, they have to stay ten steps ahead of the hunters.

That's it. The entire plot. Stay alive. No Escape does little to explain any of the geo-politics of the turmoil. It doesn't ask you to take sides. There is not much thinking to be done. It's just about survival. I liked that I didn't have to weigh any of the politics. There was no time to think about why the country was descending into violence because perils were coming at our heroes every few seconds.

There was action and suspense from the first minute. Really intense stuff. I had to look away from the screen a few times. It's not for the faint of heart.

The cast worked well. In addition to Wilson and Lake, Pierce Brosnan plays Hammond, sort of an enigma with some useful skills. The kids were just the right amount of annoying in a crisis. I know that reads like I didn't like the kids, but No Escape did a good job of drawing me in so that I wanted the family to survive and the kids kept making survival hard to achieve. Wait for it. You will catch yourself shushing the kids on the screen, too.

I also liked the creepy soundtrack. The volume and tempo followed the story well. Sometimes the loud drumming meant something bad was about to happen, and sometimes it didn't mean that. Kept me guessing.

All in all, No Escape is a fun film with some cool stunts and exciting action. It's not out to make any statements or win any awards, it's entertainment for the sake of entertaining. I was very entertained. Don't take my word on how suspenseful this film is, see No Escape for yourself playing in theaters now.

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Movie Review: The Weinstein Company's SOUTHPAW

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SOUTHPAW

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Written By: Kurt Sutter and Richard Wenk

Release Date: July 24th 2015

Runtime: 123 Minutes

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, 50 Cent and Rachel McAdams

MPAA Rating: Rated R for language throughout, and some violence

Genres: Action | Drama | Sport | Thriller

Official Sites: Facebook | Twitter #Southpaw

From acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) and screenwriters Kurt Sutter (“Sons of Anarchy”) and Richard Wenk (THE MECHANIC), SOUTHPAW tells the riveting story of Billy "The Great" Hope, reigning Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World (Academy Award® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal). Billy Hope seemingly has it all with an impressive career, a beautiful and loving wife (Rachel McAdams), an adorable daughter (Oona Laurence) and a lavish lifestyle. When tragedy strikes and his lifelong manager and friend (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson) leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to an unlikely savior at a run-down local gym: Tick Willis (Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker), a retired fighter and trainer to the city's toughest amateur boxers. With his future riding on Tick's guidance and tenacity, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption and to win back the trust of those he loves.

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This week's film is Southpaw.  It's a sports movie. It's a boxing movie. It's a movie that celebrates left-handed people (and, really, there are not enough movies celebrating left-handed people.)  It's also the comeback story of a boxer named Billy Hope.  Southpaw is a lot of things, except original. Stay with me. I know you're thinking this is going to be an unfavorable review, but Southpaw has some watch-worthy components for which you have to read to the end.

If you've caught our reviews before, (and if you haven't, feel free to scroll through the site to find more of our gems. My fellow reviewers and I write some good stuff. But I digress...) you have noticed that we don't like to give away the plot in our reviews. Well, is it too much to say that if you've seen Rocky III, you've seen Southpaw?  Because this movie is a lot like Rocky III, and you've already seen it.  But that's not all, Stallone and Mr. T did it better.  This feels like a rehashed version of Rocky III that doesn't live-up to the original.  With Jake Gyllenhaal and Forest Whitaker in the cast, I expected more.  I wanted a better story. I wanted to be invested in Hope's comeback.  I was disappointed. 

That doesn't mean that I think this movie is completely bad. There are a few aspects of the film that might be worth your while. At the beginning of the film, there is a very moving scene including Rachel McAdams.  I think I forgot to breathe for a minute during the scene because it was so moving.  And Forest Whitaker was awesome. I have mentioned that this film has parallels to Rocky III. If anyone could come close to the acting ability of the late, great Burgess Meredith (or Mickey in the Rocky saga) it would be Forest Whitaker. Whitaker brings the drama, the wisdom and the one-liners. Cannot say enough good things about his performance as Tick Willis. I could have watched a whole movie titled "Tick Willis," and it would have been fine.  Also, the soundtrack, produced by Eminem, was very good. 

So, there it is. Not all good, but not all bad. And if you've never seen Rocky III, go see Southpaw because, if I hadn't seen Rocky III, I may have enjoyed Southpaw more.  Go see it for Rachel McAdams.  Go see it for Forest Whitaker. Go see it because you want to encourage more films highlighting left-handed individuals. Just don't expect to be knocked-out. Please don't take my word for it; see Southpaw for yourself playing in theaters now.

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Eminem has released the official music video for his long "Phenomenal" featured in the movie. Eminem served as Exceutive Producer of the Southpaw soundtrack, which will release on July 24th.

The song is available now on iTunes and the soundtrack is available for pre-order: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/phenomenal/id1012586856?i=1012587722

via Shady Records/Interscope Records

Movie Review: Woman in Gold

Woman in Gold

Release Date: April 3rd 2015
Director: Simon Curtis
Writers: Alexi Kaye Campbell, E. Randol Schoenberg
Main Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl
Running Time: 110 mins
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Official Sites: Facebook | IMDb

WOMAN IN GOLD is the remarkable true story of one woman's journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt's famous painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.

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Woman in Gold is a film based on the true story of Maria Altman, a Jewish woman who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria during World War II, and her struggle to reclaim a famed portrait of her aunt from the Austrian government. The film stars Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds and Daniel Bruhl as the the group set on righting a theft that occurred sixty years prior.

I very much enjoyed Woman in Gold. Helen Mirren is always great. Her in any film is worth the price of admission. She played the role of Maria Altmann sincerely and convincingly. Ryan Reynolds, as Altmann's inexperienced attorney, was also very good. He was better in this film than he is in a lot of the romantic comedies in which he stars. Daniel Bruhl finished the trio nicely as the Viennese helping hand who has his own reasons for wanting to correct the injustices suffered by Altmann.

Be ready to flash back in time for this one. The film is about equally divided between the present and Nazi-occupied Austria sixty years before. The time jumps worked well. I enjoyed seeing Austria before the War took it's toll. The scenery is beautiful.

The film is very emotional. But, it's not overly sad or sappy. There is a line in the dialogue which resonates as true. "Not everything is about the Holocaust." This movie is just that. It is about many of the other injustices of World War II, and I think it's important in that regard.

I wish you would go see this one. It's not going to be a huge blockbuster, but it's a fine movie. The events in the film really happened. At then end, there are pictures of the people on who this movie is based. That brought a tear to my eye. Go see Woman in Gold when in opens this weekend.

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