If a stranger walked up to me and told me Disney was trying to take over the world, I wouldn't even question it. I mean think about it - Disney Channel, ABC, ESPN, the theme parks, their partnership with Pixar. Oh yeah, and not to mention they own the rights to Star Wars and Marvel.... but no biggie, right? Disney sure has put their *interesting* stamp on both franchises - mainly in the form of ill-timed and all too trendy humor. Two of many examples include "what are thoseee" in Black Panther and pretty much the entire Thor Ragnarok script.🙃 I also feel like they are pumping these superhero movies out faster than usual, but hey, it's a business after all.
It was for these reasons I didn't rush to the theaters to see Avengers. And it was for these reasons I had very low expectations of what I was to witness during the long two and a half hour run time. Boy, was I in for a shock… Get this man a shield! Was Avengers: Infinity War an award winner? Perhaps not. Was the latest Avengers highly entertaining? 110% yes. Yet another reason why I was hesitant to see the film was because this movie featured the largest ensemble of superheroes yet, many of whom I didn’t know their stories. (I’m looking at you Doctor Strange.) If you haven’t kept up with the latest of the Marvel franchise, this Washington Post article provides a crash course so you, unlike me, won’t have a million questions throughout the film. Such questions included why is Thor wearing an eye patch? Why does this evil guy look like a combination of Squidward and Voldemort? Is Loki good now?? Some were answered, lots weren’t. The movie was long, but not long enough to fill in the audience on the backstories and lives of each superhero – you are fully expected to know. But once the movie gets about half way through, it matters less what the heroes were doing before, and more what brought them together. Enter Thanos, the evilest of all evil. With a plot that threatens the fate of the universe (doesn’t it always?) the supers find themselves fighting his army to keep Thanos from retrieving all six Infinity Stones. With all the stones in his control, he would have the power to snap his fingers and kill off whoever he wants. It was important for this film to give each character their fair share of limelight. Which they did, making it extra important for each actor to carry out their roles well. We must remember that these actors have embodied their characters in previous movies, allowing them to snap into their characters easily. To their credit, everyone did a very good job. In terms of cinematography and special effects, nothing blew me away. For the enormous, and I mean enormous budget, 🤑 some the scenes and characters weren’t as striking as I would image. Not a bad job, but maybe not worth the money? Or maybe I’m just a stingy college student. I can’t finish the review without mentioning what I feared most going into the theater… the Disney humor. Overall, not as bad as I thought it would be. When it comes to Iron Man or the Gaurdians of the Galaxy, I understood their comedic lines since that’s characteristic of them. Otherwise, it was forced and unnecessary, as expected. In just two and a half hours, Avengers turned me from a huggee Marvel skeptic, to an engaged, excited audience member eager for the next film (due May 2, 2019 or earlier 😆). So, remember folks, don’t judge a film by the people who own the rights, or a previous movie in the franchise, or an individual part that contributes to a much, much greater whole. P.S. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. Wait until the credits stop rolling !!! You’ll have to wait a longgggg time, but the wait is worth it 😏 Going into this series, I’d seen two of the three movies before (this one and Almost Famous) This time around, I viewed with more critical glasses and tried to observe the mark Crowe makes on his films. AKA, what make a film a Cameron Crowe film?? His stamp on Almost Famous is clear. His stamp on Jerry Maguire? Still not clear. To wrap up the series, I thought I’d look at the 2011 film, We Bought a Zoo. Read on to find out whether or not Crowe met his own bar.
Oh, and I should mention that not only did Crowe direct these films, he played a hand in writing them as well :) I Did it Because I was Desperate!! Benjamin Mee was desperate to find something after he lost his wife. I on the other hand, was desperate to rebuild the "icon" status of Cameron Crowe as a writer/director in my mind. If you caught my reviews of Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire, you may remember I pretty much revered Crowe’s vision as a filmmaker following Almost Famous. Following Jerry Maguire, the reputation was deflated. I needed something to inflate it again, and We Bought a Zoo did just the trick. Meet the Mee’s. Lost father Benjamin (Matt Damon), moody son Dylan, and innocent daughter Rosie. Six months ago, their mom passed, and from what we can tell, she was the heart and soul of the family. Ben tries his best to hold the family, but can’t really get a grip. Needing a change, he buys a zoo. Yep, lions and tiger and bear oh my. Even as a self-proclaimed “adventure addict,” he quickly realizes it was a much bigger undertaking than expected. As the film progresses, we see the zoo, its animals, and its staff, help to heal a broken family and remind them of what is most special in this world – life itself. If I could be so bold, I would say this is Matt Damon’s most underrated performance. He so perfectly portrays the character and strikes the perfect chemistry with his onscreen children, Dylan and Rosie. Played by Colin Ford and Maggie Elizabeth Jones respectively, are such amazing characters each in their own way. As much as I am critical of child actors, they were superb. Even each member of the zoo staff delivered a great performance, even though Elle Fanning’s character was so awkward it hurt at times. Fun fact: the star Almost Famous, Patrick Fugit, comes full circle and returns under Crowe’s direction to play the zoo’s resident craftsman. What I loved so much about Almost Famous were the nuances – the facial expressions that could replace an entire monologue, the songs that you hear and recognize but don’t take away from the scenes, just add to them, the sets and the costumes that told you more about the characters than their words did. It were these “nuances” that were missing in Jerry Maguire. In We Bought a Zoo, they’re back. Every detail, even the ones you only notice subconsciously add the extra layer that makes the story unforgettable. *For reference, I reviewed them a bit out of order from when they were produced. The true chronological order is Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, and We Bought a Zoo. I suppose somewhere between Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous, Crowe found his stride and realized the 😈 is in the details. What I think is most outstanding about this film, other than the fact that it’s a true story (with a few liberties taken by Hollywood, of course,) is that no matter what stage of life you are in, young, old, or somewhere in between, this film will strike you and leave you with that wholesome feeling that a movie should. And that is what makes a Cameron Crowe film. Take Fifty Two Rating: Watch P.S. Before this series was even an idea, I reviewed Crowe’s very first film, Say Anything (1989.) Check it out here. There are precisely two things that take a back burner when school is in session – baking and watching movies. Imagine my happiness when I had time to do both this week. At the same time !! In my quest to dive into Cameron Crowe’s work as a director, I came across Jerry Maguire. Somehow during that process, the internet led me to a gluten-free banana bread recipe. Check and check (though I will say this gluten free thing is doctor’s orders for now and NOT by choice 😞) So I queued up Jerry Maguire and popped my loaf into the oven. Unfortunately, neither turned out as well as I’d hoped.
Help Me, Help You… I should preface with a couple things: 1) Jerry Maguire’s been around since 1996, yet I’d never seen the trailer and didn’t even know what it was about – it was kinda fun being surprised, but had I known the plot prior, I probably would’ve been more hesitant to watch it. And 2) I am not a fan of Tom Cruise, hence you mayyy sense a bit of bias but I’ll be as objective as I can. The film follows sports agent Jerry Maguire through his ups and (mostly) downs in the industry. It’s a classic fall-from-grace tale ignited by his development of a conscience. His awakening inspires him to write a “mission statement” describing the way he thinks the cut-throat, money-focused sports agent business should be redirected. From there, Maguire struggles with the fallout while trying to maintain his reputation as an agent and deal with his inability to be alone. Overall, the characters felt so one-dimensional. There was potential Jerry’s character, portrayed by Tom Cruise, to connect more with the viewer, but I felt Cruise fell flat. Throughout everything that happened, I didn’t even feel much character development. He stayed afloat in scenes with Dorothy (Renee Zellweger,) a single mom of an adorably quit-witted son, Ray. And of everyone, it was little Ray (Johnathan Lipnicki,) Dorothy’s sister (Bonnie Hunt,) and the wife of an athlete – all supporting characters – who carried the movie. I had to step away from the movie for a while to reflect on what it was actually about… clearly, a director who is capable of a movie like Almost Famous is capable of making a film with a powerful and resonant message. But even after hours of contemplation, I can’t quite figure out what Jerry Maguire was telling its audience. Maybe a commentary about the true meaning of success? Maybe a message about loneliness and love? Who knows. The whole movie just felt a bit scattered and patchy. Take Fifty Two Verdict: Watch When Bored I had such high expectations since Cameron Crowe’s name was attached to this film. I tried to like it, I really did. In the end, I wasn’t missing out for the past 22 years, and you won’t be missing out if you pass up on this movie. There is a certain excitement felt when watching a movie for the first time - you witness a new story, meet new characters, see the world from someone else’s point of view. You are on a journey with the director and the actors. Every so often you come across a film that leaves you so captivated that you never get tired of going on that journey again (or at least I don’t 😜). Almost Famous is one of those films for me.
I figured if Cameron Crowe has this much genius within him, calling it a "series" gives me an excuse to discover more of his work. Enjoy the first of the Cameron Crowe Series and check back soon! It’s All Happening… I can remember scrolling through our movie library and seeing the cover of Almost Famous many times – twenty-something Kate Hudson with sunglasses and perfectly curly hair, you know the one. I think my reason for not watching it initially was that it looked too old ?? Silly me. It was my dad who suggested I actually give it a try. He did tell me it was good, but he didn’t tell me just how good it was. The film follows William Miller (Patrick Fugit) on his journey to become a serious rock-and-roll journalist. After writing a few articles for small publications, he lands a story with Rolling Stone Magazine putting him on the road with Stillwater – a band plague with problems behind the scenes. As William struggles to get what he needs for his article, (journalists are “the enemy” after all) he befriends the “band-aids.” Not to be confused with groupies, the band-aids tag along because they love the music, not just because they love waking up next to famous people 🤷 Enter Penny Lane (Kate Hudson,) the original band-aid, if you will. The film follows to band on tour accompanied by William and the band-aids as they learn about music, life, and themselves. If I could, I would just stop here, say the film is AMAZING, and hope you watch it and think the same. But I guess I’ll expand. Now where to start… Let’s talk about the story line – it’s based on Cameron Crowe’s personal experiences as a writer for Rolling Stone. He toured with big names including Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, and The Allman Brothers. William’s character is essentially young Cameron to the “t.” Stillwater and the band-aids are more of compilation characters, but they may as well been real people for how real the movie actually felt. Even down to the details in the script, sets, and wardrobe gives the viewer and immersive 70’s experience. As far as I’m concerned, it all happened. The movie is, after all, focused on rock and roll. So, to get it just right, the perfect soundtrack was essential. Every single song chosen was woven perfectly into the scenes and added that extra layer of depth and emotion. Trust me, you will never hear Elton John’s Tiny Dancer and not think of this movie again. Brilliant. As if a good story and a great soundtrack aren’t compelling enough, the casting was superb. This was Kate Hudson’s “breakout” role for good reason. She is completely captivating as Penny Lane – every nuance was well thought out and perfectly executed. This was Patrick Fugit’s first major role which ended up playing to his advantage. Just as his character, William, was taking in the world of rock and roll, Fugit, with his wide eyes and wobbly run/walk was taking in the experience of making a movie. Not to mention Billy Crudup as the guitarist of Stillwater and Francis McDormand as William’s wise but veryyyy overbearing mother. (just wait until you hear the family whistle…) This film is chalk full of incredible scenes and even more incredible quotes. At its core, Almost Famous is a coming of age story about finding yourself, navigating relationships, and learning what it means to be “cool.” A++ Take Fifty Two Rating: Watch and Watch Again P.S. If you’ve seen Almost Famous, or are going to watch it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! If you’ve noticed, I haven’t reviewed a single horror film on Take Fifty Two. Why? Super simple – I don’t like them. I am not a scary movie fan at all. However, when I saw the trailer for A Quiet Place, I was intrigued for a few reasons. 1) It doesn’t involve ghosts or demons or spirits or anything related. 2) The premise requires very little dialogue, which can go very well or very poorly for a film. 3) The dream team of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. So I recruited a friend, and off to the theater we went.
Shhhh…. Seriously though, how could anyone resist a movie not only starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, but directed by Krasinski himself. Blunt is on my shortlist of favorite actresses and Krasinski is the sole reason why I can sit through an episode of The Office. And for those who didn’t know, or perhaps forgot, these two amazing humans are also married, hence making them my favorite Hollywood couple. I can live with the Anna Faris/Chris Pratt divorce, and I will get over the Channing Tatum/Jenna Dewan breakup, but if Emily and John ever split, I will be devastated. Onto the film. I was afraid I’d set my expectations too high, but A Quiet Place exceeded them all !!! The story is set in 2020, when Earth has been invaded by giant bug-like creatures that can’t see, but are insanely sensitive to noise. If they hear you, your as good as dead. If you want to survive, you live in silence. The Abbott family has done well so far, setting up numerous ingenious ways to avoid making sounds. But before long, things spiral out of control and the true fight for their lives begins. I’m going to have to try really hard to reign this one in otherwise I could talk about it forever. Let’s start with the story line – totally riveting and completely captivating. While there is very little dialogue, the film is masterfully designed in a way that allows the view to piece everything together. The little details are well executed and if you are confused about anything, it’s intentional. Trust me, they’ll fill you in soon. Don’t expect to hear a lot out of the characters, but it’s also not a silent film. They communicate via sign language and let you in via subtitles. The spoken words that are included makes you think about how significant words really are. Next – the score. The way they manipulate the viewer with the use of sound is nothing short of amazing. And how could I review a movie without commenting on the acting? I already knew Blunt could do drama (ahem, Girl on the Train) but it was fascinating to see Krasinski in a role soooo different than Jim Halpert. They both brought such raw emotion and vivid fear to the screen. And though I don’t usually like child actors, these kids hit it out of the park. In one word. Perfect. This movie will have you on the edge of your seat one second and the next, you’ll be retreating into your chair as far from the screen as possible. GO 👏 SEE 👏 IT 👏 (In theaters, don’t wait for Redbox) Go. Now. What are you waiting for??? P.S. If you don’t believe me, take it from Chris Pratt. Remember how I said it pains me to eat without watching something at the same time? (I hate the silence and I must be multitasking at all times.) Well after I finally finished my first “meal movie,” I started another one. But this unlike the last one…. this time I finished before it was even time for another meal.
So tell me… what is 57 multiplied by 135? Yeah imma need a calculator… but Mary Adler can tell you without using a calculator or a pen and paper within about five seconds. You see, Mary (portrayed by Mckenna Grace) is what you would call gifted. Her birth certificate, height, and wardrobe all point to her being in first grade. But her attitude and wit, not to mention the fact that she fully comprehends high level math, point to her being much older. She gets it from her mother and her grandmother, both gifted mathematicians, but we meet Mary on her first day of school. Until this point, her Uncle Frank (Chris Evans) has been raising and homeschooling her with a bit of help from their neighbor Roberta (Octavia Spencer). Roberta warns of the dangers of putting Mary in real school, and everyone should know at this point – listen to Octavia, I don’t care what movie she’s in. When Mary’s grandmother, Evelyn, finds out about her brilliant abilities, she enters into a custody battle against her own son. Smh. It’s clear that while Evelyn (such a fitting name for a cold-hearted character) wants Mary for her smarts, Frank wants Mary for the fact that she is a great kid and he wants to raise her in a normal environment free of tutors and stuffy college professors. Gifted was released in early 2017. So, despite having plenty of opportunities to watch it, nothing in particular was drawing me to it. I think the fact that the plot revolved around a child actor (not my favorite as you may recall) was the main turn off. Ever still, it’s unlike me to leave a Chris Evans film unwatched. I had fairly low expectations, but before I knew it, I was bawling right along with Chris and Octavia. The plot was original and rich with just the right amount of twists. Mckenna surprised me with her natural talent and gives child actors everywhere a better name. This was not nearly her first time in front of cameras and you could tell. That girl is a super convincing crier. I will note that some of the lines she was given to show her maturity just came off as rude and a tad immature. But it is what it is and they were just trying to show her sas. The uncle/niece chemistry was both shown and felt throughout the film. Plus the music was chosen well which is always a good thing. What wasn’t entirely convincing was the character of Bonnie …. (Jenny Slate). Without sharing too much, you may catch my drift when you watch. Overall, the movie was real - kids and parents go through some tough stuff every day and this movie brings some of that to light. Mckenna did an amazing job of playing a character who is a brilliant, smart mind, but is also just a little kid in the middle of a custody battle. It’s a heartwarming film that leaves you with those feel-good feeling. Major props. One time, when my family went out to eat, I ordered something that sounded good, but when I started eating it, I was super disappointed. Since I was eating on my parent’s dime, I tried to finish it, but I just couldn’t. Now, I’m not usually a quitter (especially when it comes to food) but guys, I struck again. I committed one of the cardinal sins of cinema… I left the theater before a movie was over 😬
Ready Player One? Apparently I wasn’t. I’d seen the trailers for Steven Spielberg’s latest film and there was a significant amount of hype surrounding its release. I figured I’d get ahead of the curve and see it on Thursday to avoid hearing anyone else’s reviews, so my own opinion wouldn’t be tainted. It was a last-minute decision, but I made it into my seat just as the last preview started playing. Cue the lights, here we go… Any film that opens with Van Halen’s “Jump” has the potential to be terrific. But as soon as Tye Sheridan started narrating, I lost interest. The year is 2045, and as our protagonist, Wade (Sheridan) explains, life isn’t great. Humanity’s seen some hard times, but lucky for them, mastermind James Halliday created the Oasis – a virtual reality where people can escape the hardships of their real lives and be whoever they want to be. Hidden in the Oasis is an easter egg granted to whoever collects all three keys from winning various races and challenges. The grand prize? Halliday’s entire share of the company (half a trillion dollars!!) and complete control of the Oasis. As the film continues, we meet Wade’s best/only friend “H” and we learn of other major players in both the real and virtual world. At this point, the only thing that was keeping me in the theater was the soundtrack – major props to the music directors. Other than that, I couldn’t get into the story or relate to the characters. The screenwriters tried a lot of humor that felt forced and fell flat. But that’s not only to blame the writers, the actors’ execution of the entire script was borderline cringe worthy. The action sequences – though impressive from a technological point of view – were confusing and hard to watch. Should I have given it more of a chance than 37 minutes? Probably. Am I being to harsh? Maybe. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but I think it boiled down to the fact that I felt like I was in a video game and I just didn't like it. If you’re into video games or fantasy movies, maybe Ready Player One is for you. But for me, it missed the mark. *P.S. I also can't judge how closely the film followed the book. If you are looking for a review of the ~entire~ film... here's a good one from Entertainment Weekly! At my high school, we were required to take three years of a foreign language class and most of us chose Español. Every year at the end of October, we studied the Day of the Dead, or El Día de los Muertos. We decorated skulls, watched documentaries, and sang songs (or attempted). With three years of education on the Mexican celebration, I felt well prepared to watch Pixar’s latest animation – Coco.
Seize Your Moment… Young Miguel is different than his family. In a household of shoemakers, he wants to be a musician. Only problem – his ancestors banned music a longgg time before Miguel was born after his great-great grandfather left his family to pursue his dream. Every year during The Day of the Dead ceremonies, Miguel’s village holds a talent competition and he decides the “seize his moment,” but first he needs a guitar. Lucky for him, his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz – world famous Mexican singer – is buried in his village and his shrine displays his very own guitar. When Miguel goes to borrow it, he is transported into the land of the dead, where he must find his great-great grandfather and get his blessing to be a musician and return home. Props to Pixar. Every single person involved in the making of Coco (including someone from my home town 👍) did an amazing job in numerous areas. First: the animation was increíble. The set design, characters, lighting… every single nuance came together to provide an amazing sight for sore eyes, (especially after watching The Greatest Showman – see my thoughts on their set design here). Second: the story was great. Perfectly woven with rich characters, surprising twists, and a great message. Family is everything !! Third: the music was adorable. The songs were well written and completely fit the story, yet it wasn’t an in-your-face musical. They also used authentic and traditional Mexican instruments which was the cherry on top. Fourth: the CULTURE!!! Everything I learned in class was portrayed to the “t” and then some. The filmmakers spent time in Mexico learning about the people, culture, and traditions and it payed off 110%. The movie was so authentic and brought a unique story to screens across the globe. Major props. The fact that Coco is an animation may turn some people away, but trust me when I say this children’s movie is SO much more than that. So seize the moment and watch Coco! You won’t be disappointed. Ahhh musicals. Gotta love ‘em. West Side Story. HSM. La La Land. The joy, the spontaneous yet expertly incorporated dance numbers, the emotions and thoughts sung aloud. How could you not love a good musical? Somehow (super unintentionally) I watch three musicals in. a. row. this weekend. The second of which being The Greatest Showman. You may have heard from your friends it was amazing. You may have heard from the critics it was sub par. Well now… you’re hearing from me 😎
This is the Greatest Show!! (but is it really?) I’ve never been a fan of the unusual and showy and thus, never a fan of the circus. So I was hesitant to watch the film since it does tell the story of P.T. Barnum – the father of the circus. But I can’t resist the combination of music and Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. We begin the movie with a musical number and learn about Mr. Barnum’s (Jackman) childhood. We quickly move to his adulthood, where he struggles to hold a job and is worried he isn’t providing the life he promised for his family. We then move (again very quickly) to the beginnings of the Barnum museum and then we see how he made it into a circus. The beginning and the rise to success all happens very fast – like within the first third of the movie – but with it comes increasing conflict. I won’t take you through the entire story (wouldn’t want to spoil anything after all) but I will tell you this… I found the movie very confusing. I was confused by the use/lack thereof time. I was confused by the fact that the children didn’t age the entire movie. I was confused by how inauthentic the set looked for a big budget film. I’m just confused about a lot of the director’s decisions. I am sure everything was intentional and was executed with reason, but a good bit of the film felt amateur. Not to mention it was obviously veryyy loosely adapted from the true story. One thing I’m certainly NOT confused about is the music. It was fantastic, as was the choreography. But the music doesn’t comprise the entire film and the in between still left me wanting more. The songs were fun and the choreography was engaging. So, if you’re anything like me you’ll be singing and dancing around the house long after the credits roll. The underlying message is strong and uplifting. It’s a film about inclusion, being grateful for what you have, and understanding the difference between who you are and who you are expected to be. Was it my favorite? Nah. But was it a good movie and worth watching? Definitely. I come from a large family and when we were growing up, we ate dinner around the table almost every night. Whether we were laughing or bickering, it was loud, conversational, and entertaining. Now that I’m out on my own, there is no dinner table, no family meals and it pains me to eat a meal in silence. Sometimes I try to find a video on YouTube or catch up on my emails, but often times it’s just easier to start a movie. Which leads us to the review…
Got Time? I chose to start In Time (2011) one morning for two reasons. 1 – I hadn’t seen it in years so it would basically be like watching it for the first time. 2 – Because I had seen it years ago, I knew just enough about it to know that I would be okay stopping and starting it with lengthy breaks in between. Even still, it was the exact opposite of compelling and I was often tempted to stop it before I even finished eating. The movie stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried as Will Salas and Sylvia Weis, respectively. Sometime in the distant future, human have been genetically altered to stop aging at 25. Once they turn twenty-five, their clock starts ticking. The alien-like clock is embed in their arm to serve as a constant reminder of how much time they have left. Everything is paid for with time – food, rent, clothes, etc. If or when you run out of time, you “time out” and die on the spot. But all of this we learn from Will, who comes from the slums. We don’t that there are people with centuries out in the world until a bit later. When Will himself is gifted an entire century, the conflict starts. He lives it up for a while in a different, wealthier time zone. He meets Sylvia and thus begins a complex and weird relationship. And we learn more about the system as Will fights to destroy it. The cast is jam packed with stars – Olivia Wilde (People Like Us, among plenty of other projects), Johnny Galecki (Big Bang Theory), Matt Bomer (White Collar), Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men), and more. But the start power and talent amongst them all doesn’t outweigh the weak script and unsteady plot. It’s a statement on injustice and power, but the movie moves from school zone to freeway and back again over and over. The plot creeps along and then they give us an action scene and the cycle repeats. The characters often lack substance and the lines are stiff and predictable. I’ll stop bashing, I think you get the point. On the bright side, well honestly I can’t think of a Brightside. If you’re into futuristic movies, consider viewing this one since it’s picture of the future is rather unique. But if you’re not one for sci-fi movies with bad wardrobes and horrible wigs, skip it. |
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