THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Om Puri: Papa Kadam

Manish Dayal: his oldest son Hassan

Charlotte Le Bon: Marguerite, a sous-chef

Helen Mirren; Madame Mallory, proprietress of an upscale restaurant

REVIEW

This charming movie about people trying to make the best of their lives is not entirely original. But that does not take away from some fine performances (notably Helen Mirren and Manish Dayal) nor the lovely setting in Southern France.

Perhaps a little too predictable, it is still pleasant enough to watch with enough humorous moments to keep the tone light and easy.

CLASSIFICATION

for thematic elements, some violence, language and brief sensuality.

YOU’RE SLEEPING NICOLE

Original title: Tu dors Nicole

In French with English subtitles

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Julianne Côté: 22-year-old Nicole

Marc-André Grondin: her older brother Rémi

Francis La Haye: JF, the band drummer

Simon Larouche: Pat, the band bass guitarist

Catherine St-Laurent: Nicole’s best friend Véronique

Godefroy Reding: 10-year-old Martin

REVIEW

Boring. This one-word-synopsis pretty well says it all.

Showing snippets of her boring summer spent at home, this episodic glimpse at the life of Nicole goes nowhere. Shot in boring black and white, my guess is the script was written on the back of a beverage coaster and probably took less time to complete than consume the aforementioned beverage.

Not only is there no plot, the “events” have been dredged from similar movies so there’s nothing new to be seen. It is just barely watchable, mostly to see if something does happen. At the risk of giving away too much I’ll not say more but you can guess.

CLASSIFICATION

for brief sexual situations.

BOYHOOD

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Ellar Coltrane: 6-year-old Mason

Patricia Arquette: his mother Olivia

Lorelei Linklater: Mason’s 8-year-old sister Samantha “Sam”

Libby Villari: Mason’s grandmother

Ethan Hawke: Mason’s father

Marco Perella: Professor Bill Welbrock

Brad Hawkins: Jim, an Afghanistan/Iraq War veteran

Jenni Tooley: Mason Sr.’s new girlfriend

Zoe Graham: Mason Jr.’s new girlfriend

REVIEW

The thing that sets this apart from all the other movies about growing up is the unconventional method used: the same four principal actors play their role during the 12-year period it took to film. Usually actors who look like their younger counterparts are brought in to advance the story.

Episodic in nature, about every two or three years there is another series of events centering around the lives of the four. But the passage of time occurs without warning: from one scene to the next they have aged. Snap! Just like that.

Another thing that sets this one apart from most movies is its length: with a running time of 166 minutes following the usual trailers means a three-hour viewing session. Not everyone has that much time to spend watching a film.

The acting is uniformly good although the kid’s parents are the best of the bunch.

CLASSIFICATION

for language including sexual references as well as for teen drug and alcohol use.

IDA

In Polish with English subtitles

F.Y.I.

World War II began with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. More than 6 million Polish citizens died during the war. In 1944 a Soviet-backed Polish provisional government was formed as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Renamed the People’s Republic of Poland this Marxist-Leninist government was not overthrown until the Revolutions of 1989.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Agata Trzebuchowska: 18-year-old novitiate nun

Agata Kulesza: her Aunt Wanda

Dawid Ogrodnik: Lis a saxaphone player

REVIEW

It has all the earmarks of an art film aimed at a small niche market:

• no costly celebrity actors
• modest sets, no expensive special effects
• fairly short, shot in black and white

In addition, to set it apart from mainstream blockbuster films, it was filmed in the so-called Academy ratio, the squared-off aspect ratio of 35mm film that went out of style with the introduction of widescreen movies back in the ‘50’s.

It is a simple story with the principal cast member having very little to say: her near-silent character relies upon facial expression and a dozen lines to tell her side of the story so there’s very little acting required for the role. The pacing is ponderous, slow and the outcome often predictable. 

This one is certainly not for everyone.

CLASSIFICATION

 for thematic elements, some sexuality and smoking.

TRACKS

 True life drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Mia Wasikowska: 25-year-old Australian naturalist Robyn Davidson

Adam Driver: National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan

Roly Mintuma: Eddy, an aboriginal elder

REVIEW

Based on a true story that took place in the 70’s, it is left to the viewer to decide why someone would undertake such an adventure on their own. Her solo walk across the desert of Australia with four camels and a dog as her only companions will seem to some as a waste of time.

However it is lovely to look at and plays out with very little melodrama, much like a documentary. 

CLASSIFICATION

 for thematic elements, some partial nudity, disturbing images and brief strong language.

THE IMMIGRANT

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Marion Cotillard: Ewa Cybulski, a young Polish woman

Angela Sarafyan: her younger sister Magda

Joaquin Phoenix: Bruno Weiss

Jeremy Renner: Bruno’s cousin Emil

Yelena Solovey: Bruno’s boss Rosie Hertz

Maja Wampuszc: Ewa’s aunt Edyta

Ilia Volok: Ewa’s uncle Voytek

REVIEW

The more mature discerning viewer will appreciate that this is a reflection on how things were for some immigrants back in the 1920’s. Not only starting a new life, in many cases it was starting a life they had not foreseen. Unscrupulous people are everywhere of course but seeing how one innocent person is exploited is difficult to watch.

It is a sad story characterized by excellent performances all around (Cotillard especially) and with great attention to detail that gives this period piece a feeling of authenticity.

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexual content, nudity and some language.

THE RAILWAY MAN

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Colin Firth: WWII veteran Eric Lomax

Nicole Kidman: Patti Wallace, a retired nurse

Stellan Skarsgård: Eric’s best friend Finlay

Jeremy Irvine: the younger Eric

Sam Reif: the younger Finlay

Tanroh Ishida: Japanese army translator Takashi Nagase

REVIEW

Based on a true story, it hammers home the dreadful after-effect the war had on some people and the difficulty they had in dealing with it. Both Firth and Kidman put in terrific performances (you could add Irvine to that list too) as the story unfolds in gripping detail using the flashback technique.

CLASSIFICATION

for disturbing war scenes.

P.S.

The Burma Railway crossed over the infamous bridge on the River Kwai.

ENEMY

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Jake Gyllenhaal: Adam Bell, history professor

Mélanie Laurent: his girlfiiend Mary

Jake Gyllenhaal: Anthony Clair, bit-part actor

Sarah Gadon: his pregnant wife Helen

REVIEW

This is a strange movie: after a totally incomprehensible beginning with spiders and sexy ladies, a depressing glum fellow with a very active sex life (if you know what I mean) sees his double in a rented DVD,  tracks him down and confronts him. And then out of the blue, gets accused of doing things with his double’s wife.

But it’s the ending that is completely baffling. Come to think of it,  so is the rest of the movie.

I should have walked out which would have resulted in a more accurate rating but I hung in hoping I could make sense out of it. What a waste of time.

CLASSIFICATION

 for some strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• This is one of my classic nitpicks: when the person on the end of the line (Mary) hangs up, the telephone caller (Adam) hears a dial tone. In reality the dial tone is only heard after picking up the phone before dialling. That’s why it’s called a dial tone.
• Several times Adam wakes up suddenly and each time the bedside clock show it to be 3:19 so either he set the alarm for this ungodly hour or these separate instances were shot within minutes of each other. Your call.

SAVING MR. BANKS

 Drama

F.Y.I.

P.L. Travers wrote a series of books published over the period 1934 to 1988 featuring Mary Poppins, a magical nanny to the children of Mr. and Mrs. George Banks.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Emma Thompson: middle-aged author Pamela “P.L.” Travers

Ronan Vibert: her agent Diarmuid Russell

Paul Giamatti: Pamela’s LA chauffeur Ralph

Tom Hanks: filmmaker and producer Walt Disney

Bradley Whitford: screenwriter Don DaGradi

B.J. Novak: songwriter Robert Sherman

Jason Schwartzman: his brother and associate Richard

Melanic Paxson: Walt’s secretary Dolly

Kathy Baker: Walt Disney studio executive Tommie

Colin Farrell: Australian banker Travers Goff

Ruth Wilson: his wife Margaret

Annie Bucklye: their eight-year-old daughter Helen aka Ginty

REVIEW

Getting a first-hand look at what transpired when production of the film version of the popular Mary Poppins novel first began is insightful. As expected, Emma Thompson is terrific with Tom Hanks and Colin Farrell putting in their usual splendid effort. Although it runs a little over two hours it needs all that time to tell the background story as well. As one movie-goer was heard to say “it’s an emotional journey well worth telling”.

Great attention to detail (except for the few items noted below) adds a sense of authenticity to this “mostly-true” version of what really happened. The actual tape recording played during the final credits attest to this as well.

CLASSIFICATION

for thematic elements including some unsettling images.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• When Pamela is outside the Los Angeles airport one of the signs reads Trans World Airways. The correct name for TWA was Trans World Airlines.
• Pamela uses the remote to turn on the television in her hotel room. The upscale Beverley Hills hotel would have used the latest control in 1961 with four oval buttons not one with two square buttons introduced ten years earlier.
• Walt tells of the time as a young lad he delivered 500 newspapers both the morning and the evening editions, sometimes with snow up to his waist: in fact it would take 5 to 6 hours to deliver that many papers in a residential area and the record snowfall ever in Kansas City where he lived was just 24” back in 1911/1912, which would be up to his knees at best.
• This is one of my classic all-time favourite nitpicks: at the end of the telephone conversation Walt hangs up and Pamela is left listening to the dial tone. In reality the dial tone is only heard after picking up the phone before dialling. That’s why it’s called a dial tone.

PHILOMENA

 Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Steve Coogan: Television journalist and author Martin Sixsmith

Judi Dench: Philomena Lee, an elderly Irish woman

Anna Martin: her daughter Jane

Sophie Clark: the younger Philomena

Amy McAllister: Sister Anunciata

Mare Winningham: the grown up Mary

Barbara Jefford: the elderly Sister Hildegarde

REVIEW

Based on the true story of Philomena (pronounced phil-ah-me-nah) and the problems she had with the Catholic church. You have to smile at Philomena’s simplistic view of the world which is poles apart from that of Martin who is a socially awkward worldly sophisticate. They make for an interesting couple bent on trying to find out what happened years ago. And both give outstanding performances.

CLASSIFICATION

 for some strong language, thematic elements and one sexual reference.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• Martin carries a bag slung over his shoulder but it disappears completely when he gets into the car.
• Aboard the aircraft the spiral staircase identifies it as a Boeing 747 but the shot of the plane landing at the Washington airport is something other than a 747.

NEBRASKA

 Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Bruce Dem: seventies-something Woody Grant

Will Forte: his son David

June Squibb: David’s mother Kate

Bob Odenkirk: David’s older brother Ross

Mary Louise Wilson: David and Ross’ aunt

Rance Howard: their uncle Ray

Stacy Keach: Woody’s old business partner Ed Pegram

Angela McEwan: Peg Nagy, editor/publisher of The Hawthorn Republican

REVIEW

Several things sets this one apart from the others:

• It is shot in black and white
• None of the cast are high profile well-known actors

It is a terrific story about someone wanting to see things through with dialogue and situations that are believable, characters that ring true and the interpersonal dynamics bang on. The acting is uniformly good and I just loved the pacing, the depiction of rural family life and the amusing moments. What a great combination.

CLASSIFICATION

for some strong language.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Matthew McConaughey: rodeo bull rider Ron Woodroof

Jennifer Garner: Dr. Eve Saks

Jared Leto: Rayon, a transgender woman

Steve Zahn: Ron’s brother Tucker

Griffin Dunne: Dr. Vass, expatriate American doctor

REVIEW

Based on the true story of Ron Woodroof’s fight against the system, it has its gritty side that may shock some people despite its R classification warning.

However the acting is the strong point: the performances by McConaughey and Leto are worth the price of admission alone. Perhaps a tad long at just under two hours, it moves along at a pretty good clip so it does not overstay its welcome.

CLASSIFICATION

 for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• In July 1985 two viruses were suspected of infecting AIDS patients, HTLV-III and LAV. Doctors did not use the term HIV until a year later when these two viruses were found to be the same thing.
• When Ron returns from Mexico the border agent asks for his passport which he gives him. In fact it was not until years later in 2004 that all travelers were required to present any document that denotes their identify and citizenship when entering the United States.
• Ron fires a shotgun blast that opens a hole the size of a dinner plate but well above the lockset so the door would still be locked and would not have opened when he pushed on it.

 P.S.

$400 in 1985 had the same buying power as $873 in 2013.

BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD

 Drama

In French with English subtitles.

Original title: Les Beaux Jours

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Fanny Ardant: 60-year-old dentist Caroline

Laurent Lafitte: 30-something instructor Julien

Patrick Chesnais: Caroline’s husband

REVIEW

Not your usual romantic comedy it does have a certain ring of truth to it but I found the acting to be less than stellar particularly by the two principals. Although the husband comes across in much better light the overall impression is underwhelming and the plot for the most part is fairly predictable.

As with a lot of films produced in France, adultery is a key factor but it seems so contrived. Maybe because it is? 

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexual situations, brief frontal nudity.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

DramaPartially in Somali with English subtitles

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Tom Hanks: merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips

Michael Chernus: Shane Murphy, First Officer of MV Maersk Alabama

David Warshofsky: Mike Perry, Chief Engineer

Corey Johnson: Ken Quinn, helmsman

Barkhad Abdi: Abduwali Muse, leader of the highjackers

Yul Vazquez: U.S. Navy Captain Frank Castellano, Commanding Officer of the USS Bainbridge

REVIEW

Based on actual events that took place in 2009, the film is riveting albeit a tad too long at two hours and 15 minutes. The tension begins to build almost from the get-go and never really subsides until the end.

The acting is top notch, even from the highjackers who had never done this before. Credit has to go to the casting director for his/her excellent choices.

CLASSIFICATION

for sustained intense sequences of menace, some evidence of bloody images and for substance use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

Driving from his home in Underhill, VT to the Burlington International airport Captain Phillips would get off I-89 at Exit 14E not Exit 30E.

F.Y.I.

The hijackers chew on khat, a flowering plant native to the Arabian Peninsula. This is a social custom going back thousands of years in part because it is an amphetamine-like stimulant.

GABRIELLE

 

Drama

In French with English sub-titles

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Gabrielle Marion-Rivard: 22-year-old Gabrielle

Alexandre Landry: 25-year-old Martin

Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin: Gabrielle’s sister Sophie

Isabelle Vincent: Gabrielle’s mother

Marie Gignac: Martin’s mother

REVIEW

This simple love story is different in the sense the couple are mentally challenged and so that adds another layer of difficulty to their relationship. Music is the other thing they have in common and so a lot of screen time is devoted to their singing in a choir between interludes of struggling for love and independence.

CLASSIFICATION

for for sexual content, brief nudity.        

P.S.

Marion-Rivard has Williams syndrome, a rare neurodevelopment disorder which is characterized by a distinctive “elfin” facial appearance often with widely spaced teeth, an unusually cheerful demeanour, ease with strangers and developmental delay.

BLUE JASMINE

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Cate Blanchett: socialite Jasmine Francis

Sally Hawkins: her sister Ginger

Andrew Dice Clay: Ginger’s husband Augie

Alec Baldwin: Jasmine's financier husband Harold “Hal” 

Alden Ehrenreich: Hal’s son and Jasmine’s step-son Danny

Bobby Cannavale: Ginger’s friend Chili

Louis C.K.: sound engineer Al

Michael Stuhlbarg: Dr. Flicker

Peter Sarsgaard: wealthy aspiring politician Dwight Westlake

REVIEW

Not an easy film to watch because of the disturbing, dark-edged character portrayed by Cate Blanchett in what has got to be her finest performance to date.

However she is not alone in terms of good acting: Sally Hawkins practically steals every scene she’s in and several supporting actors do an excellent job as well.

Using the parallel storyline construct we get to see both sides of Jasmine’s life; not all of it is pretty but there is a ring of truth to it. Perhaps that is why it leaves such an impact on the viewer? 

CLASSIFICATION

for mature thematic material, language and sexual content.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT

 Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Ethan Hawke: sucessful author Jesse Wallace

Seamus Fitzpatrick: his 13-year-old son Hank

Julie Delpy: Jesse’s wife Celine

Walter Lassally: their Greek friend Patrick

REVIEW

Basically this is a film about people talking about relationships, love, marriage, child upbringing, long-term commitment, that kind of thing. With the principal actors as co writers what they say often rings true and comes across as a natural conversation between two intelligent people who have known each other for years.

However the conversation during dinner sounds like something you might hear at a frat house with frequent vulgar references to what a man thinks is the most important thing in life. It is unsettling and out of place since most adults do not discuss private matters like this openly with others execpt with their marriage counselor perhaps.

The lengthy 10-minute long tracking shots with the camera plunked in front of the couple as they drive or walk is boring which is probably why no other director employs this technique to the extent this one does.

Some movie-goers are going to be offended by the brashness of the sexual nature of their short stay in the hotel room. During the viewing I attended, no less than five people walked out, offended and put off by what was shown on the screen.

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexual content, nudity and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

While Jesse and Stefanos are talking each has a tall drink beside them but Stefanos’ changes locations from one shot to another although he never once touches it. 

P.S

This is the third film in the series with these two actors. The others were better.