12 YEARS A SLAVE

Historical Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Chiwetel Ejiofor: Solomon Northup

Paul Giamatti: slave trader Theophilus Freeman

Benedict Cumberbatch: Baptist preacher and slave owner William Ford

Paul Dano: overseer John Tibeats

Michaael Fassbender: Edwin Epps, cruel plantation owner

Lupita Nyong’o: Patsey, one of the slaves at his plantation

Sarah Paulson: Edwin’s wife Mary

Brad Pitt: Bass, a Canadian carpenter and abolitionist

REVIEW

You might be able to avert your eyes from the horrific scenes of cruelty but you will not be able to block out the sounds of agony. It is agonizing to watch as the camera lingers for what seems forever and all you want is for it to end. We all know that slaves were subjected to harsh working conditions and poor housing and they had to put up with psychological abuse as well. But this movie is the most disturbing one I’ve ever seen about the subject of slavery.

Based on a true story with strong performances from all the cast, Ejiofor in particular, it is riveting albeit it a tad too long at 2 hours and 13 minutes.

At the end as we shuffled out I overheard one woman ask her husband “Why is everyone so quiet?” to which he replied “Probably like me, they are in a state of shock”.

CLASSIFICATION

 for violence, cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.

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.

ALL IS LOST

Adventure 

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Robert Redford: a solo sailor in the Indian Ocean

REVIEW

Fans of Robert Redford who cannot get enough of him will just love this one: there is no one else to watch. This rather unusual film has just one star, no dialogue and apart from the initial voiceover, very few spoken words.

As with all survival movies there is a certain amount of tension as events unfold leading up to the big question “Will he/she make it out alive?” Along the way Redford has a daunting task: to convey the entire range of emotions only through his facial expressions and body language. He cannot verbalize his interior feelings because he is all alone. It is quite some task but Redford proves he is up to it.

 CLASSIFICATION

 for brief language (point of clarification: one word!)

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.

GRAVITY

 Space drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Sandra Bullock: Mission Specialist Dr. Ryan Stone

George Clooney: Mission Commander Lieutenant Matt Kowalski

REVIEW

This one warrants seeing it in 3D to truly experience the sensation of being out in space. The images are nothing short of spectacular. But that is not the only thing going for it: the acting by Sandra Bullock is probably the best she has ever done. She is on screen probably 95% of the time and does a really superb job.

So it is more than just a run-of-the-mill story about the dangers that can be encountered when in Earth’s orbit and the struggle to stay alive. You feel like you are there, watching things unfold.

This movie is sure to win awards if for nothing else than being able to create the weightlessness of space.

CLASSIFICATION

for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

The on-screen title makes reference to the conditions in space 600 kilometres in altitude but the Hubble Space Telescope they are working on is just 559 km above the earth’s surface.

ENOUGH SAID

 Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: self employed massage therapist Eva

Catherine Keener: Marianne, one of Eva’s clients

James Gandolfini: Albert, employee of a museum of tv broadcasting

Tracey Fairaway: Eva’s daughter Ellen

Tavi Gevinson: Ellen’s friend Chole

Eve Hewson: Albert’s daughter Tess

Toni Collette: Eva’s best friend Sarah

REVIEW

By sticking to the conventional formula of these things the film does not break any new ground nor is it particularly funny, just mildly amusing. What does make it different from the others is the low-key performance by Gandolfini. He steals the screen just about every time he appears and it’s refreshing to see someone who comes across as real in this situation. That is reason enough to go see the movie but you’ll not hear about it when the awards are handed out for best picture of the year.

CLASSIFICATION

for crude and sexual content, comic violence, language and partial nudity.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

Eva has a glass of wine at the party that changes level although she never gets it topped up. Same thing happens with Albert’s glass of water when they’re having dinner together.

P.S.

The closing credits include “For Jim” as James Gandolfini passed away in June 2013 from an unexpected heart attack while vacationing in Italy.

CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2

Animated action\adventure

PRINCIPAL VOICE MEMBERS

Bill Hader: lifelong inventor Flint Lockwood
Neil Patrick Harris: Flint’s “assistant” Steve, a monkey

Will Forte: world-famous inventor Chester V, head of the Live Corp.

James Caan: his father Tim, owner of a bait and tackle shop

Anna Faris: Samantha “Sam” Sparks, the weather network intern
Benjamin Bratt: Manny, the tv cameraman

Terry Crews: Earl Devereaux, the town policeman

REVIEW

Definitely geared to children, anyone who is not should not be too harsh in judging its excesses. Adults will see it as a pleasant diversion with lots of clever lines providing more than a few comic moments (and some outright laughs) even when things get a little bit gross.

The technical aspect is beyond reproach: the CGI rendering is stunning, the detail quite amazing, the colours brilliant. And the imaginative transformation of vegetables into something resembling people is clever.

CLASSIFICATION

for mild rude humour.