“The Invitation” REVIEW
“Three Thousand Years” Review
“Wild Hearts” Review
“The Good Liar” Review
“After” Review
“Adrift” Review
“I Can’t Do this”- Tami Oldham
“You can do anything you put your mind to.” Richard Sharpe
The unbelievable true story of Tami and Richard who set sail from Tahiti to San Diego when their sail boat is nearly destroyed in a category five hurricane and leaves them adrift in the middle of the pacific ocean. Now it’s up to Tami to navigate and steer their boat as it drifts to the Hawaiian Islands. The question stands will they make it in time?
At an hour thirty six minute run time, the movie will leave audience members at the edge of their seats wondering if the next moment will be their last.
When the two trailers for this movie came out, they both leave one wanting to see for the adventure and thrill that goes into sailing ultimately around the world and the movie doesn’t disappoint. Edited seamlessly together, the viewer finds oneself on an adventure where they don’t know who will survive until the end but like the one line, it is the reason for sailing.
Richard says sailing is “Miserable, You’re either sun burnt, sleep deprived, or seasick and after awhile there’s hallucinations”. All of which is experienced in this hour and a half journey as one sees the love between a man and a woman tried and tested in this epic journey, but as Richard answers Tami as to why do it. “It’s a feeling, It’s intense. It’s just you and the infinite horizon.” The film definitely captures all of that and more in it’s hour 36 minute runtime.
Tami, played by Shailene Woodley in what is the most dramatic role of her career. Woodley does an exceptional job as a woman in the beginning who is that of a drifter herself. She arrives to tahiti only five months prior to meeting Richard and voyaging to California and yet she goes through the most growth as we see her challenged with trying to save not only herself but also the love of her life.
There are elements in this movie similar to Divergent series where again she is just trying to survive in the midst of being different and not fitting in but Woodley takes the passion from that film and elevates it to include that of learning how to survive when all hope should be lost. The other element is that of the romance aspect where we see in a short time how love as powerful as it is, it can drive one to do unexpectible things, even leaving with a stranger that she only mets a few short months ago but the message of
“come sail with me” rings true.
There is one other actor who is worth mentioning and that is of Richard played by Sam Claflin from Me Before You. Looking back on his previous work as a young man who is paralyzed, it is refreshing to see Claflin as more than a man paralyzed but one that helps guide Woodley to safety again. He portrays the same passion as he has in the past but he does it in such a way that one wonders after, did that really just happen? It’s a question at the end that the audience is left walking out with, but in a good way.
It’s about the journey and Adrift certainly takes us on a journey not only on the seas but also through the lives of our drifted lovers as it holds our attention from the first minute when Tami wakes up to water in the boat up to the moment when Richard truly professes his love.
Following in the shadows of the real life Tami and Richard, one could definitely see why the casting director chose Woodley and Clafin. There are emotions from both of them that definitely mirror that of the real life lovers. The actors did their research in the history in order to put on a star stunning performance that both Tami and Richard would be proud of.
Stx Entertainment’s Adrift is an action packed movie that combines elements of Castaway with that of The Notebook in a way that no movie has every done before. Sort of like Tom Hanks obsession with Walter the volleyball, but the director uses the love between a man and a woman in an effort to save at least one from the treacherous open seas. The bigger question is, do they succeed? One’ll have to see the movie to know the answer. Adrift came out in theaters Friday June 1 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Book Club” Review
Sharon: We are four successful women. I don’t need a man. What is the point?
Diane: Who still has any interest?
Vivian: Ladies, I am not going to let us become those people who stop living before they stop living. I would like to introduce you to Christian Grey.
Carol: It says, “For mature audiences.”
Diane: It certainly sounds like us.
It’s Fifty Shades for seniors as four women well past their prime are introduced to a different type of book in their Book Club. It is through the book that one realizes age is just a number as each woman is awoken with a sexual urge that is both surprising and intriguing.
Written and Directed by Bill Holderman with collaboration from Erin Simms who also worked with him in A Walk In The Woods, the two capture the meaning of what women over fifty are really thinking as they go through life. Like A Walk In The Woods, Holderman takes the notion of the older generation who attempts to do the unspeakable and adds new meaning to what it means to be a senior. In this story, it centers around four woman, all of which are dealing with some sort of life changing event that has brought them to the point of ‘why living’.
Overall, the film is wonderfully cast as each of the four actresses capture the role so fluidly as if they are just living their lives. Diane (Diane Keaton) is a recently widowed woman who is dealing with how to live again especially when her daughters long to take care of her by relocating them closer to them. Meanwhile her 3 friends keep her thinking that there is more when Carol (Mary Steenburgen) introduces the women to their next “book club” reading.
Then there is Sharon (Candice Bergen), successful court judge who has long given up on men and is a comfortable “cat lady” and Vivian (Jane Fonda) is still living life as if she is twenty something, using men for only pleasure without any emotion. Ultimately Holderman knew what he was doing when casting four powerful women in these roles. Their dynamic chemistry and witty banter made the movie fun and lively as it ultimately sends a message to all to “Not stop living”.
Shot on location in California, there were some recognizable locations including the Santa Monica Pier with the ferris whale when Diane and George (Richard Dreyfuss) go on their first date as well as the airport scenes which was more than likely Burbank or Van Nuys Airport for its less commercial look. Ultimately, the setting didn’t really matter too much though other than just a nice touch to try to guess where they are. Aside from that, it didn’t really add or distract from the film as it was dealing with a topic that could have ultimately taken place anywhere. The only thing about being in California, especially for Sharon who is a successful court judge, that makes since for her location as it might be a little less believable in another state.
The bottom line, Book Club is a entertaining movie that brings women of all ages together to see what life over 50 is all about. It captures the same witty banter of the younger movies that are out including Life of the Party and I feel Pretty, but it does it in a cleaner, more sophisticated way so it doesn’t just pay off as a piece of mindless trash. Rather has a little more meaning to what it’s like to be “more mature”.
Book Club came out May 18th and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Overboard” Review
Jason: Amnesia in our little town.
[she sees the story on Leonardo losing his memory after going overboard]
Kate: That’s him.
Theresa: I have an idea that is poetic in its justice.
He’s egotistical. She’s just a hard working single mother who wants to support her family and keep them in their house. When Kate, a carpet cleaner, goes to the yacht of Leonardo after his wild night to clean up, she encounters a self-absorbed man. At first look, Leonardo is only concerned for himself; it is clear that he only lives to have others wait on him, hand and foot. That is, until he falls overboard and forgets who is he is. Now, it is Kate’s plan to show Leonardo just how it feels to be treated like dirt when she poses as his wife and brings him home as a poor construction worker.
Leonardo is played by comedian Eugenio Derbez. He captures the role of Leonard perfectly, bringing the same Spanish flair as he did in his previous film, How To Be A Latin Lover. One can definitely see why Derbez was cast, but at the same time, his character is the one who goes through the most drastic change in somewhat of a short timespan. From the time when he falls off the boat, to the moments spent with Kate and her girls, he is quickly awoken to a new possibility of life where love is more important that that of his self-absorbed, money-focused life.
And Anna Faris exceptionally captures her role as Kate, who convinces her daughters and friends to play along with the idea of a fake husband, knowing that she can’t keep it up forever. The question, though, remains — is it too late to go back once she’s started? Overall, Faris portrays the same fun-like characteristics as in her TV series, Mom, as she makes motherhood fun by adding in a fake husband. The director did well in casting Anna Faris to replace the original Goldie Hawn. Her appearance and mannerisms match that of her predecessor despite the fact that Hawn was the one with amnesia versus Faris, who is the one doing the convincing.
The chemistry between Derbez and Faris is somewhat shaky in the beginning. One can definitely see a connection at first meeting, and though Leonardo tries to play it off as unacceptable, it is clear that once the plot takes place, the romance is bound to grow. In a way, the shakiness of the relationship enhances the portrayal and makes it realistic, though it’s a bit of a stretch for someone to be bad enough to push another person physically “overboard.” That aside, the sparring match between Faris and Derbez progresses seamlessly through joke after joke bouncing off one another, distilling the relationship that eventually gets stronger as the film goes on.
Based on the 1987 remake, the film follows the same story line with a slightly different twist. The 2018 version adds the new flair of Spanish language, with one-third of the film spoken in Spanish. It is still just as funny, but I feel a lot of the dialogue gets lost in translation. Those who are not Spanish speaking are slower to get the jokes than someone who understands. I can definitely see why the director opted to include language as a complement, since it does allow the viewers to see just how privy he is to the story line and cultural background of his secondary protagonist. The other difference is the gender swap from the original. It’s a nice touch to draw the fans in to make them see how the opposite sex handles the challenges in different ways.
Overall, the film does contain lots of humorous and heartfelt moments. It’s a film that nearly everyone that sees it will find something to connect with. The only thing that disconnected me were the subtitles, causing me to miss some crucial jokes. That being said, it is recommended for anyone who needs a good night out for great laughs. Maybe not recommended for young audiences, due to a little brief nudity, but it’s up to parental discretion.
“Midnight Sun” Review
She only comes out at night.
For as long as she can remember, Katie Price has lived under the protection of a special UV window in her house.
The opening scene, a dream that she remembers of her mother holding her on the beach while playing guitar, but for Katie she can’t remember if thats true or not. This is because she has a rare condition, known as XP, (Xeroderma pigmentosum), which makes her extremely sensitive to the sun in a matter of life or death.
At first look, the film reminds one of another movie which came out last year. The film, Everything, Everything, more specifically and to be fair there are similarities that can be identified, especially by the fact of this movie being a young adult romance between two people that are separated by a house but that’s only the beginning.
Midnight Sun is a movie of a slightly different caliber, because Katie’s widowed father doesn’t keep her from going out at night. In fact, we get a sense of her freedom when she meets her best friend, Morgan who gets her to go to a party for the first time after graduation.
Directed by Scott Speer who also directed the Step It Up films, Midnight Sun perfectly captures the innocence of first love despite a terminal illness. The film could also be compared to another book franchise by Lurlene McDaniel who is most known for writing teen romances where at least one partner has a terminal illness. Though the movie is based on a different novel, by Trish Cook, one has to wonder if she might of got some inspiration from McDaniel. The writing definitely lends itself to the possibility.
Overall, the film stands up to the one line from the movie, “To Live in the moment, because you never know when it will end.” It’s a summer romance that for Katie is by far the best time of her life, when she finally gets to experience the love that had been growing inside of her since the first time she saw Charlie outside her window.
Midnight Sun came out in theaters March 23 and has already brought in over 7 million worldwide. It is currently playing in one near you.
Fifty Shades Hits Its Climax
The Erotic love story based on the book by E.L James is coming to theaters this weekend in anticipation for Valentine’s Day as it nearly matched its previous chapter with 5.7 million in Thursday previews.
In the thrilling conclusion, the story picks up where Fifty Shades Darker left with Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) and Christian (Jamie Dornan) officially tying the knot and now the fun comes, trying to act like a married couple. In the midst of Christian Grey’s million dollar business empire, Anastasia doesn’t want to stay home and Christian agrees to her keeping her publishing job with a few improvisations, that of body-guard service. Meanwhile, the couple’s relationship is threatened by Jack (Eric Johnson) who wants Ana for himself, however we soon realize that is not the only reason as dark secrets about Christian’s adoption and foster care begin to emerge. That along with the stunning conclusion of a not so surprising pregnancy is enough to keep viewers on the edge of their seats in this stunning conclusion.
At one hour forty-five minute run time, Fifty Shades Freed is a traditional love story with a slight erotic twist. It will entertain viewers and fans of the novel alike as it follows the book fairly closely from start to finish, though it may not be for everyone, viewer discretion is strongly advised as it is rated “R”, for language and graphic nudity.
That aside, there is a good storyline that will keep one entertained. See it in a theater near you.