“Don’t Worry Darling” Review
“Death on the Nile” Review
Three murders. One mastermind plan. The only question is who is responsible?
Based on the best selling crime drama by Agatha Christie, comes a story filled with mystery, suspense and more. On the celebration of Simon and Lynnette Doyle’s wedding, guests board the majestic riverboat for a stunning trip down the Nile. Unfortunately that trip turns deadly when Mrs. Doyle is murdered. Now it’s up to a suspicious British detective to figure out just what happened and more importantly who is responsible.
At 2 hours 7 minutes, run time Death of the Nile is the perfect crime drama. The film as a whole is a classic “Who done it” type as it mirrors that of the classic Clue game.
Set in the early 1900’s, the film is also the perfect period piece. The setting, costumes and accents made the 1920’s come to life on the big screen. A large part is due to the exceptional acting and directing by Kenneth Branagh. From the first picturesque scene filmed in black and while with the war to the camera angles, all adds to the timeless nature of the film.
Additionally the film stars Wonder Woman‘s Gal Gadot and Mirror Mirror’s Armie Hammer as the picture perfect couple that is turn apart with murder. The chemistry between Gadot and Hammer is so emotional one can feel the tension when the first shot is fired.
Other actors include Tom Bateman, who is no stranger to Agatha Christie films in his 2017 role in Murder on the Orient Express. That being said, Bateman knows how to hide the truth even when staring at the killer straight in the eye.
Overall, this latest crime drama came out on the eve of valentine’s weekend and will have anyone who likes a little murder mystery on the edge of their seats. See Death on the Nile in a theater near you.
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“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.
“Flatliners” Reboot
Based on the 90’s film, Flatliners features five medical students who are determined to prove the after life despite the consequences, however there’s a catch because each one has secrets that no one knows about and these secrets begin to haunt them after each one flat line. Now it’s a question of how to stop these illusions before the illusion threatens their safety and career.
Flatliners stars newcomers, Ellen Page as Courtney, the student with the idea of studying the afterlife as well as Diego Luna as Ray, Nina Dobrev as Marlo, James Norton as Jamie and Kiersey Clemons as Sophia. At just 1 hour 50 minutes, Flatliners will have you sitting on the edge of your seat as Courtney and her team of medical students seek to get rid of the illusions and fight the fear within. With a special cameo from one of the original cast of the 90’s film, Keifer Sutherland. It’s an adventure that audience will be drawn instantly to for the suspense.
Flatliners came out in theaters September 29 and brought in 6.7 million in revenue for its first week at the box office. See it in a theater near you.
“Split” Breaks Records
M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest suspense thriller is taking the box office by storm with a record 40 million opening weekend making it the fifth largest January opening to date.
Universal Pictures Split follows the story of the multi personalities of Kevin Wendell Crumb in a struggle to survive amidst himself. Otherwise known has Dissociative Identity Disorder, Crumb played by James McAvoy finds himself wrestling with his own identities which ultimately leads him to kidnapping three young girls and holding them hostage for what is to be his newest identity which has yet to be unleashed, called ‘the monster’.
Overall, the movie will have audiences sitting on the edge of their seats trying to figure out just which personality will come out next as the three girls race to find an escape through one of the many identities of Mr. Crumb. McAvoy’s portrayal of each identity is seamless as you truly see the real struggle of someone with this rare disorder.
Additionally, Shyamalan holds true to his own distinct style by using hidden easter eggs to further give dept to his story, including his always subtle cameo as well as his use of the color yellow to stimulate the current hysterical and personality change that our character goes through.
Split also stars Anya Taylor Joy as Casey, Haley Lu Richardson as Claire, Jessica Sula as Marcia and Betty Buckley as Dr. Karen Fletcher who tries to cure Crumb though the personalities ultimately get in the way.
Split came out in theaters, January 20, 2017 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“London” Hits 60 Million
The Focus Films sequel, London Has Fallen is still drawing movie goers to theaters nearly a month after it premiered on the big screen, bringing in over 61 million dollars in revenue.
The movie follows secret service agent, Mike Banning, played by Gerald Butler as he is sent on one final protection detail to protect the president of the United States, Benjamin Asher, played by Aaron Eikhart, who is among the top political figures that are called to attend the funeral of the former prime minister in London. While there, a botch assignation attack on the leaders nearly destroys the city and causes Banning to go into full protection mode, when he discovers the terrorist mission to publicly assassinate the president.
At an hour forty minute run time, its and action adventure, that has a lot of bang for its bucks as the first explosion is just the beginning and for those who never saw the original Olympus Has Fallen, one won’t be missing too much to see London Has Fallen. In addition to being a high action drama, there are a few humorous banter that will break the monotony of the action.
London has Fallen is still currently playing in select theaters near you. For an action suspense drama, this is the movie for you.
Books Galore at USC
This year marks the 20th year of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. As previously reported, there were thousands of books ranging from children to young adult and many more in between. There were also several celebrities that brought their own books for people to purchase as well as a cooking stage, music and much more.
Watch now to see just which books were the highlight of this year’s festival and stay tuned for a follow up with even more exclusive interviews from more of the authors at the 2015 LA Times Festival of books.