"Hugh Jackman had a great year, with The Greatest Showman and Logan. On the latter film, he does the near impossible in creating an unbreakable character who is finally driven to the point of breaking. His work with Stewart is some of the best of both of their careers. He should have been rewarded for this."
I, Tonya - 2017 Director Craig Gillespie Screenplay by Steven Rogers Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Caitlin Carver, Paul Walter Hauser For all of the stupidity, abuse and backwards ways of thinking, I never could get past the idea that Tonya Harding couldn't be that bad. The fact that the chosen hero of "the incident" Nancy Kerrigan … Continue reading I, Tonya (*****) – Fall, fall again
The Girl on the Train is a movie that feels like it probably was quite well enjoyed by all of the stellar cast that volunteered to be in the film.
Burton's instincts are tempered here. He's allowed the weirdness we normally get from him, but without any of the routine "no one understands how weird I want to be" normally pushed to the forefront. Having Green in the role normally reserved for Helena Bonham Carter infests certainly helps. Ultimately we get all of the benefits of the imagination of the creators with very few of the indulgences of a director who hasn't heard "no" when it comes to a budget since Superman Lives.
Spy - 2015 Written and Directed by Paul Feig Starring Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Peter Serafinowicz Melissa McCarthy is unique in the world of comedy. If you don't know why, then you haven't viewed any sort of social media - or media even - since Bridesmaids. The challenge for her is avoiding the … Continue reading Spy (****) is tailor made for McCarthy
Mr. Peabody & Sherman - 2014 Director Rob Minkoff Starring Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Leslie Mann, Stephen Colbert, Allison Janney Screenplay Craig Wright based on the show Peabody's Improbable History by Ted Key Based on a series of cartoon shorts that were part of The Bullwinkle Show, the idea for Mr. Peabody & Sherman resonated for several years in the … Continue reading Mr. Peabody & Sherman (***1/2) isn’t going to hurt anybody
Bad Words - 2013 Director Jason Bateman Starring Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand, Ben Falcone, Philip Baker Hall, Allison Janney Screenplay by Andrew Dodge Black comedy is an all or nothing venture. You either have to go into it with total disregard or settle for School of Rock territory. It's not that the latter category is a loser, it just doesn't … Continue reading Bad Words: Finally Bateman is not the nice guy
The Way Way Back - 2013 Written and Directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet There are some laughs nestled in this summer home coming of age in the age of divorced parents melodrama. There's a fair amount of depressing stuff in here too. The Way Way Back … Continue reading The Way Way Back Sam Rockwell’s take on Bill Murray
Liberal Arts - 2012 Written and Directed by Josh Radnor Starring Radnor, Elizabeth Olson, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro, Zac Efron, Elizabeth Reaser As a 35-year-old college admissions officer in New York, Josh Radnor has the face that crosses most people after they've been gone from college for long enough to realize that this is all … Continue reading Liberal Arts: Radnor is no Woody Allen, Thank God
