Once in a while we should take inventory of what is working in our lives, and what really isn't. For me, writing a weekly movie blog isn't really working.
Please follow @take2review on facebook, twitter & instagram to keep up to date on all my movie madness & to read my quick thoughts/reviews on new releases.
You can also watch Andrew and I review our favorite movies live on Fox 26 KNPN & on our website www.newspressnow.com
I may be back from time to time if I have something important to say.
With awards season upon us, there are many movies to choose from. I recently checked out, Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan, a historical romance based on a novel by Colm Toibin. The movie tells the story of an Irish girl
who lands
in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past
catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the
lives that exist within.
Saoirse Ronan stars as
Eilis, the young girl who leaves
her mother, her sister, and everything she knows behind in the hope of a better
life across the pond. And she does a fine job.Ronan is beautiful and poised – seems perfectly cast for this role.It’s the love interests that really sank this
ship for me.They seemed weak and not
really all that interesting.Give me a
hunky Irish lad such as Michael Fassbender and you will have my attention.Overall, it is a sweet romance movie;but I would recommend reading the novel (as
was recommended by my daughter Jen,) and then waiting for the DVD on this
one.
Adonis Johnson is the son of the famous boxing champion Apollo Creed, Who died in a boxing match in Rocky IV. Adonis wasn't born before his fathers death and wants to follow his fathers footsteps in boxing. He seeks a mentor who is the former heavyweight boxing champion and former friend of Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa who is now in retirement. Rocky then agrees to mentor Adonis. With Rockys help they hope to get a title job to face even deadlier opponents than his father. But whether he is a true fighter is to be seen....Written by Blake Ordonez
I was a big fan of Director Ryan Coogler with last year’s Fruitvale Station (also starring Michael B. Jordan) and he doesn’t disappoint with this
second film. I admire the way he wrote the character of Rocky Balboa. There is no macho man left in Stallone’s performance.
Coogler shows us Balboa for who he is – aging, lonely, but still in love with
the game of boxing. I will go so far as to say this is Stallone's best
performance ever.
I thought both on-screen performances by Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan were brilliant.
The best moment in the movie for me was a fight scene
showing Donnie (played by Jordan) completely defeated in the ring
and suddenly “Theme from Rocky” blasts over the air. Everyone in the
theater loved it – including myself.
There are many other scenes i really loved, but to discuss
them now would spoil the movie. Creed is worth checking out. You won't be disappointed.
Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper's tenacious "Spotlight" team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative dramatic-thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest cover-ups in modern times. Written by Open Road
My heart rate picked up at a steady pace all the way through Spotlight. By Minute 128, my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest, I had to remind myself to breathe.
Such respect for Director Tom McCarthy. His characters loved their Catholic faith & those lines were so important. Because this isn’t a movie about faith. It’s a movie about corruption of power.
He told the story in a voice we could all understand, and he did so without graphic flashback scenes or repulsive language.
Bravo to him. Bravo to the cast. And congratulations on your Oscar nomination that is sure to come, Mark Ruffalo.
Truth is a newsroom drama detailing the
2004 CBS 60 minutes report investigating then-President George W. Bush's
military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor
Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers.
Cate Blanchett is getting Oscar buzz again this year - more for
her role in the upcoming “carol”, - but her portrayal of Mary Mapes is being
mentioned as well. Robert Redford,
playing Dan Rather also gives us one of his best screen performances in recent
years – he nailed the mannerisms of the
iconic news anchor, without coming off as an impersonator.
The supporting cast is also
quite solid, including Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss and Topher Grace. Stacy Keach also scores high marks as a key witness.
But it’s Cate Blanchett and
Topher Grace who steal the show for me – both actors gave brilliant
performances and kept this movie interesting.
If you are a history buff, you
will love this movie. It also stirs up
quite a bit of controversy – so if you like a good debate among friends,
definitely check this one out.
A down-on-his-luck music manager discovers a teenage girl with an extraordinary voice while on a music tour in Afghanistan and takes her to Kabul to compete on the popular television show, Afghan Star. Watch our full review here:
Seems like I spend less time blogging and more time chatting about movies on social media. To keep you all in the loop, I will post my weekly television reviews here but please follow me on instagram, twitter and facebook @take2review.
A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story is a documentary following the
inspiring journey of 26 year old, 58 pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to
anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from
gaining weight, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Velasquez was first bullied as a
child in school for looking different and, later online, as a teenager when she
discovered a YouTube video labeling her "The World's Ugliest Woman."
The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie's physical and
emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDx talk, and follows her
pursuit from a motivational speaker to Capitol Hill as she lobbies for the
first federal anti-bullying bill. Written by Sara Hirsh Bordo
This young woman is the most beautiful, most amazing young woman I have listened to in quite some time. Her family is the perfect example of how important it is that we not only protect our children, but empower them. Stand beside them - not behind them. Listen. Be aware. Be brave. Lizzie took her situation and decided to use it for good. And she rocked it. We should all be so beautiful. We should all be so brave.
My daughter has always marched to her own drummer, so she met plenty of bullies growing up. Once I heard about Lizzie, I knew I wanted to be one of her soldiers. So here I am - shouting from the rooftop - stream this movie now (it's available online - I used Google Movies). It would be difficult to review this as a "film". This is Lizzie's story - shared with her stamp of approval and that is all I am going to say about that.
Rated PG - 13 (but any child over the age of 7 can & should see this - in my opinion.)
