jamuckley Reviews

Finch (2021)

What Would You Do for Those You Leave Behind

[8/10 · 7 November 2021]

"Finch" is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi about doing everything you can to take care of those you love.

The film stars Tom Hanks as Finch, who builds an AI-learning robot (Caleb Landry Jones) to take care of Goodyear (Seamus), his dog, after he is gone.

The film is directed by Miguel Sapochnik (Game of Thrones) and is written by Craig Luck and Ivor Powell. The film features some epic "wasteland" shots of a dying world, including some realistic views of what the city of Denver would look like if it were the end of the world as we know it. The strength of the film, however, were Finch's moments with his robot, Jeff, as he teaches him to care for his dog, Goodyear.

The earth has been ravaged by a solar flare that has rained down cosmic radiation on the ozone layer punching holes in it and causing surface temperatures to rise to around 140 °F, mere exposure to the sun now leaves painful first-degree sunburns. Finch is slowing dying of the radiation poisoning from the sun, but he animates a robot with AI-learning capabilities to take care of his dog upon his impending death.

As Finch teaches his robot how to take care of his dog, how to stay "alive," and the new rules to live by, I couldn't help but see the parallels of parenting, raising kids, and how you want to pass on your beliefs, your values, and what you found most important in this life to your loved ones that remain behind. From learning to walk to playing fetch with Goodyear, it is interesting to see how learning these basic skills are absorbed by a robot, but it also demands an introspective look on one's own values in life.

It begs the question, "Why?"

Throughout the film it is actually the relationship between Goodyear and Jeff the robot, that is evolving and growing. The dog at first is completely afraid and wary of the robot. It is constantly growling and barking at it. At one point Jeff convinces himself that he taught himself "dog language" and imitates dog sounds he has heard (or learned), but that only leads to the conclusion that Goodyear hates him. Jeff has to learn of both Finch and Goodyear's limitations with the hazardous environment they live in. He has to learn what they need and how to help them.

The most important and difficult concept that Jeff has to learn is trust. Goodyear needs to trust Jeff if he wants to be able to protect the dog. Trust is not something easily explained, but rather it is a concept one knows by experience.

Ultimately, Tom Hanks puts in a typical stellar performance. There are some humorous moments. There are also some touching moments to reflect on the "human experience." In the bigger picture, the film asks the question, "What is it we are passing on, and how will we do that."

King Richard (2021)

Inspirational Story of Venus and Serena Williams's Upbringing by Richard and Brandi Williams

[8/10 · 4 November 2021]

"King Richard" is a biopic of Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams, and his plan to turn his youngest daughters into the greatest tennis players of all time.

"King Richard" will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on November 19, 2021, but I was given prescreening passes by Warner Bros to see the film ahead of its release.

The film stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams, Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, and Aunjanue Ellis as Brandi Williams. Other stars in the film include Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott among others. The film was written by Zach Baylin and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Will Smith shined brightest in the film. His portrayal of Richard Williams was excellent. Alongside him, Aunjanue Ellis portraying his wife, Brandi Williams was a perfect counterbalance. She added fierce pushback when Smith played a fearful father, not wanting to see his daughters fail.

The most inspirational part of the movie was really the improbable story. That a dedicated father instilled in his daughter a strength and resilience and confidence that they could do anything, become number one in the world, and in Serena's case, become the greatest player who ever lived. Training day and night, rain or shine, he kept pushing them towards greatness, when many people scoffed at his claims about his girls, when many refused to train them, when they saw something insignificant, he saw their full potential.

That belief in them, their dedication to training, and ultimately their resiliency in the face of adversity become the perfect trifecta that propelled them to unprecedented success that was never realized by any other player before them. When they went onto the court, they truly believed that no one could beat them. Then they went out and proved it. Not only were they out there proving to themselves, but also to every person who went to see them. They then became role models for every other African American girl (and boy) who wanted to follow in their footsteps.

It is possible.

We can do this too.

As a father myself of two girls, and a boy, the film struck a chord in me about fatherhood, about empowering my kids to succeed, about instilling in them confidence in themselves and in what they are capable of. It was a powerful film that really tugs on your heartstrings at the right time. You see the long odds they faced. You see the backbone not to back down. You see the timely truths spoken when one parent falters to encourage the other.

I really appreciated this film. The inspirational true story it is based on was amazing. The positive messages for young people and parents alike are so important.

Blue Bayou (2021)

Powerful and Moving American Tragedy

[8/10 · 16 September 2021]

Blue Bayou written and directed by Justin Chon is a powerful new film about a Korean-American, Antonio LeBlanc, played by Justin Chon, who is fighting for his family and his status as a US citizen.

Adopted from Korea at the age of 3, Antonio lives in Louisiana. He speaks fluid English. He is married to a US citizen, and he and his wife are expecting their first child. He is a stepfather to Jessie (Sydney Kowalske), the daughter of his wife, Kathy, played by Alicia Vikander, who calls him daddy.

Victim of racial profiling by a police officer, he is arrested and then his immigration status is called into question. Kathy and Antonio seek the counsel of a lawyer, played by Vondie Curtis-Hall, who informs them that before the year 2000, US foreign adoption laws were very ill defined, and in many cases immigration paperwork was never filed by adopting parents. In Antonio's case, his adopting family abandoned him after 6 months and he bounced around in foster care for much of his young life after coming to the US.

The film was a powerful representation of the uncertainty and difficulty many immigrants face in the US. It was both deeply saddening and moving as you watch the turmoil the family endures, especially the child affected by it all. The film brings awareness to an important issue that has yet to be addressed and has been the cause of many, many deportations of adults who have lived in the US for 30 to 40 years and some times longer, do not even know the language of their country of origin, who are deported to this foreign land without any family connections or similar ties to the country they are being sent.

Blue Bayou is an official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The film contains some beautiful cinematography of the Louisiana bayou and breathtaking sunset shots taken around New Orleans. The screenplay also stood out in the way that he portrayed both the struggle and impossible choices the protagonist faces. Also, his own identity as an Asian American, looking for his past and a cultural touchstone and comparing it to the over thirty years he spent in Louisiana feeling like an outcast as the "other."

Vacation Friends (2021)

ABSURD! But it Works

[7/10 · 28 August 2021]

This movie was completely absurd, but it works! This movie had endless gags and lots of twists.

CODA (2021)

I loved CODA! Funny and Inspirational film about what it's like to be a Child of Deaf Parents

[10/10 · 12 August 2021]

"CODA," a new film coming to theaters and streaming on AppleTV+ on August 13 was a delightful and inspirational movie about what it is like to be a CODA, Child of Deaf Adults.

Ruby Rossi is just a normal teenage girl who loves to sing, and her family is anything but normal. As the youngest child of deaf adults, Ruby takes on many roles that many other children don't need to worry about. Her father and older brother are fishermen in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She joins them every morning before the sun rises and before school starts out on the water as a deck hand, and the only one who can listen for distress calls from the Coast Guard or warnings from the National Weather Service. When they bring in the catch, she helps negotiate a price for the fish they catch, making sure they aren't getting ripped off compared to other fishermen.

From the docks she goes to school with other kids who don't know what it's like being the daughter of deaf parents. She lives in a world that she feels she doesn't belong, but in her senior year, Ruby decides to do something for herself for once. She auditions for the high school choir.

Besides bringing awareness of what it might be like for deaf people around us, the film explores the interesting dynamics between the world of hearers and the deaf community. The film also delves into how the deaf parents might feel if a child wanted to do something that they couldn't enjoy or appreciate due to their deafness.

The film is as much about pursuing a dream and gaining independence, as it is about inter-dependence in a family and supporting one another. There are so many powerful moments throughout the film as Ruby explores what it means to be independent as well as what it means to be a CODA. It is a human story about connection and love and being there for one another no matter what. It is also a story about letting go and releasing someone you love to live life to the fullest.

I really loved this film and the story that it told. I feel like I gained new empathy and understanding for deaf people in my community. The film is funny and sweet, but also inspirational.

"CODA" was written and directed by Siân Heder. The film stars Emilia Jones as Ruby Rossi, Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur as Jackie and Frank Rossi, Daniel Durant as Leo Rossi, and Eugenio Derbez as Ruby's music teacher, Mr. Villalobos among others.

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The Odyssey of Most Existence

[8/10 · 18 June 2020]

"Inside Llewyn Davis" a film directed and written by Joel and Ethan Joel Coen was released in 2013. The Coen Brothers had made some very good movies, most of them have a tinge of humor, even if it's irony or sarcasm, and I love it.

This film starring Oscar Isaac as Llewyn Davis, Carey Mulligan as Jill, Justin Timberlake as Jim, as well as John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, Adam Driver, and others, was executed flawlessly. The story centers around Llewyn Davis. It is a week in the life of Llewyn Davis.

Davis lives on friends' couches moving from one gig to the next trying to make it as a folk music singer in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1961. While "O Brother Where Art Thou" was the Coen Brothers' story about a group of escaped convicts in search of buried treasure, "Inside Llewyn Davis" is more of a solo odyssey through a more modern world of surviving week to week, paycheck to paycheck, always missing the big break, always in search of somewhere new to stay, for just one night.

The film's central themes include grief and loss, purpose, and belonging. Like only the Coen Brothers can, the film does a great job of communicating so much without explicitly saying something leaving the viewer to decide for themselves and reflect on their own existence.

The Vast of Night (2019)

Nostalgic science fiction.

[7/10 · 17 June 2020]

Calling all nostalgic sci-fi movie buffs!

Amazon Prime Video just released a new film available FREE to Amazon Prime members to stream called, "The Vast of Night," directed by Andrew Patterson. The film stars Sierra McCormick as Fay Crocker and Jake Horowitz as Everett Sloan, a small town radio DJ in Cayuga, New Mexico in the 1950s.

This film pays homage to some of the classic sci-fi films and shows of yesteryear including: The World of the Wars, The Twilight Zone, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The film is a "fun" thriller that keeps your attention throughout. I wouldn't say it was masterful filmmaking, but I thought that it was a good start for a directorial debut? I only saw this film in Patterson's imdb profile, and it reminded me of a film like Super 8.

Nostalgic science fiction.

It made for a nice night in with a bowl of popcorn and an open mind. If you have Prime and you enjoy sci-fi movies, check it out for free with your Prime subscription!

Downhill (I) (2020)

Cringeworthy "Comedy" to Avoid

[5/10 · 11 February 2020]

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in "Downhill," a new comedy that comes out on Valentine's Day, Friday 14, 2020. The film was directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Billie (Louis-Dreyfus) and her two boys barely escape been buried alive during a "controlled" avalanche, while Pete (Ferrell) runs for cover thinking only about his self. The scary ordeal causes them to take a fresh look at their marriage and their future together.

I had high hopes with the pairing of Louis-Dreyfus and Ferrell and what kind of comedic caper on the ski slopes might ensue. Unfortunately, this film was disappointing. This isn't the kind of "feel-good" romantic movie to take your significant other out to see on Valentine's Day.

The film isn't mushy and doesn't "resolve" like a bow on a pretty package. Instead, it is more of a "warning" in relationships, showing how miscommunication, self-centeredness, defensiveness all can contribute to breaking down bonds in relationships. The humor in it is how the couple fails to address the issue directly causing further distance, bringing others into it to plead their case, and even puts the kids in the middle. There were some cringeworthy moments throughout.

Some of the film's less flattering moments include an awkward scene with a ski instructor, crude sexual humor, and drunkenness without any really point.

I would recommend steering clear of this one, in favor of a nice evening in, preparing dinner for your partner, snuggling up on the couch and dreaming together about your hopes for the future so you don't end up like Billie and Pete unsure of what is next in store for your relationship.

Joker (I) (2019)

Disturbing Film that Celebrates the Sociopath Villain

[7/10 · 28 January 2020]

I just saw "Joker" starring Joaquin Phoenix, as the titular character, directed by Todd Phillip, because of its Oscar nomination for Best Picture, and the great odds that Phoenix will win the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance.

That being said, I had a lot of apprehension going into it. I had put off watching it for more than four months, as it released on October 4. The movie, as expected, was very dark and very violent. The gun violence in particular is a disturbingly prominent component of the movie.

A central theme of the film was mental illness and society's ignorance and lack of concern for people with very real needs. The unfolding of the horror on screen highlights some of the complicated issues involved. There are certainly no easy answers or quick fixes.

Another theme was pitting the rich against the poor. Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, is a struggling comedian, living in a rundown apartment with his aging mom. Thomas Wayne is a wealthy philanthropist, who speaks out against the murder of three Wall Street stockbrokers on the subway. The film revives the ongoing discussion of wealth inequality of the 1%, movements like Occupy Wall Street, and films like "V for Vendetta." Fleck, though an outcast, bullied his entire life, laughed at (not for the jokes), becomes a symbol for the poor and downtrodden to stand up against the oppression of the wealthy.

The film portrays him both as heinous villain and unlikely hero. The ugly crimes he commits make you turn away, but also causes you to pause. Joker becomes the leader of a revolution, however, you can see that revolution through violence and hate leads to a dark, destructive path.

The film also stars Robert DeNiro, Zazie Beetz and Frances Conroy, among others. It was nominated for 11 Oscars including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.

How do I feel about the film? Joaquin Phoenix was an excellent sociopath.

But I wouldn't watch it again.

The movie depicts how scary anarchism could really become if people chose to rise up and follow someone like Joker. I think there are some terrifying parallels between someone like Hitler and Joker. People filled with hate, who experience a taste of power, and then decide to wield that power to carry out their own personal vengeance against the object of their ire. The fabric of society tears apart at the seams as hate overtakes all reason.

1917 (2019)

Tense War Movie Filmed in a Single Shot

[9/10 · 24 January 2020]

One of the frontrunners for this year's Oscar for Best Picture is Sam Mendes' epic World War I film, 1917, starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch among others.

Mendes (Director of Skyfall, Road to Perdition and American Beauty) helms this film, which has been nominated for ten Oscars including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing. The film already took home wins at the Golden Globes in Best Picture-Drama, and Best Director.

The film is a taut thriller filled with non-stop tense moments as Lance Corporal Blake and Lance Corporal Schofield, officers in the British army are tasked with going through no man's land, behind enemy lines, through a web of peril to deliver a message to their fellow soldiers to call off an offensive as where they plan to attack is a trap. The attack is planned for the following morning at dawn and time is short.

One of the most unique parts of the film is how it is shot as a "single shot." Meaning the entire film is one continuous scene. It shows the soldiers on the run through the multitude of dangers without stopping. There are a few places where the scenes were "cut" when it transitions from outside to underground in the trench, but the feel of the movie is a non-stop, pulse-pounding, action-packed stream that never lets up.

Mendes, who also had a hand in the screenplay, co-written with Krysty Wilson-Cairns, is based on stories of the Great War from his own grandfather, Lance Corporal Alfred Hubert Mendes.

Mendes commented on his inspiration for the film: "Our film is fiction, but certain scenes and aspects of it are drawn from stories he told me, and ones told him by his fellow soldiers. This simple kernel of an idea-of a single man carrying a message from one place to another-stayed with me and became the starting point for 1917."

The film, like many modern war films that precede it, focuses on both the hellish nature of war, especially trench warfare, but also the heroism and willingness of soldiers to sacrifice their own lives for the fellow countrymen and the cause. There are also some similarities to Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan set in the First World War.

I really enjoyed the film. I think the cinematography and the single shot approach was unique and impacting. The story was compelling. The acting was superb. There were a lot of things the film did well. The score and sound brought an atmospheric feeling enhancing the drama and tension building on the screen.

Definitely recommend this film for anyone who enjoys action, thrillers and war films.

The Irishman (2019)

Three-Plus Hour Mafia Epic

[7/10 · 2 January 2020]

"The Irishman" directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert DeNiro as Frank Sheeran, Joe Pesci as Russ Bufalino, and Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa.

"The Irishman" is a three-plus hour epic about Italian mafia families in the northeast Philadelphia-area. It is reminiscent of Scorsese's earlier critically-acclaimed mafia movie, "Goodfellas," also starring DeNiro and Pesci.

I thought some of the hype on this year's Netflix contender was overblown. The story is a dramatization of Charles Brandt's book, "I Heard You Paint Houses" a tell-all book of the mafia's criminal activities in the mid-twentieth century.

The film ties together some of the conspiracy theories of John F. Kennedy's assassination and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. The actors' performances, the screenwriting and directing were all superb, but as a whole it was all a little too much. Two or three times I was looking at my watch saying, "how much longer is this movie?" I feel like after watching this film, I felt sick to my stomach and didn't have to watch another mafia movie again in my life. Yuck!

While I am sure it is destined to win some awards in February, it isn't going to be my pick or preference. There are much better ways to spend more than three hours of your time.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Perfect Depiction of Mister Rogers' Disarming and Caring Kindness

[10/10 · 30 December 2019]

I just saw the best movie I have seen all year. I saw the trailer earlier in the year. I love Tom Hanks in everything I've ever seen him in. I have read a few biographies about the life of Mister Rogers and watched last year's critically acclaimed documentary, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

This movie was better than all of them.

Starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, and Matthew Rhys as a journalist for the magazine Esquire, Lloyd Vogel, the movie is about the disarming and caring humanity of Mister Rogers. The film was directed by Marielle Heller, and also stars Chris Cooper, and Susan Kelechi Watson.

Vogel is a hardened journalist who is always looking for the story beneath the story. He is guided by a desire to uncover the truth. When he first meets Mister Rogers, he believes what he is seeing is an act, a facade. Surely, nobody could really care as much as Mister Rogers. He refers to him as a "saint" at one point in the film. Joanne Rogers, Fred's wife, reproves him saying:

"And if you paint him as a saint, if you say that, then somehow his way of life and the work that he does is unattainable. He worked very hard at it. It was a practice for him." -Joanne Rogers

This quote was central to the film. Mister Rogers had struggles like everyone else. He worked at resolving anger and worked at letting it out in ways that were under control. It was a discipline for him, much like "emotional" exercise.

Vogel is struggling with his past, his distant father who suddenly reappears in his life, upsetting feelings that had been locked away deep inside. He is struggling with being a first-time parent to a son. In his talks and interviews with Mister Rogers, Vogel finds that much of the time he isn't doing the interview, but he himself is being interviewed. Mister Rogers deeply cares about him and cares about him finding peace and resolving the pain in his own life.

The film ultimately is a story of love and caring for others. It is a story about expressing your feelings. It is a story about sharing your fears and your disappointments and not bottling up everything until you explode.

The film was a slow burn. It was a tearjerker that confronts you internally with your own past and struggles. It is as much a depiction of how to care for your emotional well-being as it is an internal look into the darkest corners of your heart and your past to deal with things that have long been buried and hidden away. Once we deal with our own feelings, we can then see others in a new way. We can see those around us, even those who have hurt us in the past with a lens of empathy. Forgiveness and grace are common themes throughout the film.

"Do you know what forgiveness means? It's a decision we make to release a person from the feelings of anger we have against them." -Fred Rogers

The cinematography in the film is reminiscent of the pace of the television show. In contrast to every other children's program, like Sesame Street, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was slow. It didn't make fast cuts. It was almost boring at times. Yet, children's attention was captured. Fred looked at a single child through the camera, right in the eyes. They knew when they watched that he was looking at them. And that he truly cared about them.

The most poignant scene from the film was during a taping of the show. Mister Rogers is trying to put a tent together by himself. He struggles with it. He puts a lot of effort in setting it up. He cannot do it. He makes a joke like, "Maybe one adult can't put up a tent by himself."

The scene cuts. His assistants ask him if he wants someone to set up the tent for him. He tells them 'no.' He says he wants to use the scene as-is. It was a humorous struggle. When asked about why he doesn't want the tent set up and why he doesn't want to redo the scene, his reply is powerful:

"Children need to know that even when adults make plans, sometimes they don't turn out as they hoped." -Fred Rogers

As a parent of three, with many of my plans for my future already falling apart, this quote helped me in a powerful way to grieve again, to let go of those plans, to give myself grace for my own failures, and to move forward.

I would be surprised if this film wasn't nominated for Best Picture in this year's upcoming Academy Awards. I believe Tom Hanks should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Susan Kelechi Watson for Best Supporting Actress and Marielle Heller for Best Director. All of them were fabulous!

Go see this film! It was so good!!

Blended (2014)

Good Message, Not a Good Movie

[6/10 · 18 December 2019]

"Blended" is not a good movie. Starring Drew Barrymore (as Lauren) and Adam Sandler (as Jim), the two silver screen lovers rekindle their on-screen romance for a third time, after earlier successes with "Wedding Singer" and "50 First Dates."

I am sucker for Adam Sandler movies. It's like the magazines that women can't resist on the checkout counter at the grocery store, Sandler is my kryptonite. Cheesy, predictable, romantic, funny - it sucks me in. This movie had even more gravity in my current circumstance, it is probably not a movie I would have ever picked up before 2018. Now going on eight months post-divorce, the realities of life and the day-to-day seem to be catching up with me. Single again with three kids in tow half of the time, you have to find things to do with the rest of the time.

Goofy jokes and unlikely coincidences aside, there were some redeeming parts of the movie that I connected with. As a single parent, the idea that now my kids got 100% of my time resonated with me. Having them half of the time, I want to spend every possible moment with them making memories, being there for them, being a good dad. In the movie, Lauren and Jim correct the statement that the kids need 99% of your time, and as a parent we are allowed to have 1% for ourselves.

"Blended" as a movie was not very good, but the sappiness, the relationships, the escapism, and ultimately, the message made up for its flaws. It wasn't so horrible ;-)

Little Women (2019)

Powerful Performance by Saoirse Ronan

[9/10 · 17 December 2019]

The newest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, "Little Women," was the best version I have ever seen. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film stars Saoirse Ronan as Jo March, Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy, Eliza Scanlen as Beth, and Laura Dern as Marmee. Timothée Chalamet stars as Laurie, Chris Cooper is Mr. Laurence, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.

The entire cast is stupendous. Ms. Ronan stands out in her tour de force performance as Jo, the independent writer, who refuses to marry, and is determined to make her own path. She unflinchingly remains true to herself, her family and her work as both a writer and a teacher.

The main difference between this adaptation and its predecessors is the stream of consciousness approach as the story moves between the present day March family, and the stories of growing up together. Parallels between the challenges when they were children and the struggles of adulthood weave together to tell their story both now and then. Gerwig and her team does a masterful job of storytelling to balance it all in a cohesive manner that holds the audience's attention and intrigue, even if most viewers already know the original story.

To enhance the superb storytelling, the film's cinematography and costume design, recreating 19th century New England, was a bright spot in this visually captivating film. I wouldn't be surprised if this film was among the select few chosen for nominations in both categories at this year's Oscars.

Klaus (2019)

Animated Christmas Movie with a Message of True Giving

[8/10 · 25 November 2019]

Netflix got into the Animated Christmas Spirit this year releasing "Klaus" an origin story about Santa Klaus starring J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, Joan Cusack and Norm MacDonald.

The film is Sergio Pablos' directorial debut. You may know some of his previous work as a writer for "Despicable Me," and working in the animation department on other classics like "Rio," "Tarzan," "Treasure Planet" and others.

The film has a beautiful 2D aesthetic harkening back to the classics of yesteryear. The animation is fresh and visually pleasing. The stylistic depictions accentuate the story of the town of Smeerensburg (essentially the North Pole) and its Hatfield-vs-McCoy inhabitants feuding for the sake of feuding.

The story follows Jesper (Schwartzman), a mailman with his final chance to prove to his father he can hack it before he is cut off from his cushy existence. By chance, Jesper happens upon Klaus (Simmons), a woodsman and toymaker in a previous life, who has only ever wanted to see his toys bring joy to little children. The final piece are the children who would love nothing more than to have a brand new toy to play with. The three pieces like cogs in a clock work together to birth the Santa Klaus mythologies as needy kids begin receiving their presents.

As the film progresses a main theme emerges, "a true, selfless act always sparks another." A kind of "love wins" over the neverending feuds and backward traditions that have persisted here for so long. The acts of giving to one another results in new bonds formed and old differences fading away.

It is a wonderful message to attach to Christmas for children and adults alike. It is, after all, God's gift of His son Jesus, the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Weekends (2017)

Real-to-life Depiction of Divorce - Recommended for Parents, Not Kids

[8/10 · 6 May 2019]

"Weekends" is an animated short film written and directed by Trevor Jimenez. It was nominated for an Oscar in 2018. While it lost to Oscar heavyweight, Pixar's "Bao," the film was both thought-provoking and realistic from my point-of-view, as a recently divorced dad, figuring out weekends with my three kids. Jimenez made the film through the co-op program at Pixar, which permits employees to use some company resources to make their own independent short films.

I feel like I can identify with both the father and mother depicted in the film. Despite the circumstances, the new reality of the divorced parent is still one of hope. There is hope beyond a divorce. Life changes, there are adjustments to be made, new work to be done when you move on to any new endeavor. But ultimately, there is hope.

I would recommend this film for divorced parents, but not necessarily for younger kids. The film is rated "R." There is a scene that implies domestic violence (not shown) between the divorced mother and a love interest leading to the end of that relationship. This can be both frightening and unsettling to kids. Some of surreal dream sequences of how the child perceives the events occurring around him are also disturbing.

No Strings Attached (I) (2011)

No Strings Attached is a funny, feel-good romantic comedy

[8/10 · 14 July 2012]

Spoiler Alert: Some of the commentary here may contain information that might spoil the ending.

No Strings Attached is a funny, feel-good romantic comedy about a couple who learn about the benefits of commitment in a relationship.

While some married couples, who already enjoy the benefits of their lifelong commitment that they have made with their spouses and scoff at a film such as this one, which unashamedly glorifies one night stands, hooking up, and friends with benefits, the film's central message is one that points anyone interested in finding meaning and purpose in a relationship to real love, which is a choice. Real love is the choice of commitment. It is about a vow, something sacred and solemn that cannot be broken. Real love is about sticking with it when things are hard. Real love is about accepting one another's foibles and mistakes and still loving.

For my full review check it out here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-strings-attached.html

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

The Amazing Spider-Man is better than the original

[8/10 · 12 July 2012]

The Amazing Spider-Man is better than the original.

The film is a re-boot of a franchise that is exactly a decade old, but offers a new and fresh look at the part man, part arachnid that is Peter Parker. The film greatly benefits from its stellar cast led by Andrew Garfield (Social Network) as Peter Parker and Emma Stone (The Help) as Gwen Stacy, who shine in their roles as teenage love interests.

Andrew Garfield brings a completely different feel to Peter Parker as an awkward but caring teen who wants to help others, but is also trying to figure out what he really wants. Questions continue to swirl around his parents' mysterious disappearance and Parker wrestles with his feeling of abandonment.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/07/amazing-spider-man.html

Goon (2011)

Goon is funny but also has surprising substance

[8/10 · 29 June 2012]

Goon is a funny comedy about hockey with some surprising substance.

Despite its limited cast featuring Jay Baruchel and Seann William Scott as well as Liev Schreiber and a couple of other people you may have heard of or seen in other random movies, the story transcends the blood and gore and focuses on Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott), a hockey goon, who finds his true purpose in life: beating the snot out of people.

It's a story about finding your calling, sticking together as a team, and being the best you can be, even if that's being a hockey goon.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/06/goon.html

21 Jump Street (2012)

21 Jump Street is a cool, relevant, and hilarious re-make

[9/10 · 27 June 2012]

21 Jump Street is a cool, relevant, and hilarious re-make of the classic teen TV series of the same name.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum carry the film with their crazy antics which both pokes fun at the 80's and adds their own enjoyable comedy. They pull off one of the hardest things in film: turning a thing of the past into something that is both exciting and worth your time and money to see.

The film manages to both connect with this generation which is into "green" initiatives, texting, and feelings, something that previous generations scoffed at and mocked. I thoroughly enjoyed the acting by Tatum and Hill as they generated some good chemistry as they return to their own years as high-school students, but with their roles reversed.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/06/21-jump-street.html

Take Shelter (2011)

Take Shelter is a building psychological thriller

[8/10 · 5 June 2012]

Take Shelter is a psychological thriller about a man's increasingly intense nightmares about an impending destructive storm.

Michael Shannon plays Curtis, a blue-collared construction worker, whose mother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in her early thirties, and at the age of only 35, Curtis begins to have dark nightmares and delusions during the day. Not only does Curtis experience the nightmares in his dreams, his feelings from the horrific visions continue long after the nightmares. Curtis, afraid of nightmares becoming a reality, takes out a loan without his wife's knowledge to expand their storm shelter. Missing days of working and distancing himself from friends and co-workers, Curtis loses his job as his mind begins to spiral out of control. Jessica Chastain stars as Curtis' wife, Samantha, who is concerned about her husband's mental state and the safety of her daughter played by Tova Stewart, who is deaf.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/06/take-shelter-is- psychological-thriller.html

Safe House (2012)

Safe House is a nonstop, action thriller about corruption

[8/10 · 28 May 2012]

Safe House is a nonstop, action thriller about corruption in the CIA as a file has surfaced with the names of double agents at the CIA and MI6.

Denzel Washington gives a commanding performance reminiscent of his Oscar-winning role as best actor in Training Day, with Ryan Reynolds as his young protégé getting a single day of on the job experience as a CIA field agent.

Washinton plays Tobin Frost, a rouge ex-CIA agent wanted for treason, betraying the U.S. by selling secrets. He has apprehended a very sensitive file containing the names of double agents and their documented corrupt activities that Frost seeks to sell to the highest bidder. Frost lands in Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) safe house after spending months without seeing much action waiting around for something to happen.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/05/safe-house.html

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine is a cautionary tale of the end of love

[9/10 · 19 May 2012]

Blue Valentine is a cautionary tale of the end of love which pronounces death over a marriage.

The film is beautifully done as director Derek Cianfrance weaves the story of a couple, Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), as they meet and fall in love and at the same time, he contrasts their whirlwind, with the disintegration of their marriage.

It is painful to watch as a marriage falls apart with the weight of the distance and isolation, the anger and fighting, the emotional havoc that reeks of death. But it is also a case study of how marriages with good intentions, all of the right feelings, can just as easily die when those feelings fade and reality sets in.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/05/blue-valentine.html

J. Edgar (2011)

J. Edgar fails to live up to its full potential

[7/10 · 16 May 2012]

J. Edgar fails to live up to its full potential as its story isn't completely coherent and the film's purpose isn't particularly clear.

As J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) gives a rousing performance of an insecure, power hungry man who clings to his position as the director of the Bureau of Investigation, the predecessor to what later became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which he held since the agency's inception. It was a position he clung to for almost 50 years. Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) gives an equally power performance as Hoover's Associate Director for 42 years.

The on-screen tension of Hoover and Tolson's "relationship" being more than just colleagues seemed to dominate the film. There is one particularly volatile scene with Hoover and Tolson where Hoover suggests to Tolson that it might be time to get married and Tolson erupts in anger leading to him revealing his true feelings to Hoover.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/ 2012/05/j-edgar.html#!/2012/05/j-edgar.html

Safe (I) (2012)

Safe is the story of an ex-cop with special talents at beating people up

[6/10 · 14 May 2012]

Safe is the story of an ex-cop with special talents at beating the crud out of people and getting what he wants.

Jason Statham stars as Luke Wright, an ex-MMA fighter whose life just starts to get interesting when he blows a rigged fight with the wrong bettors taking a huge loss. The film pits two competing Mafia families, the Chinese in Chinatown and the Russian Mob in the seedy underbelly of New York City. The film's director, Boaz Yakin, paints a picture of cop corruption and an organized crime world in NYC as an out-of-control, dog eat dog world, where the bottom line rules and everyone is out to get their own cut.

Check out my full review here: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/#!/2012/05/safe.html