Music Review: Foster the People's Sacred Hearts Club

This album was the only one I purchased this past summer, and became my primary source for music for many weeks after purchasing it. It had a good overall sound for summer and because useful to listening on repeat during a road trip. Although the band is still most known for the success of “Pumped Up Kicks” from the album Torches, they have continued to develop their sound on both their previous album, Supermodel, and now this. While the band started out with a heavy electronic vibe, they drifted away from that element with their last record. Sacred Hearts Club combines the electronic sound they were so successful at, with a bit more smoothness and spunk. The album isn’t particularly long, but it flows perfectly together. I have listened to the complete listing of songs in order many times, and each slides right into the next with ease. The lyrics touch on current feelings many may have about the world around them, but also maintains a positive outlook that we may all need. 

Must-hear tracks:

Doing It For The Money

Sit Next To Me

Lotus Eater

Loyal Like Sid & Nancy

Movie Review: It

Pennywise the dancing clown may be one of the creepiest creatures in any scary movie, and this new telling of “It” gives him an ultra Victorian look that just adds to the horrifying identity even more. 

I haven’t been to a proper scary movie in so long, having been pretty unimpressed with the typical horror film styles that continue to be released. I went through a big scary movie phase when I was in high school, where I watched a bunch of the old classics for the first time, but I always avoided “It” because it looked more than a little traumatizing.

Before watching this film though, I finally did sit down to watch the 1990 miniseries. This gave me a good basis of what to expect from the story, especially as I have never read the Steven King novel (but know of a few differences). Honestly, the mini series made me laugh more than anything. The laughter was filled with anxiety of never wanting to personally encounter Pennywise myself, but the story was different than I had expected. The scares itself were much more sinister and icky than actually scary. 

The horror element to this story doesn’t do too much for me, especially given that Pennywise’s appearances in the film are actual pretty minimal. What really works for the film is the group of kids who lead the story as they deal with Pennywise as it transforms into their worst fears. Similar to retro kid friend groups like The Goonies, The Mighty Ducks, The Sandlot, Stranger Things, etc., It features a group of spunky kids who manage to get themselves into some pretty precarious situations. While their stories are more troubling and traumatizing than more family-friendly stories featuring children, the actors portraying these kids had wonderful chemistry and ultimately were the reason I enjoyed the film. The group of seven kids were able to bring heart and soul to the “Loser’s Club,” creating a more memorable collection of moments than the original mini series. While they have deafened Pennywise for now, It will return again and I wonder if the adult versions of these characters will be near as interesting. 

Movie Reviews: Cars 3, War for the Planet of the Apes, and Dunkirk

I’m back with a few new movies reviews, even though the movies aren’t so new anymore. It seems like the summer wasn’t really chock full of awesome movies, and honestly feel that I went to fewer movies this summer than I have in many years. No movie sticks out to me as super memorable, but I would have to unexpectedly pick Guardians of the Galaxy 2 as my favorite film that I saw this summer. Needless to say, it sort of peaked for me early. I did add a few smaller indie films to my list (like The Big Sick), but am looking forward in seeing what the fall offers at the movies.

Cars 3

While the Cars films are my least-favorite series in the Pixar universe, I have enjoyed the first two films for what they were. That being said, the second Cars film is dead last on my Pixar film list. The first Cars film has its charms, most notably the scenery of Radiator Springs and the characters that inhibit there. The biggest issue of the second film was that it was taken completely away from Radiator Springs and put the focus on Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy), the goofy sidekick to the actual lead character, Lighting McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson). This third film heads back in the right direction, and although enjoyable enough, ultimately doesn’t feel super memorable. The story begins with Lighting McQueen being outshone on the race track by a new, and younger, car. After an accident, Lighting McQueen changes tactics and gets a new coach and team. Led by scrappy Cruz Ramirez (voiced by Cristela Alonzo), he tries to get back in shape to prove he is still the best race car. The overarching theme of the film is aging and change. With a nice message and positive ending, as well as beautiful animation, the film is good (even with my personal sadness over the lack of Bonnie Hunt’s character, Sally). It just doesn’t offer up the magical Pixar experience so many of their films have had. There have been a lot of sequels in Pixar’s line up the last couple of years, so I am holding out hope that this November’s new Pixar original Coco will bring that bit of magic this film was lacking.

War for the Planet of the Apes

This was one of the films I was most anticipating this summer, and couldn’t wait to see how these intelligent apes would continue to develop in the story. The trailers for the film did look a bit too dark and depressing for me though, with such a focus on war. I was very impressed with the previous two films in the franchise, especially given that my mom and I would often watch the original 1968 film these films are based on when I was a child. I thought the first two films were creative and the characters very well crafted. The third film begins with the apes living as a community, with humans still on the hunt to find the ape ruler Caesar (performed by Andy Serkis), who has become a legend. After Caesar suffers a huge loss, he must battle his demons as he plots his revenge, leading him to The Colonel (Woody Harrelson), a savage military leader. An illness is continuing to sweep through the humans, which also unexpectedly puts a young human girl into the apes midst. 

For me, this story just did not connect with me as much, and for some reason felt let down in the direction it took. I was anticipating something different and maybe a more direct lead-in to the original Planet of the Apes story. The film is quite vicious at times, with both the actions of Caesar and The Colonel, with constant almost-deaths for the apes that felt a little over-done. The character that really stood out to me was Bad Ape (Steve Zahn), an ape who came from a zoo, whose character brought much-needed humor and light to the story. I could have watched another film with him, he was that affable and engrossing. I still felt like I had questions as the credits rolled, and the ending of this film definitely felt like the end of a trilogy, so I’m not sure those questions will be answered. I think I held on too close to the original films throughout this series, and the payoff wasn’t quite there for me in the end. While I left the film dissappointed, I was still appreciative of what the trilogy has been as a whole, even if the ending wasn’t what I was hoping for.

Dunkirk

Telling the story of the battle that ensued in World War II, Dunkirk keeps the viewer in the perspective of a select group of men who were trapped, hoping for a miracle. The films does not have truly have a lead character or distinct storyline on any particular person, but it manages to work and keep the viewer engaged. I liked being in the one perspective of the men actually at Dunkirk, without seeing people outside the moment. Most war film seems to have perspectives of people outside the scene, like family members, leaders in the country the soldiers came from, or the opponents they are fighting. This film stands out as a fresh take because it tried something different, without over-dramatizing or taking a “true story” and really changing it for entertainment value. I admittedly had a couple of confusing moments here and there, wishing I had a bit more knowledge of the events going in (specifically during a scene when the men were hiding out in a boat, which then they found themselves being shot at). Performances from Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance are added for a bit of star power, but if you are a Harry Styles fan, he also manages to blend in without taking away from the other performers. The film makes you think about how it would feel to be out on those beaches, feeling helpless, and the visuals of the story are striking. The film doesn’t need huge action scenes or graphic moments to display the struggle, as the intensity of the beach and waters that surround them tell the story best.

Movie Review: Spiderman Homecoming

In the character’s third portrayal on the big screen, we join Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland, who looks like he is having a lot of fun) already as his alter-ego Spiderman. With no origin journey this time around, we see Peter at 15 years old, back at a high school setting in Queens. Somehow, given how many Spiderman films have come out in the last 15 years, the film manages to feel fresh and exciting. What I like so much about the Marvel films is that they are bright, lighthearted, and funny, just like opening a colorful comic book. This film continues to capture that spirit, and further connects more characters together in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The film opens with a set up for the main villain in the film, Vulture (Michael Keaton). We then jump in time to see Peter’s excited perspective of joining Iron Man in last year’s Captain America: Civil War. As we catch up to the present day, we see Peter anxiously awaiting to again hear from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Iron Man’s chauffeur friend Happy (Jon Favreau). Jacob Batalon plays Peter’s best friend Ned (a nice change from the usual Harry Osborn in the previous Spiderman films), who is a big standout in the film. Peter’s big crush in the film is Liz (Laura Harrier), also a new character to the Spiderman films, who produces the film’s biggest twist. Marisa Tomei reprises her role as a young-version of Aunt May, and the cast is rounded out by Zendaya and Donald Glover, whose small roles are seemingly meant for bigger things in the future.

With Peter still in the newly gained stages of his powers, we get to see him come to terms with unexpected changes in his life. There are little moments that give this version of Peter Parker new sides to his personality and character that weren’t in the previous films. This includes a scene when Peter is scared to scale the Washington Monument, showing the fear and uncertainty he goes through in a location away from the usual New York streets. 

We also see Peter unsure how to work his fancy new suit from Tony Stark, where he discovers a “suit lady” named Karen (wonderfully voiced by Jennifer Connelly, creating a perfect nod to Jarvis, who her husband, Paul Bettany, voiced before taking on his current role of Vision). Most notably though, we see Peter after a defeat, panicked and covered in a pile of rubble. To see him truly vulnerable and frightened was something you don’t really see all that much in these superhero films, and it made me root for him more. These moments also show how young this Peter is, providing an interesting balance to the other characters in the Marvel Universe. It will be exciting to see how he continues to develop and interact with the other heroes. This new film also makes me hopeful we will finally see some new and intriguing villains, something that the Spiderman comics have plenty of.

I found myself appreciating that this film didn’t have a huge focus on romance, which was a large part of Peter’s journey and life in the previous films. It was nice to see love be a bit sidelined with Peter just having a crush on a girl, and not much else riding on it. The movies before this always had Peter’s love interest taken or used by a villain, who then Peter had to try save before it was too late. This story finally took a different turn, making him a normal teen. At 2 hours and 13 minutes, the film goes by very quickly, managing to fit in many scenes and characters smoothly. Some characters don’t get to stand out because of this, but it still sets up a great future.

Movie Reviews: Pirates 5, Wonder Woman, and The Mummy

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

As I was preparing to see the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, I found myself shocked to realize that it has been 14 years since the first film was released. Part of me seems like that isn’t possible, but I can remember going to see the first film when I was in the 6th grade. I had recently moved, and lived close to my aunt, who I went to a lot of movies with at the time. The first Pirates film was one we loved as soon as we saw it, and when it later came out on dvd, I watched it numerous times. The series hasn’t been perfect, but I always enjoy seeing them at least once, and enjoy coming across one of the films on tv.

I wasn’t overly excited or expecting much from this film, but left pleasantly surprised. For those excited to see Orlando Bloom’s character Will Turner return, you will be dissappointed as he only appears for about five minutes total. Will (and Kiera Knightly’s Elizabeth) are connected into this film through the appearance of their son Henry (played by Brenton Thwaites), who is determined to free his father from his curse, which sees him trapped on the Flying Dutchman forever. He partners up with Jack Sparrow (as always played by a perfectly mumbling Johnny Depp), and a young woman named Carina (Kaya Scodelario), who has a gift in understanding astrology. With Henry focused on freeing his father, and Carina on the hunt to follow the destiny she believes her father left for her, a down on one's luck Jack is focused on avoiding a villainous pirate from his past, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem). The trio go on a search for the Trident of Poseidon, an object that will help all three of them with their individual missions.

The previews did not make me excited for the two young additions to the film, figuring they would be pretty weak attempts to be the new Will and Elizabeth, but I thought the characters were welcome and brought a needed dynamic against Captain Jack. While Henry isn’t overly interesting, Carina has spunk and brings some new aspects to the story.

As for the villains of the film, I found this group of creepy pirates quite fascinating and more on par with the original film. These again are undead pirates, but the look of them and their movements are very well done and unique. Captan Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) also reappears, with a new look and presence on the sea. 

Similar to the majority of these films, I did think the film’s runtime could have been shaved down by at least 20 minutes. This would help tighten the story and keep from dragged on scenes. I did feel entertained by the film though, but fight after fight and shenanigan after shenanigan tends to mean very little at a certain point.

I would rate this higher than the previous two films in the series. The story isn’t perfect, and there are certainly cheesy moments, including some Captain Jack moments that seem overdone at this point. I still found it fun and a nice re-set in the series. I wouldn’t be devastated if this was the last Pirates film, but I did enjoy it for what it was and was happy to be back in this world for a few hours. I just don’t think I would ever feel the need to re-watch this again.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is finally a truly solid entry into the (until now) less than impressive DC Universe of films, that have been leading up to this fall’s Justice League. This film, and character, finally instills some excitement and positivity into the domain.

The film opens on a young Diana on a beautiful island, surrounded by a group of strong women, called the Amazons, training to be warriors. While her mother is hesitant to let her train, we learn about the gods and the corrupt Ares who sought to tear the world apart. In his final moments, Zeus forged a weapon that could destroy Ares, and gave the Amazons the safety of the island. Soon, we see a grown Diana (played by a fiercely lovely Gal Gadot) growing into her powers and strength, who believes her destiny will be to bring an end to Ares once and for all. When a young pilot named Steve (Chris Pine) crashes into the bubble of the island one day, she learns of a war that is happening outside of her secluded life. Her world changes as she leaves the island to stop the war, who she believes Ares is behind.

The story itself doesn’t feel overly unique, especially since at this point there have been so many superhero origin stories, but the film flows comfortably and never gets too over-the-top.  The humor is also natural and not overly contrived. Since the other DC films have been pretty devoid of humor, the generally more bright feeling in this film was very welcome.

Gal Gadot and Chris Pine’s dynamic is wonderful and works shockingly well, especially given that superhero romances tend to be pretty forced and dry. I wanted another hour or two with them because they were such a fun mixture. There really aren’t any other stand-out characters amongst the cast (except for maybe Steve’s delightful secretary Etta, played by Lucy Davis), but that just gives Wonder Woman herself more time to shine.

My favorite superhero music as of late is for Wonder Woman, and I must say my biggest disappointment was that the theme was quite underused in this film. Her music truly makes it known to the audience that she has arrived. I hope that whatever lies ahead for the Wonder Woman films, they continue to keep her strength and warmth of character front and center. Since I’m assuming in future solo films she won’t be set in the time period this film took place, I hope they can assemble a good cast around her, which I don’t think will be coming from the likes of the current Superman or Batman.

The Mummy

I truly thought that while this was going to be no masterpiece, it would be fun enough to be worth a watch, but this was quite the painful experience to sit through.

What is meant to be the first in a series of “Dark Universe” films, focusing on classic movie monsters and creatures, The Mummy sets it off to a very poor beginning. There really aren’t too many positives, ultimately because the story and characters are all quite bland. Tom Cruise is in his typical “action mode” and ultimately does not seem like a great choice for a film that should be focusing on an Egyptian mummy. He just does not fit the scenery, nor the monster itself.

The film begins with a narration from Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe), whose character is set up to act as the connection throughout this universe of films. He tells the story of Princess Ahmanet (played by a sinister Sofia Boutella), whose thirst for power leads her to murder her family. Before she is able to finish a ritual to sell her soul for ultimate control, she is mummified alive and taken to a far away tomb. We then arrive to present-day Iraq where we find Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) and Chris Vail (Jake Johnson), who have left their superior using a map in the hopes of finding some treasure to make off with. Their actions here end up opening up the tomb, which awakens the mummy, setting the story in motion. Along with the help of an archaeologist named Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis, who ended up being the only person I reluctantly rooted for in the film), they board the mummy on a plane to London to be analyzed.

There are a few creepy fun moments, like when Vail turns deadly, or when Nick wakes up in a morgue. Another notable few scenes occur as Princess Ahmanet writhes around sucking the souls of humans to regain her strength (and return to human form from her grossly mummified state). These scenes aren’t cool or distinctive enough to really make the film much better as a whole though.

Something that particularly bothered me were the use of a lot of “fake-out” moments where Nick would see something or have soothing happen to him, but then he would snap out of it and it wasn’t really happening. Whenever a movie or show uses this a lot, I tend to be over it pretty quickly.

The worst part of the film for me had to be a fight between Jekyll and Nick. Jekyll turns into his alter-ego Hyde, and we see the two battle in a very stupid scene that occurs in the middle of the drama that is also taking place with Princess Ahmanet at the same time in the same building. During the showing I went with, a service dog started to get antsy in the theater at this point, and I could not blame him at all. While this movie is under two hours, it felt closer to four.

Honestly, this film and “universe” could have had potential (and maybe can if Universal works quickly to improve future plans), but it needs a more creative touch and a fresh mind behind the stories. These creatures are very old cinema classics, but why continue to re-use and re-make them if they aren’t going to put a unique spin on them. You will strangely miss Brendan Fraiser (the star of the most recent Mummy trilogy) more than you ever would have thought you would after watching this movie.

Movie Review: Guardian's of the Galaxy: Volume 2

We last left the Guardians of the Galaxy when the former criminals defeated Ronan after Peter Quill commenced a dance-off, the quintet officially formed a new group of galactic defenders, and Groot was a baby dancing in a pot after helping save his friends. This time around we see the group fully together as a team, Groot is a feisty toddler, and there is a new planetary force they must fight against. 

The opening scene puts the viewer right into the action, as we join the characters in the midst of a battle, with the music that was distinct in the first film highlighted in the scene. The musical selection throughout the whole film proves to still be an important aspect of the story. The “Awesome Mix” in this sequel maybe isn’t quite as awesome as the first film, but the choices are a little more offbeat, and naturally adds to the feeling of the film.

The primary story this time around revolves around Peter Quill’s father, Ego (played well by Kurt Russell). In the first film, we saw a lot of Peter’s pain due to the of the loss of his mother and how he was not sent to his father after her death. Ego first shows up to assist the Guardians through a space battle, soon bringing Peter to his home, where his true plans slowly reveal itself. The gang of misfits continue to grow into their own version of a family, and people who were once against the Guardians end up helping in their time of need.

While the plot dealing with a long-lost parent isn’t necessarily unique, the way it is told and the characters in the situation make it special and memorable. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) are solid leaders, but Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) is pretty irresistible in every scene he appears in. Other character highlights are Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Yondu (Michael Rooker), and my personal favorite, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), who continues to have many aggressively humorous lines. While I wasn’t overly fond of Drax (Dave Bautista) in the first film, I enjoyed his character and performance more this time around.

Guardians of The Galaxy: Volume 2 is a balance of fun, comical, strange, and sweetly emotional moments. We’ll next see these characters in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War films, and seeing them merge with the likes of Captain America or Iron Man will for sure be a huge highlight. 

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's Divide

I haven’t bought a new album from a specific artist since Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams, so I was excited to finally be getting new music from one of my favorite musicians. Ed Sheeran’s newest release, Divide, is his third complete album. Continuing with the mathematical theme, complete with a bright color on the cover, the album feels like a natural extension to his first two releases.

There are quite a few more slower and mid-tempo songs on this album than upbeat tunes. Some songs feel quite familiar as well, and not as memorable this time around. One of the most upbeat songs is the lead single “Shape of You," which got a little old for me quicker than most of his songs usually do. I still think I need to continue to listen to the album more to fully develop my feelings for it, but my first few listens didn’t excite me or keep me as interested as his previous two albums, which I still listen to regularly. I have been listening to “Castle on the Hill” and “Galway Girl” the most though, and consider them to be two of my favorite songs of the year so far. What is still one of my favorite things about Ed Sheeran are his lyrics. They always have a quirky (“New Man”), honest (“Supermarket Flowers”), or realistic (“Castle on the Hill”) touch that makes them so unique to him and his style.

While at the point of writing this, I think this is my least favorite of Ed’s albums so far, but I always find it hard to get into a new album after being invested for so long in a musician’s previous work. Not much past my two favorite songs (which are also singles) have really be on replay for me though, and I can tell I won’t be listening to this as much as his other albums. For those who were a fan of Ed’s previous work I think you will still like this album overall, and I will continue to be excited to see what he has in store next.

Must-hear tracks:

Castle on the Hill

Galway Girl

Happier

What Do I Know?

Supermarket Flowers

Movie Review: Beauty and the Beast

This live-action retelling of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was one of my most anticipated films of the last couple years. I had a lot of hope for it, but tried to keep my expectations at bay. While it didn’t have a chance of overcoming my love for the animated film, the other recent Disney remakes gave me great hope that this film would stand tall on its own, while keeping the original spirit alive. This film was the first full musical that Disney has done with the live-action remakes, so I was interested to hear the songs and how they would compare to the original. I bought the soundtrack the week before the film came out, which really helped me get familiar with the new songs and vocals. 

The story of Belle and the Beast begins with a greedy young prince as he turns away an old beggar woman, offering him a rose in exchange for warmth from the cold. As he laughs at her, she transforms into a beautiful enchantress, cursing him and his castle. Unless he can find someone to love him as the beastly figure she turns him into before the time she sets runs out, they will remain cursed forever. 

The cast was filled with some genius choices, with Emma Watson leading in the head role of Belle. She brought her kindness and brains to the role, alongside Dan Stevens (the Beast), Luke Evans (Gaston), Josh Gad (LeFou), Kevin Kline (Maurice), Emma Thompsen (Mrs. Potts), Ewan McGregor (Lumière), and Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), rounding out the primary cast of characters. I personally found Luke Evans and Josh Gad the strongest vocally, but was overall impressed with all the performances. When the trailers first started being released, I was a little unsure of how the castle objects would work in the live-action format, but as I watched, their style and design fit right in.

All the parts that make the original Disney story so wonderful were brought to life, but with a few added scenes and expansions upon the tale. I would say that the new aspects to the story were not quite what I would have had in mind, but they didn’t necessarily hinder the film. I was most unsure about the expansion of the Enchantress (who places the curse upon the castle), who they didn’t give us any explanation about who she was and where she came from, even though she appeared in multiple scenes. I also wasn’t overly thrilled with a book that allows the Beast to travel wherever he wants. This helped us learn more about Belle’s mother, but I thought it was a bit random. If they felt the need to add that moment, they should have just had the …mirror also have that feature. For some reason Lumière's legs also stood out to me as funny, considering he just bounces around in the animated film. It made me laugh more than anything, especially as he danced his way through “Be Our Guest.”

Those little moments aside, I felt like the film successfully brought the story to life in only the way Disney can. The Beauty and the Beast is a story that has been made in many ways and retellings, but the Disney one is the version that is truly beloved. Not only does it show that kindness and love can grow, even in unexpected places, it also displays the power of knowledge and openness. This film did all those things well, with a solid soundtrack and wonderful set designs.

Lastly, when the film was announced, I felt that Disney would finally give us a proper name for the Beast. For years, people have called him Prince Adam when he is in his human form, but it has never been confirmed. I think it would have been fun for them to confirm it here. Nonetheless, the film was perfectly magical and I know I will watch it many more times to come. 

(…now bring on the live-action Mulan.)

Movie Review: Kong: Skull Island

The overarching color tone of the Kong: Skull Island is a fiery blood red, which is a suitable way to describe the carnage one of the most famous creatures in cinema leaves behind.

With a cast including Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, and Thomas Mann, the film is set during the Vietnam War as a group is assembled to explore a mysterious island. The action begins as soon as the film starts, and you do not have to wait long to see the towering Kong. Whenever a movie drags out the appearance of the “monster," it is always a let down, so this does not disappoint on that level. Kong is the star in this film, and you root for him. A scene toward the beginning of the film takes the cake for memorability, when the assembled team sees Kong for the first time as they approach the island in helicopters. They soon find themselves slapped out of the sky is a pretty remarkable fashion.

What I enjoyed most about the movie was that it was a different take on King Kong. The same story has been made quite a few times, so it was nice to have a fresh look at the concept, while also having hints toward the original tale. I have always found Kong a very sympathetic character, a gentle giant of sorts, because of how man treats him. I enjoyed the overall concept of the film, with John C. Reilly’s character being a highlight, but the constant conflicts get a little old by the middle of the story. I did like seeing some of the other creatures that live on the island, some kind natured, while others venomously waiting to challenge Kong’s leadership on the island. 

This film also acts as the second piece in the puzzle for the Godzilla vs. Kong film in the works. While I found 2012’s Godzilla pretty lackluster, I think Kong is a much stronger film and leaves a lot of potential for a great movie monster showdown. I know what creature I will be rooting for.

Book Review: Jojo Moyes' After You

It’s almost been a year since I read Jojo Moyes’ first book about Louisa Clark, Me Before You, but I finally managed to read the sequel. After You takes place 18 months after the loss of her love, Will. We find Louisa in a bit of a rough spot. She is stuck in a frustrating job at an Irish-themed airport pub, she is distant from her family, doesn’t wear the quirky vintage clothes that made her unique, and she has hardly unpacked anything in her apartment to make herself at home. When she accidentally gets spooked and falls off the roof of her apartment, she lands herself back in her family’s lives as she recovers. At the wish of her family, she also, reluctantly, joins a grief support group. As she gets back into her gloomy life, an unexpected visitor connected to Will surprises her and instantly becomes as big part of her life. While she deals with this abrupt change, she also begins to connect with the paramedic who saved her life. As her life moves forward, new fears arrive, along with new opportunities, all while continuing to deal with life after Will.

When I read the first book, the movie version hadn’t quite come out yet, but reading the sequel, I couldn’t help but image Emilia Clarke (who wonderfully played Louisa in the film) in the role. While I had my ups and downs reading this book, I did find myself still fond of Louisa and her family. The scenes with her mom, dad, and sister were my favorites and I could have done with more of their interactions. There were a few moments I found myself uninterested in where the story was going (all dealing with the unexpected visitor I mentioned), and didn’t think it captured the warm, often humorous, spirit of the first. While the first book was certainly sad, this book gets pretty dark in a few scenes. I did appreciate the journey of grief, and found Louisa’s struggles realistic. As I finished the book, I felt more content and couldn’t help but want to read another book detailing the next chapter in Louisa’s life. Considering where the book does end, there certainly would be an opportunity to explore her more. I just wish this book maybe would have went in that direction in the first place.

Update: I guess the story I wanted may actually be happening! 

Movie Reviews: Moonlight, Jackie, Lion, and Hidden Figures

With the 89th Academy Awards coming up this Sunday, I wanted to share the last films I managed to see in theaters before the ceremony. I missed out on a couple that I had hoped to see, but plan to rent them as soon as they are available (looking at you, Fences).   

Moonlight:

Similar to 2014’s Boyhood, this story is a snapshot of a boy in various stages of his young life, as he grows into a man. Moonlight tells the story of Chiron in three parts, with a new actor taking on the role each chapter. As we follow the quiet and introverted Chiron growing up in a black neighborhood around Miami, we see him deal with a drug addicted mother (Naomie Harris) and attempt to understand his sexuality. Mahershala Ali’s role as a drug dealer, turned mentor, to Chiron is a stand-out, but his presence is cut too short. While his ending is realistic given the setting, you really miss him as the film moves on. Hopefully the success he has found with this film will turn him into a leading star. All three actors who portray Chiron (Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sandersdo, and Trevante Rhodes) do a great job (although don’t look much alike), each showing a solemn, but kind, boy who is trying to find himself and adapt to the world around him. The storytelling sucks you in, and leaves you feeling a bit heartbroken throughout.

Jackie:

Jackie focuses on the days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and how Jackie Kennedy dealt with his loss, as well as adapting to a new life. The film did feel a bit disconnected at times, and didn’t necessarily tell a full and focused story. I would have liked to expand further into Jackie’s life post life in the White House, but it focuses on just that brief moment in time. The story is set around an interview she gives, but I did find it hard for much of the movie to truly look past Natalie Portman, who plays the title role. Not that her performance was a failure, it was just hard to feel totally engrossed at times as I began to think about the specifics of the character and surroundings. I guess that it was is hard about playing such a well-known person, because even if a performance is good, it is still hard to truly see the person when you are so familiar with how the real one acts. What I liked best about this film though was the music, it was startling and dramatic, and the costumes were impressive. It was interesting to think back on this time in America, especially given the recent inauguration, and wonder what films may on day be made on the time we are living in now.

Lion:

The story of Lion is a powerful true-story about the journey of a young boy in India who becomes separated from his family. After Saroo gets on an abandoned train, he falls asleep, soon taking him far away from his home. He deals with challenges and frightening situations as he tries to find a way back, but eventually is set up for adoption and sent to Australia. The first hour or so of the film is led by young Saroo (played by a wonderful first-time actor, Sunny Pawar), who really does perfectly lead the film with a natural charm and sweetness. When the film switches about half-way to show an adult Saroo (portrayed strongly by Dev Patel) living in Australia, it takes a bit to adapt to the changes and initially almost feels like a separate film. As we come to know the older Saroo, we see how different his life turned out being raised in a Western society, as he goes to university, socializes, and has a girlfriend. His life is incomplete though without knowing what has come of the family he left behind. With some early hesitations, he eventually becomes consumed in researching and mapping his way back home. The first part of the film is truly encompassing and special, but I wish the second part of the film would have focused a bit more on his relationship with his adopted mom (played by Nicole Kidman) who seemed to be an important factor in his life. The differences of the mom he came from and the one who got to raise him would have been very interesting to explore more. My favorite part of the film had to be at the end when we find out the meaning of the title of the film. It made me tear up and was a wonderful moment to round out a special story.

Hidden Figures:

During the Space Race in the 50s and 60s, many people played important roles at NASA, without much credit, but ultimately being the ones who made it all happen. Hidden Figures tells the story of some of these real-life people, which included female African-American mathematicians. Katherine Johnson (Tariji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) used their brainpower to assist the program, all while facing the difficulties that came with being a woman and being black at that time. The cast is wonderful, especially Taraji P. Henson in the lead role, who portrays Katherine’s intelligence and thoughtfulness in a beautiful way. Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, and Mahershala Ali also round out the cast. The story of Hidden Figures is uplifting and positive movie. While you may not have any clue what the calculations mean, you root for the characters and believe that anyone can make a difference, no matter the challenges.

Movie Reviews: La La Land, Manchester By The Sea, and Patriot's Day

The Award season is upon us again. With the Academy Award nominations announced this week, I realized how behind I am this year at seeing most of the Best Picture nominees. I have quite a few left to see, but here is a quick summary of what I have seen so far this month!

La La Land

With Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling singing and dancing, La La Land is a beautiful and whimsical original musical, that also acts as an ode to Los Angeles. In the current political climate, La La Land also serves as a nice escape..  The story is simple enough, even amongst the flashy dance numbers throughout the Los Angeles freeways and hilly streets. It also shows the realistic struggles and disappointments young people face in their career choices. While the film ends a bit bittersweet, the visuals and songs are bright. Gosling and Stone maybe aren’t the best dancers or singers, but that adds to the charm of the film. Something I couldn’t quite shake was a tinge of disappointment as the film ended though. While everything seemed so great on the outside, I still left feeling a bit conflicted. This was similar to my reaction to 2011’s The Artist (which one Best Picture at the 2012 Academy Awards). Maybe because both were hyped so heavily and displayed a callback to older Hollywood films that I had my hopes set a bit too high.

Manchester By The Sea

Manchester By The Sea has been big on my “must-see” list ever since I started to read about it at different film festivals. I expected it to be a touching story of a man who is appointed his nephew’s guardian after his brother’s death, but I did not expect the emotional punch the film delivers. I’ve never been overly fond of Casey Affleck’s performances, but here, he really does a great job dealing with the difficult emotions the story presents. His performance as Lee Chandler is subdued, but has layers of complexity as his past is revealed slowly through flashbacks. The other cast members provide strong performances, with Michelle Williams playing Lee’s ex wife, Kyle Chandler as his deceased brother, and Lucas Hedges as the teenage nephew he now is in charge of. The downside of this film is that it is just so sad and bleak at times, the small moments of humor don’t really make you feel much better. The Massachusetts scenery is a key element to the film, and adds to the beauty and darkness of the story. The film is surprisingly long at 137 minutes, and when I left the theater I felt like I had to slowly come out of the bubble the story trapped me in, but I also felt slightly hopeful.

Patriot’s Day

Although I was mixed on certain things about the previous two films, this one I am the most mixed about primarily because I’m not really sure this should have been made at all. The Boston Marathon bombing was an incredibly intense few days for the country to follow, as well as a strong display of Bostonians coming together after the hateful attack. My feeling is that if you are going to make a straight forward story on this tragedy, the film did a solid job relaying what happened in all aspects and departments. While most of the characters are the real life people who were involved that day, the lead character is a fictional person, with Mark Wahlberg taking on the role. He acts as the guy to bring together all the parts and locations of the film together, but it does take away from the true-story aspect of the film as his character unrealistically ends up in every possible place where important moments happened. I still remember the day, and the events that followed, quite clearly, so seeing it all reenacted didn’t do much for me. The film interestingly used the real footage of the bombers that was taken from cameras, which almost gave the film a documentary feel at times. The film even ended with a short documentary featuring the real people the movie highlighted. If the story was more focused on one person though, it may have felt like a more important tale to tell (there is a film coming soon focusing on Jeff Bauman, who was seen in one of the most unforgettable images from that day), but instead the movie left me indifferent. The film was a great way to show off the city of Boston and celebrate how they handled the spotlight on their city, but the real event seems like it happened too recently for a film to be desired at all.