Ed's Review Dot Com

Indian Paintbrush,

Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon, Connie Britton, Jon Bernthal, Katherine Hughes

Greg (Thomas Mann) is an awkward high school student who does his best to stay invisible so as not to stand out. But when one of his classmates, Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with Leukemia, Greg’s Mother (Connie Britton) insists that he suck it up and spend time with her. So Greg with his friend Earl (RJ Cyler) in tow sets out to befriend Rachel much to her chagrin. But as time passes, Greg becomes less invisible, finds out a lot about himself, and finds he has helped Rachel while growing up a little himself.

This film is reminiscent of “The Fault in our Stars” in a way as it’s a story of growing up and facing loss and tragedy without losing yourself, but it is a very well done story. I think this will appeal to teens and is probably not a bad movie for that age group. It’s rated PG-13 and has some adult situations, but I truly don’t think it’s something that today’s teen aren’t already very familiar with. Only those with a strong dislike of adult themes like those who require their teens only attend G films (I know you’re out there) will think it’s too raunchy for the kids. The story is very touching and quite moving. The acting is good. Olivia Cooke I came to know as the sick girl from Bates Motel, and it seems like she gets the sick girl roles, but she’s a very good actress and quite good at extracting the emotion out of the scenes. She is excellent as the dying girl. Thomas Mann is pretty good as the geeky “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” type character and throws his heart into the role. RY Cyler is also good at his role as the voice of reason when Greg is going off the tracks. There are several back stories going on and many, many interesting characters played by such as Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon, Connie Britton, etc, who add a lot to the film beside the three leads. All in all it’s a nice little film and well worth watching. It’s one of those surprises that don’t come around all that often. Check it out.

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Allison Shearmur Productions, Beagle Pug Films, Genre Films,

Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgård, Derek Jacobi, Nonso Anozie

This big budget film is the live action retelling of Disney’s version of Cinderella, the animated feature from the 50’s. Poor Ella (Lily James) loses her mother, and her father remarries and brings home a new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) for her. But when her father falls ill and dies, things get harder for the family and the servants are let go, and Ella is required to be a servant, doing all the work maintaining the house while her stepmother and her two daughters take great pride in torturing her.

What an enjoyable film. I have heard lots of rumblings of how bad this film is and how it was a huge bomb at the box office, although the figures seem to contradict that. However, it probably wasn’t the huge bonanza that most of the studio execs suspected, and I’ve hear rumors of the death of big budget remakes. Another complaint I have heard is that it’s the same as the cartoon story and there was no point to remaking the film. I disagree with both assessments. First of all, the actual Cinderella story “Ashenputtel” by the famous Grimm Brothers is a horrid and gory little tale, although one of their more famous story. Disney really cleaned it up tremendously for younger folks not to give them nightmares. Rogers and Hammerstein gave it the Broadway Musical treatment and that is the other well known version of the story. But I suspect that the Disney version is the one we fondly remember from our childhood. This updated version which is very true to the original with a little bit added is a valuable story with many life lessons that is a film with real family values. Lily James was wonderful as Cinderella, perhaps the best I have ever seen with the naivete and charm and downright goodness that she portrays. She gets hurt and suffers and even gets angry, but has a pure heart that is very well played. Cate Blanchett actually did a really good job as the stepmother as well. She plays it as a bad, greedy, selfish person only concerned for her own daughters, but mostly herself, but is not as “wicked” as some have played it. She did an excellent job. Helena Bonham Carter was an unusual choice as the fairy godmother, and plays it a lot like her role as the Queen of Hearts in the live remake of Alice in Wonderland. But I enjoyed the novelty of a live action version of this story. It is a different experience, and though the mice help Cinderella with her dress are real mice and Lucifer the cat is really a cat. The animals do not talk, unlike the cartoon. In fact, there’s a short on the rental version of the DVD of a feature about all the many animal actors and how they got them working together. The other feature on the rental version is a new Frozen cartoon “Frozen Fever” where Elsa is trying to throw a birthday bash for Anna, but she is coming down with a cold, and and ice queen with a cold is not something very nice. It was, I assume, the cartoon that proceeded the film in the theater. It was well worth watching as well as long as the “Cold doesn’t bother you anyway”. All in all, I really enjoyed this film and I thought it was beautifully done. Cinderella’s ball gown is truly spectacular, and the extra bits that were added in filled in the story. (I have always wondered why the slipper would not fit hundreds of maidens in the kingdom since shoes sizes don’t vary that much, but it is a “magic” shoe after all, and this film explains that. I thought it was very well done and a movie young people are going to like for the exciting story, and the older folks are going to have a great time watching and walking down memory lane. I highly recommend this movie, especially for Disney fans.

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Columbia Pictures, Regency Enterprises, LStar Capital,

Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin

Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) is a contractor for the military who has had some rough times and lost his all-star reputation, but he’s assigned to go to Hawaii to negotiate with the local tribe leader who happens to be an old college buddy of his to trade some land for a project the military is working on with Carson Welch (Bill Murray). His problem is that his old love Tracy (Rachel McAdams) lives with her soldier husband (John Krasinski) which is a big distraction for him. But worse is that a go-getter young Air Force member Allison Ng (Emma Stone) is assigned to be his assistant, but is really supposed to babysit him to keep him in line and to make sure he doesn’t screw up again.

This is mostly a comedy, but with strong relationship issues between Bradley Cooper’s character, and both women, Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone. The whole part about essentially stealing the land from his friend who trusted him leads to a lot of torment for him, and trying to choose between them both. This is an interesting film, and had it’s moments. The local Hawaiian culture is interesting, as is the interaction between the King and Brian. But if there is a flaw, it’s Emma Stone (who I really like) who is a bit too over the top, and Bradley Cooper (who I usually like too) who was really flat. It was just kind of strange, and it was really hard to get into the story. So it’s hard for me to go way out on a limb and tell you this is a must see, as it isn’t. But it’s interesting in a way, and worth watching if you are interested in the story. I feel very middle of the road on this movie, and it’s just one of those things that I kind of enjoyed, but not that much, if that makes any sense at all.

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Sandbar Pictures,

Helen Hunt, Luke Wilson, Brenton Thwaites, David Zayas, Callum Keith Rennie, Elizabeth Jayne

Angelo (Brention Thwaites) is a young man living in New York with a very overbearing Mom. Jackie (Helen Hunt) is Angelo’s single mom and she planning his life out for him and he’s smothering. Angelo decides to go to Los Angeles to visit his father, and while there finds a life that is loose and easy and he takes up surfing. He soon decides to cancel his enrollment for college and stay in L.A. which drives his Mom nuts. So she sneaks out to L.A. to spy on him and while there finds a lot about herself and how to let go of the ghosts that are haunting her life.

This is a film with many angles. First and foremost this is a great vehicle for Helen Hunt. She passes through a lot of emotions and challenges. Secondly, it’s a surf movie. Jackie is the kind of person who is a perfectionist and rather over confident. She’s used to succeeding but when she decides to learn to surf, she finds it quite a bit more challenging than she thought. It’s a quirky romance, as Jackie meets a surf instructor Ian (Luke Wilson) and learns to let loose a little bit. But mostly it’s a well put together little character study. Helen Hunt was really good, although it’s quite a different look and feel for her, she did an excellent job. It’s a thought provoking and moving piece of film. It’s typical indy film and has some flaws. Some of it seems dragged out quite a bit. It’s slow sometimes as well. I didn’t think this is a great movie, but it wasn’t too bad, and I did enjoy watching it. For those who like films with lots of character development and not too much action, it could be something that you might enjoy. So this is a half-hearted recommendation.

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Fox 2000 Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment,

Lolita Davidovich, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Scott Eastwood, Oona Chaplin

Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson) is a bright college student with big plans and goals in the art world. Luke Collins (Scott Eastwood) is a talented rodeo bull rider who was recently badly injured, but is looking for a huge comeback. But his doctors insist he should not be riding anymore. As sparks fly between the very different lovers, they find that opposites attract. But when they come upon an accident and Luke rescues the elderly man Ira Levinson (Alan Alda) from the car, they form a friendship. From this point on the tales intertwine in typical Nicholas Sparks fashion to tell the two stories.

Well, I must admit that I’ve seen a couple films based upon Nicholas Sparks books, and one thing for sure is that they’re all in the same style. So is this one with so many moments that feel like “The Notebook” that it’s remarkable. Still, it’s a good solid story, and two romantic tales for the price of one. Seriously, this is a chick flick. There’s no other way to put it. But I was impressed with the whole story. There was lots of rodeo action which helped keep my interest up. I’ve never really been sure what makes people want to do that. Really, there’s a lot of intense conflict to resolve and bring together to a fitting ending to the story. The performances are really good, and the script is really well done, so all in all it was a pretty interesting film. This is one I can recommend highly.

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