Ed's Review Dot Com

Big Beach Films, Depth of Field, Kindred Spirit,

Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Aoi Mizuhara, Shuzhen Zhao, Gil Perez-Abraham, Jim Liu, Han Chen, Diane Dehn, Ines Laimins, Yongbo Jiang, Hong Lu, X Mayo, Becca Khalil

This is a story of a young Chinese lady, Billi (Awkafina) who is struggling to survive in New York City on her own. Billi is close enough to her parents, but trying to survive on her own without their help. She is still close to her Grandmother in China, and keeps in touch with her as her dreams fall by the wayside one by one. When her Grandmother is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, the family uses the excuse of Billi’s cousin’s (who lives in Japan) snap wedding to make a trip home to China for one last visit to her Grandmother. Her parents don’t want Billi to go because of her hard times with the finances, but Billi goes anyway. The family has decided to lie to Grandmother and not tell her about the cancer. The journey brings a lot of pain and joy to the entire family as they all are together for this side celebration while trying to hide the sadness of the fact that this may be last time they ever see Grandmother again.

This film was really wonderfully done. It is a touching story that is very, very Chinese. This is really a Chinese story, and the culture and customs are really interesting for an American guy like me to see. Sometimes life is really different. This film was advertised as a Comedy, but one look at the trailer lets you know that this is going to be a very heart touching dramatic piece for sure. I was right. Although some of it is really funny at times, it still really tugs the heart strings a LOT. I remember the laughs and jokes we had at my own Dad’s funeral a year ago, while feeling the sorrow at losing a parent, but remembering as well the good times and fun we had. This is the same way, as the family is really happy to get together, and see each other, and it’s too bad it’s a such a sad occasion that brings them together. It was also interesting to note that this is a biographical story loosely based on Writer and Director Lulu Wang’s real life story of a visit to China to visit her Grandmother under similar conditions where they used a mostly fake wedding as an excuse to go home to visit her Grandmother who they determined not to tell about her cancer in a similar fashion. Also, it was very, very difficult to get this movie even made, as Lulu found American producers would not touch it because it was too Chinese with all Chinese characters, and a LOT of the dialog is in Chinese and subtitled, while Chinese producers would not make it either because it was too American. I think after the success of “Crazy Rich Asians” it was finally able to be made. (This is merely my opinion, and probably wrong as obviously this movie took a long time to come to fruition, but it is a good thought). At any rate, it was an extremely moving movie, and very much worth the cost of a movie ticket to see this excellent story. I really enjoyed this film, and I would highly recommend it, as likely it is one of those films that is hard to find and is a hidden gem that may be way off your radar. If you can get a chance to see this film, I can really highly recommend it. I want to also mention that this was a great vehicle for Awkwafina. This is really her movie, as it should be, and she and Grandmother really carry the movie without only a little help from the rest of the cast. Not that they were not good, as well, but Awkafina really knocked this one out of the park. She was really funny in “Crazy Rich Asians” and that led to a hosting role on “Saturday Night Live which she also nailed, but his is a very serious and very somber role which shows her amazing acting ability and she really nailed it. I suspected she was a really good actress, but this one really shows she is no shallow actress only capable of playing a silly fool character. The really gave 100% to this role and she was awesome. I hope she is give the recognition she certainly deserves from this movie, as it so well well written, directed, produced, and performed that I consider it a must see. Enjoy it. I really did!

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Depth of Field, 1821 Pictures,

Lily Tomlin, Judy Greer, Julia Garner, Carlos Miranda, John Cho, Nat Wolff, Laverne Cox, Aaron Bilyeu, Elizabeth Peña, Colleen Camp, Sam Elliott, Mo Aboul-Zelof, Marcia Gay Harden, Missy Doty,
Don McManus

Elle (Lily Tomlin) has just broken up with her new girlfriend Olivia (Judy Greer) when her granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) shows up unexpectedly at her door asking for $600.00 cash. Grandma Elle is busted, but she agrees to help raise the funds. Neither grandmother or granddaughter has a relationship with Sage’s over ambitious and very critical mother, so Elle calls on all kinds of old friends who could fund her granddaughter’s problems. But the more they dig into the past, the more uncomfortable old skeletons, hard feelings, and disappointments get awakened on this amazing journey.

I was genuinely surprised by this film. Ms. Garner does a really good job as the granddaughter who thinks she’s hip, but finds she’s a lot more naive than she thought, but this is really Lily Tomlin’s movie. From Geraldine the phone company operator from her stand up days and Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In way back in the 60’s, we have seen her from time to time in films, mostly comedies, but this is really an awesome showcase for her. She was very, very good, and I think played the role stunningly. Now I can understand how young folks might not connect to the grandmother character, but Julia Garner is good enough to allow them to identify things from her point of view, so a 20 year old and a 60 year old may see different films, I believe both would like it. This is not the kind of movie that pulls in a huge box office, but like “On Golden Pond” for example, this is a touching and warm film about the relationships between different generations of the family, and was very enjoyable. This has a LOT of humor and is classified as a comedy, but it’s also a very touching and poignant film that is rather touching. I really enjoyed this movie and can recommend it highly.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Focus Features, Depth of Field,

Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Lily Tomlin, Nat Wolff, Sonya Walger, Tina Benko, Brian d’Arcy James

Portia (Tina Fey) is an admissions officer at Princeton, and up against one of the other ladies for a promotion. Her frenzy to find new talent sends her to an unorthodox school run by John Pressman (Paul Rudd). John introduces her to a young man at the school who she thinks could be her son. He wants badly to go to Princeton, but his grades are awful, even though he is somewhat of a genius and self taught. Portia risks her future to pull any strings she can to get him into Princeton at whatever the cost while sparks begin to fly between Portia and John.

This is a relatively funny film. It’s typical Tina Fey material, not too over the top, not hysterically funny, but constantly clever. She plays her usual helpful self trying to do what’s right without ruffling too many feathers, but making what seem to be all the wrong choices. This is a warm film, pleasantly entertaining, and though not Ha-Ha funny from beginning to end, very cleverly done and quite interesting. Not a big film, but a nice little film, and well worth watching if you’re in the mood for a light comedy without the usual gross out stuff most modern comedies throw at us. I thought they did a nice job with an intelligent premise and turned it into a sweet little movie.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Depth of Field, Lime Orchard Productions, McLaughlin Films

Demián Bichir, José Julián, Dolores Heredia, Joaquín Cosio, Nancy Lenehan, Isabella Rae Thomas, Rolando Molina, Magi Avila, Chelsea Rendon

A Better Life is the story of Mexican immigrant gardener Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir) and his relationship to his son Luis (José Julián) and his attempt to give him “A Better Life” by keeping him in school and away from East LA gangs. It’s a morality play about the hardships faced by illegal immigrants in a new land, and their problems hiding from ICE, while trying to simply make a living.

This movie is pretty good for what it is. It’s got a lot of family values. Luis is a good kid who is being pulled away by bad people. Carlos would do anything to protect his son. The acting is good, and it is very realistic. The story is strong, and you really get to know the characters. It’s a pretty decent film, and well worth the effort to rent this DVD and watch it. It really helps you understand and empathize with their situation. A Better Life is the perfect title for this film, as it gets right to the heart of the matter. I recommend this movie.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog