Ed's Review Dot Com

The Weinstein Company, Yucaipa Films, Pathé,

Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Anna Maxwell Martin, Ruth McCabe, Barbara Jefford, Kate Fleetwood, Peter Hermann, Mare Winningham, Michelle Fairley

This is the true life story of Philomena (Judi Dench) who when she was a young girl, found herself pregnant and her family sent her off to live in a convent. She had a son, who was given away to an adoptive couple. Fifty years later, Philomena finally tells her daughter about her older step brother and the daughter convinces her to contact a disgraced reporter Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) and together they make a desperate search for the son she had never heard from again.

This is such a wonderful story. It’s basically built on fact, although they did change a few things around to try to make it a better (or less controversial) story. The real Philomena is on the special features, and tells a lot about her side of the story and how she was thrilled to have Dame Judi Dench play her in this film. She cooperated with the movie and was very pleased that her story could be shared to the world. There are a lot of surprises, and unexpected events along the journey, and it’s really tragic, but Philomena has such a good spirit and a forgiving nature, that she doesn’t hold any grudges against anyone, even though she has many reasons too. Judi Dench is fabulous as always, and carries the story. But Steve Coogan, who seems at first to be a rather odd choice, actually is very appropriate as Martin Sixsmith, and deftly portrays the characters bias and fears, and lack of belief, completely unlike Philomena. The story tells the story of these odd friends, perhaps more than the story of Philomena’s son. Certainly this is all about the journey. Very, very touching, and I must admit that I was spellbound by this story. It made me mad, but also, again due to Philomena’s character, made me feel good after all. This is an excellent film, and certainly deserved more praise than it got this past years awards season. This, to me, has to be the best picture I’ve seen in 2013. I loved it, and I highly recommend this story if you have an ounce of compassion in your body. Wonderfully written, and spectacularly performed. This is a wonderful movie.

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Relativity Media, Yucaipa Films, Goldmann Pictures,

Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Michael Lerner, Sean Bean, Danny Woodburn, Martin Klebba, Sebastian Saraceno, Jordan Prentice, Mark Povinelli, Joe Gnoffo, Ronald Lee Clark, Robert Emms

Another retelling of the classic Grimm’s Fairy Tale of a girl who is left with her stepmother, the queen, after her father dies. The queen (Julia Roberts) is very jealous of Snow (Lily Collins) because of her beauty. This dark tale, closer to the story than the Disney version, tells of Snow’s adventures to try to gain back the throne which is rightfully hers. The seven dwarfs are seedy little guys, but agree to help Snow to return to the throne.

There were two Snow White films that came out this summer. The other was “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Of the two, I really feel the other one was better, and Chalize Theron really did the wicked queen to the hilt! But Julia Roberts gives it a good try in this version, but it’s a lot harder to forget that she’s Julia Roberts after all, and not an evil queen. Still the special effects are pretty good, and it’s not a bad film at all. It’s too bad that it gets compared all the time to the other film, as it would have done really well had it been the only one. But it’s not a story that we haven’t seen before, and that turns off a lot of people, so it didn’t get great treading in the Box Office department. Still, not that the other film is out of our minds, and this one is available on DVD, why not give it a chance. It’s a bit scary for little kids, but for anyone above about 10, it’s going to be a pretty decent family adventure. It’s nice that Show White is not “that girl from Twilight” and it gives us a chance to get to know her at Snow White and not some famous actor in the role. At the same time she is very good at it.

All in all this is a nice family rental, and a good evening at home movie night film. I really did enjoy myself watching this.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Lionsgate

Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Mare Winningham

Brothers is an intense look into the lives of a disturbed family.   Two brothers are very close, but one is a screwup just out of prison, and the other a hero who does everything right.  Tobey’s character is the nice boy.  He’s married and on his way for his second tour to Afghanistan.  While he’s gone tragedy happens, and everyone is suspicious as the screw up brother steps up and tries to do the right thing for the right reasons.  Or does he?  After all, everyone thinks his brother is dead.

When her husband comes back, he’s changed, Or is he?

Jealous now, that something may not be exactly right about his brother’s relationship with his wife.  What is wrong?

There’s a lot to these characters and no one is who you may expect.  Do the brothers really care about each other?  Who’s side is Dad on?  What’s really going on?

This is a pretty decent movie.  It’s not real fast paced, but there is an awful lot going on and the end is rather suspenseful.

Mostly I think it’s rightly named, as the realationship of the “Brothers” is the crux of the story.    But by the time it’s over, you feel like you know them all, and it’s worth the effort.  This movie is often listed as anti-war.  I don’t think it takes a stand on the war.  But I think it’s a valid expression of how war changes people.   Whether you take that as anti-war or not, I’m not able to say.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog