Ed's Review Dot Com

Fox Searchlight Pictures, LD Entertainment, Wild Bunch,

Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Billy Crudup, Richard E. Grant, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, Max Casella, Caspar Phillipson

November 22, 1963, President John F Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Jackie (Natalie Portman) Kennedy brings us into her life right after the assassination to portray the confusion, sorrow, fear, and grief that she has to go through during the days and weeks after the event in this fact based docudrama of the days following Kennedy’s death. Without taking a huge chunk of her life, the screenwriter chose just one event. With the unique style, this film is a story told by Jackie to a writer about the events surrounding her husband’s death and burial told after some time passed, but it also mixes this with footage of the famous tour of the White House TV show that was made shortly after they arrived in the White House.

This is a rather interesting story of how it all happened. I was in gym class when the principal broke into the P.A. system and broadcasted the news directly over the speakers so we could hear. I remember the three or four days where nothing was on television other than the news of the shooting, the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald, and the funeral procession. I saw hours and hours of people filing past the casket day and night, and rehash of the events on every channel. There was nothing else to do, and it was a bit overwhelming, but a whole country was in mourning. We were also afraid. We didn’t know what would happen next. But Jackie and her two little children lived though it in a time that must have seemed surreal. We never knew what Jackie was doing behind the scenes other than when she would pop out in front of the cameras from time to time. But this movie covered the time in depth, and I found that quite fascinating. It’s heart tugging, and it’s difficult to imagine sometimes, but is is interesting. I couldn’t help but see and hear Natalie Portman though, and it certainly made me painfully aware that we were not watching Jackie. I think she did an excellent job, but it is very difficult to pull off portraying such a well known celebrity as she was. But I have seen other movies that covered Jackie’s life after the White House, but it was the first time I have ever seen someone attempt to pull off those few days where time stood still. And as a child of Camelot, I remember the assassination like it was just yesterday. Well done film, and well worth watching if you’re interested in what happened.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Fidélité Films, Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Wild Bunch,

Catherine Deneuve, Nemo Schiffman, Gérard Garouste, Camille, Claude Gensac, Paul Hamy, Mylène Demongeot, Hafsia Herzi, Evelyne Leclercq, Valérie Lagrange

Bettie (Catherine Deneuve) is the owner of a restaurant, but it’s having financial difficulties. She’s just gotten out of a failed relationship and the pressure is building. Then she finds herself out of cigarettes and heads out on the road to buy some, but it’s Sunday and most of the places where she would get them are closed, but since she really wants a pack of cigarettes, she makes the snap decision to keep driving and never look back. She decides along the way to pick up her grandson to try to patch things up with her daughter, and he joins her as sets out to deliver him to his Grandfather. As in most road trip films, it’s all about the journey and the experiences as Bettie tries to pull it back together. This film is in French with English subtitles.

I can remember Catherine Deneuve from way back in the 70’s when she was young and beautiful. I haven’t seen her for years, but it was nice to see an old friend. She’s definitely older, and she does a brilliant job of playing the struggling restaurant owner who just can’t seem to catch a break and is just fed up. This is a very French style film, but it was a pleasure to watch. Denueve’s character was played very well, and she really knows how to pull the feelings out of us along the way. From ditzy and air headed to sullen and sad, she goes through a range of emotions, and we want her to succeed if for no other reason than she deserves it. Her grandson Charly (Nemo Schiffman) is also well played. He is rotten one moment and really caring the next. The play between these two characters is what makes this film interesting. The beginning is a bit slow for my taste, but if you keep with it, it picks up as it goes along. I really hoped for a better ending, but the do try, really hurriedly, in the end to tie up all the loose ends, but it certainly could have been better ended. It’s too much like a “let’s give this thing a realistic ending instead of a story book ending” which is more like life (which is usually pretty boring) and not really what I wanted, but it was a well done road picture and well worth watching, if for nothing else, but for the culture. I think it’s a good experience to watch a film with subtitles once in a while, and I think it does us good. This was one I was not blown away by, but it was worth my time, and I’m glad I got re-acquainted with one of the royals of French cinema.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Quat’sous Films, Wild Bunch, France 2 Cinéma

Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing, Catherine Salée, Benjamin Siksou, Mona Walravens, Alma Jodorowsky, Jérémie Laheurte, Anne Loiret, Benoît Pilot, Sandor Funtek, Fanny Maurin

Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is a 15 year old girl who is determined to fall in love. But her experiences with boys just leaves her wondering what it’s all about. On a trip downtown, she spots Emma (Léa Seydoux) a girl with blue hair that really piques her interest. Unable to understand what it’s all about, she eventually finds Emma and the two learn together about social issues, growing up, love, and loss.

This is a French film that was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, and is a very touching story. Brutally honest, it’s often very painful to watch, but at the same time, it’s one of those movies that stay with you long after it’s over. It’s very touching, and the pain is really real. The story is very well done, and the actors are really excellent. There is a scene early in the film before Adele gets to know Emma with one of Adele’s best friends that is really awkward, but stunningly real. Be aware that this is a French film, and the NC-17 rating on the film is there for a reason. This film is very graphic in an intimate way, and uncomfortable watch, as it’s so real. You feel a lot like you’re eavesdropping on this poor girls efforts to become an adult, and it feels pretty creepy sometimes. Her heartaches will hit you full force, and so will the happiness and joy. Basically this is review of many emotions that will keep you thinking about it long after it’s over. It’s a foreign film, so it’s in French with English subtitles, but if you like realistic and highly emotionally charged stories, then this is a pretty good one.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Wild Bunch, Copperheart Entertainment, Government of Ontario: Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program,

Abigail Breslin, Peter Outerbridge, Michelle Nolden, Stephen McHattie, Peter DaCunha, Samantha Weinstein, Eleanor Zichy, David Hewlett

Lisa (Abigail Breslin) is really unhappy. Her parents are never consistent, and they’re always talking about silly things that don’t make sense. But her inner sixth sense tells her that something really spooky is going on and she’s out to find out. A girl who she sometimes sees leads her to a hidden book under her floor where the answers about an evil serial killer who once lived in the house is still out to kill young girls and she is the only one who can stop it, if she can just get someone to believe her.

This is a really creepy horror film, made in Canada, and actually not bad at all. It’s a little hard to follow at times, and it does have some wicked twists and turns along the way, but it is scary, and very suspenseful, and very dark! Abigail does a fine job in the lead role here, and her parents are so creepy it’s unbelievable. It’s not “loud noise, jump out at you” scary, but the terror builds and builds little by little due to the decent story here, and not by simply cheap shots that is so common these days. This is a classic thriller horror film that really pleased me. This DVD was just released, and is also available via streaming, and if you’re a fan of horror films, then you probably won’t want to miss this one. It’s a unique story, and an interesting down the road of the supernatural like the horror stories of old.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog