Catching up on summer openings--and now I've switched to the AMC A-List program--it's more expensive ($21 a month) but allows you to see up to three films per week FOR ANY SHOW IN ANY AMC THEATRE IN ANY SCREEN SIZE AT ANY TIME. Movie Pass has changed their policy to exclude opening week or weeks, certain times of the day restrictions, dropped theaters, and only allows 3 films PER MONTH, still for $10. Those restrictions are prohibitive for me.
It may be the sixth film in the series, but MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT is the spy action thriller of the summer, with incredibly spectacular organized stunts, a plot that zips throughout the exotic world at record speed, memorable characters (good and bad) and a solid directorial action style that makes it easy to follow and enjoy. All technical credits are first rate, and this places MI:FALLOUT as the best action thriller of the summer. Even those who do not like Tom Cruise soon become caught up in the spy story--soon you realize that like the James Bond character, the MI series will continue (probably sooner than later) with a new main actor (or actress!) in the lead. GRADE-----A-
So far the most intriguing and effective documentary of the summer is THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS--the true story of triplets separated at birth, and adopted out to three different families--lower class, middle class, and upper class. As the film progresses from happy reunion to shocking revelations, a sense of anger, dread and mystery envelopes the viewer. THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS fulfills the drama and fascination of the best type of story telling.
GRADE-------A-
One of the delights of the summer for those who love ABBA music from the 1970's is the sequel (and, in flashback, prequel) to the original MAMMA MIA film from 2008, called, naturally, MAMMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN. Despite plumbing the most popular ABBA songs for the first outing, the producers have come up with some great turns from some lesser known tunes, and again used the music and lyrics to progress this new story--after Donna's (Meryl Streep) death, her daughter remodels the old hotel into a wonderful vacation spot, and while preparing for the opening day celebration with returning old friends and family, the flashback explains how the young Donna first came to the island and met her three boyfriends--all possible suitors and possible father for her baby out of wedlock. (Of course, a simple DNA test would destroy the need for the original and the sequel---but no one wants to know the truth.....) The young Donna and daughter are well played (and sung) by great look a like actresses Lily James and Amanda Seyfried, the adult friends/family are all returning actors, and highlights include grandmother Cher singing FERNANDO to an old flame and a brief appearance by Meryl Streep breaking down our tear ducts at a baptism. And just in case you couldn't get enough in the first film, the MAMMA MIA and DANCING QUEEN songs are repeated in all their singing and dancing glory by the newer cast. In many ways this film is a superior musical to the original, and for those who liked the first one, this one exceeds expectations. GRADE----------------------A-
The glitzy and glamorous soap opera drama CRAZY RICH ASIANS hits all the right notes--a young New Yorker who was raised as a baby in America, travels with her Chinese boyfriend to meet his family in Singapore, and they don't take well to American Chinese who have no concept of tradition and culture. She does her best to be likeable, but she has to worry about Mother and other relatives who don't want her marrying into the rich family. The cast is attractive and appropriately good or evil, and the film has a slick, colorful look to it. It might cover vapid situations, but the entertainment value is high, and I wouldn't mind seeing these characters again--which I will when they make the sequel to CRAZY RICH ASIANS--already announced--for next year. GRADE------------B+
I've always liked most of Spike Lee's films--well made and engrossing, but my main (minor) complaint always seems to be the same --a couple of times he becomes wincingly preachy in each film. Now, he has every right to do so, but I have to say that as a film goer, his preachy moments stop the film for me for a few minutes until he gets back on track with his visuals, drama and story telling. Here's the good news/bad news for me. In his new film, BLACK k KLANSMAN, he gets preachy right at the beginning with a racist monologue by Alex Baldwin, and then followed up with two short film clips. One from GONE WITH THE WIND where Scarlett wonders through a large area of wounded or dying soldiers after a major Civil War battle and the camera pulls back, way back, and she's shouting the name of her lover--what the hell is Lee trying to say. anyway? The next scene is much more obvious--perhaps too much so--an extended clip of (KKK) bigots watching and vocally enjoying the murder and violence of black people by white soldiers and police from the early film BIRTH OF A NATION, which I have never seen or wanted to see. Lee seems to be auditioning for the role of Captain Obvious, here. Finally, after nearly five minutes, the film starts--based on a true story of a black undercover cop who with the help of his white Jewish partner infiltrates the KKK resulting in some murder convictions. That story is compelling, well acted, intense and probably the best work Lee has done in his long career. He manages to lace humor into the dramatic proceedings, and the film become a likeable, proud achievement in the struggle for justice for all people. Too bad about the first five minutes! GRADE--------------B+
Here's a sweet, thoughtful, low budget film about a girl just finishing EIGHTH GRADE who is shy and uncertain about her life in general, but starts to come out of her shell by making a daily blog of how to survive junior high. She seems to know more about that than her real life. Her concerned single father gives her encouragement, and by the time she makes some older friends (from 9th grade) you know she will be all right in the coming new year. It's a gentle film, without any major surprises--enough to know that a lot of truths are being revealed. I'm not sure why, but the film won best film and best actress at the Golden Space Needle awards at SIFF (playing at the final weekend) earlier this summer. GRADE----------B
It's Denzel Washington again (his son David stars in the BLACK k KLANSMAN, above) repeating his role as a mild mannered, self made, one man avenger who tries to right wrongs with guns and violence in THE EQUALIZER II, and I will be the first to admit that I enjoy him very much in the role, even if some of the action seems rehashed from other films of the same ilk. This time he loses his close friend to violence in what seems like a conspiracy, natch, and after some legwork figures out who done it and seeks retribution. Simple but effective. GRADE----------B
Kelly MacDonald stars as a put upon mousy house wife. The first scene has her hosting a big party in her home---cooking, baking, cleaning up--and we suddenly find out that this is her own birthday party. One of her gifts is a 1000 piece PUZZLE, which she finds out she is very good at, and this propels her to discover new people and adventures which change her life. It's a gentle story with some modestly profound moments. GRADE---------B
The comedy/drama spy thriller called THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME is better than it has any right to be, and that's because it has some wonderful comic turns from Mila Kunis, and especially, specifically Kate McKinnon, from Saturday Night Live. They play an odd couple of best friends who become involved with Kunis' boy friend who has dumped her via e-mail because he is a spy in danger for his life. This sets them on a dangerous course of trying to hide and deliver a crypted file, and their ineptitude puts their lives in danger. They also have a way with a smart comeback and a wisecrack so the humor keeps the film from becoming a spy cliche. I had a good time with this one. GRADE----------B
It's been 14 years since the original animated film THE INCREDIBLES became a big big hit, and the new film THE INCREDIBLE II is not as funny and witty, but it has many great gags, especially with the new baby Jack-Jack who is just discovering his talents. In this one the mother is on the mission with the father staying home with the family, and much humor is gleamed from the fish out of water situation of the father trying to control the baby and the baby's new powers. Still, just a few weeks after seeing it I feel the film has slipped from my memory in any unique way. GRADE-----B-
Nearly 45 years ago, JAWS changed the way we watched and reacted to horror films, with skillful scenes of tension and terror. Since then, more than a dozen knock offs have been bombarding us. Now comes the biggest of them all--THE MEG which features the biggest shark of all--nearly 12 times the size of the original JAWS. The plotting is pretty predictable but fortunately the film has a lot of humor, and in spite of the cliches, the film is mostly fun to watch. GRADE--------B-
We've seen all the plot points before, rehashed in various other JURASSIC films, but I always enjoy dinosaurs eating stupid humans, and that keeps me watching. I mostly laughed at the new JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM. GRADE----------B-
This low budget film is well intentioned, but THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST suffers from the tentative handling of a controversial subject. At a camp to reassign teens from gay to straight, three friends try to adapt to the cruelness of their surroundings, but the film backs off from showing too much, instead having it both ways. Feels like a messed opportunity.
GRADE----------------------------B-
In this sequel, the nasty, profane humor is still nasty and profane, still making me feel like I need a shower after watching this violent, creepy DEAD POOL 2. At least the jokes, dirty as they are, are sometimes funny, and I wasn't bored--but I vow--no more DEAD POOL movies for me.
GRADE---------------------C+
It is pretty to look at, and has steady, beautiful cinematography, but this simple film about a lost teen who bonds with an injured wolf called ALPHA is pretty simple and very predictable.
GRADE----------------------C+
For a while, this docu-drama about girl skaters called SKATE KITCHEN is fascinating--the camera gets in close as we watch teen girls skate, skate skate, but even though they bond nicely with the runaway, there is not much plot here, and the camera movements are mostly hand held and giggly, and I got really bored after an hour. GRADE--------------C+
This Japanese courtroom drama about the "why" of a brutal murder is drawn out in slow motion, with long takes of talking or silence, and I was really bored by half way through this film called THE THIRD MURDER. The oblique ending doesn't help--it made the audience groan with dissatisfaction. GRADE---------C-
