By the Sea - Review

R  |  132 min  |  Drama, Romance
Review - Matt Mungle

**In select theaters November 20th 2015**

Synopsis: By the Sea follows an American writer named Roland (Brad Pitt) and his wife, Vanessa (Angelina Jolie Pitt), who arrive in a tranquil and picturesque seaside resort in 1970s France, their marriage in apparent crisis. As they spend time with fellow travelers, including young newlyweds Lea and François, the couple begin to come to terms with unresolved issues in their own lives. 

Review: This film comes on the heels of Angelina Jolie's directorial endeavor UNBROKEN. Here she not only directs but also stars in the film, portraying a character from the script she wrote. It is safe to say that she does all three impressively. If you want to get the Oscars to notice then give them a lot of options. Regardless of its Academy Award potential it it not necessarily a film for everyone. 

The story is well penned and you immediately engage with the characters. Roland and Vanessa obviously have some baggage other than their Louis Vuitton. This is a couple who are amiable to one another but just below the surface is a torrent of emotion and anger seething through marital fissures. Roland adores his wife but her catatonic emotional state and refusal to talk about their troubles is bringing him to a breaking point. He spends his days at the local pub drinking and searching for inspiration for his writing. She barely leaves their hotel room and stares blankly into space with sorrowful eyes. 

The mystery revolves around an incident in their past. Something has caused pain and separation for them. You can speculate and soon get a pretty good idea, yet their is still an intrigue to them that keeps you a tad unsure. Most of this comes from Vanessa. The movie takes a turn when a young newlywed couple rent the apartment next to theirs. Vanessa's fascination with them is a mix of voyeurism and contempt. Neither  her or Roland are extroverts so their desire to mingle with these two add to the plot. 

Brad Pitt was a good choice for the role. The fact that his character is so in love with his wife comes easy since he more than likely feels that for Angelina. The way he looks at her is probably no different than real life. Jolie too seems at ease in her characters pain and anger. It is widely known of her own personal journey and there is no doubt she tapped that tree for this performance. The supporting cast of actors will be unfamiliar to American audiences. This helps to ground you to the village in which they are staying. You get the since that these people have lived there their entire lives. 

The film is also beautiful to watch. Cinematographer Christian Berger uses the French seaside to his advantage creating a movie that looks timeless. Every detail captures the 70's wonderfully. The slow pace of the story and the expansive shots also add to the time period. You can almost feel the salty air as it gently blows the curtains of an open window allowing the atmosphere to swallow you up. 

That is all good news. The problem with BY THE SEA is that 132 minutes is a long time to watch the repetitive days of the characters. The film can be summed up in ten minutes. Not a lot happens. Yes we are being introduced to their pain slowly. True that it takes time to capture the rhythm of the story. But unless you adore films of this tone and nature the minutes will drag by. Also it is not a standard couple drama. Events unfold and Vanessa and Roland engage in some very off putting decisions when it comes to their new neighbors. This adds to the intrigue but the graphic depictions may create awkward moments for some mixed company viewers. Just say I would not recommend it for a first date. 

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, and language it is an adult drama. If those three things do not bother you in the realm of mature and non gratuitous film making then you will be ok. Most of the graphic sexuality comes in a voyeuristic manner. Sadly for many this will distract from the very emotional journey that Roland and Vanessa take. It is touching and poignant. A story that easily could have been told without the visual nudity. Adult viewers are smart enough to know what is going on. The conclusion would have unfolded just as well either way. I give it a 3.75 out of 5. It is a beautiful film to watch and Jolie proves that regardless of what hat she is wearing, she will deliver one-hundred percent. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - Review

PG-13  |  137 min  |  Adventure, Sci-Fi
Review - Matt Mungle

**In theaters November 20th 2015**

Synopsis: As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.

Review: THE HUNGER GAMES franchise comes to a close with an emotional, action filled conclusion as MOCKINGJAY PART 2 releases. PART 1 ended with a climactic cliffhanger and this one picks up right where it left off. 

MOCKINGJAY is the third book in the popular YA book series by  Suzanne Collins. Most readers would agree that this final book was the least popular and at times hardest to endure addition. While THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE were expertly written and riveting, MOCKINGJAY seemed forced and boring. Fans were pleasantly surprised when the first MOCKINGJAY film was so powerful and explosive. It is arguably the better of the movie versions. That fact makes part two highly anticipated. 

Part 2 begins with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) licking her wounds which came at the hands of Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Once allies and the couple all districts fell in love with Peeta was kidnapped and brainwashed by the capital in Part 1 to hate Katniss. This bit of distraction has not stopped Everdeen who is still the leader of the rebellion and the girl on fire has set her sites on destroying President Snow (Donald Sutherland). This will take infiltrating the Capitol, hunting down, and murdering Snow. 

This is a very fitting tribute to the franchise and one which fans will revel in and enjoy. There is plenty of action and Hunger Game style challenges. But also there is a palpable element of emotion. Many issues are coming to a close and Katniss, Peeta, and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) have to figure out where they fit in this overall scheme. For the moment they need to trust President Alma Coin (Julianna Moore) as she leads the rebellion but always keeping their eyes on the objective. 

The film somehow takes the mediocre text of the book and elevates it to a top notch film. Maybe the action elements on screen fail to sizzle on the page. Normally it is the opposite. We are used to saying that the film, "is never as good as the book" when it comes to movie adaptations. But as we witnessed in Part 1, this one certainly sizzles. 

There is of course a twinge of sadness the moment that Plutarch Heavensbee's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) face emerges the first time. Hoffman's death still weighs heavy on our hearts and he is horribly missed. There was a collective sigh as we all felt the impact of the reminder. The supporting cast includes familiar characters like Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci). 

If you have never read the books but only amerced yourself in the movie franchise you will engage with this one from the first frame. As the final conflict draws near it pulls you closer and closer to the edge of your seat. The twist and turns are heart wrenching and intense. If you have read the books and know the outcome it will be awesome to see it all flesh out in front of you. 

This is not a perfect film nor is it without a few holes and frustrating story arcs. The relationship triangle with Peeta, Katniss, and Gale is often too "Twilight" in nature. Granted not as eye rolling and stomach turning as the Edward vs. Jacob fiasco but sadly Katniss does channel Bella one too many times in her finicky bouncing from guy to guy.  Also they set up impossible scenarios that Katniss and her squad seem to overcome easily. There is a lot to squeeze in to the 137 minutes so often it feels like really cool moments are sped by too quickly. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material. Obviously if this is on your radar you have seen the three prior flicks. This one is not nearly as visually assaulting as the earlier films which had kids killing kids. This one is more on the dramatic side and the violence and action more war like. I give it 3.75 out of 5 white roses. It is successful end to what has been a long anticipated finale. 

Bad Boys and Bad Boys II now on Blu-ray

Number of discs: 2
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2015

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates a momentous milestone for a wildly popular and influential action franchise with the release of BAD BOYS I & II: 20^th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION on Blu-ray^™ and Digital HD 

Review: How can it possibly be 20 years since this came out?! We have seen both careers, of Smith and Lawrence, excel since then but it sort of all goes back to this. These are both iconic must haves for fans of the genre and movie collectors. Both films are fully remastered and this is the first time they have been offered p on Blu-ray. also included is the Digital HD version. You can get both now in this handy 2-pack collection


BAD BOYS Synopsis:

From director Michael Bay (Transformers) comes a thrill ride of explosive action from beginning to end. One hundred million dollars’ worth of confiscated drugs has just been jacked from police custody. Once the career bust of Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), the missing drugs now threaten to shut down the Narcotics Division of the Miami Police Department. When the drug investigation turns deadly, the murderers kidnap the only witness, a beautiful police informant (Téa Leoni) and close friend of the boys. Experience all of the humor, thrills and action like never before with this 20th anniversary edition – now fully remastered in 4K.

BAD BOYS has a run time of approximately 118 minutes and is rated R for intense violent action and pervasive strong language.

BAD BOYS Bonus Features Include:

§  Commentary by Director Michael Bay

§  “The Boom And The Bang Of Bad Boys” Featurette

§  Three Music Videos

§  Original Theatrical Trailers

BAD BOYS II Synopsis:

Fully remastered in 4K and for the first time on Blu-ray! Hang on for maximum mayhem, full-on fun and the wildest chase scenes ever put on film! The action and comedy never stop when superstars Martin Lawrence and Will Smith reunite as out-of-control trash-talking buddy cops. Bullets fly, cars crash, and laughs explode as they pursue a whacked-out drug lord from the streets of Miami to the barrios of Cuba. But the real fireworks result when Lawrence discovers that playboy Smith is secretly romancing his sexy sister, Gabrielle Union (Bring It On). Director Michael Bay (Transformers) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (The Pirates of the Caribbean) deliver a high-speed, high-octane blockbuster that will blow you away!

BAD BOYS II has a run time of approximately 147 minutes and is rated R for strong violence and action, pervasive language, sexuality and drug content.

BAD BOYS II Bonus Features Include:

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Production Diaries

§  Stunts and Visual Effects Featurette

§  Jay Z "La-la-la" Music Video

§  Sequence Breakdowns

§  Original Theatrical Trailers

Fire City: End Of Days - Review

101 min  |  Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
Review - Rusty Ryan

**Now on DVD/DIGITAL**

Synopsis: Vine, a disillusioned demon, secretly lives with others of his kind in the world of humans sustained by their misery.

Review: Fire City: End Of Days is a film about demons hiding in plain sight among us regular folk, while feeding our emotions and occasionally our blood.  It plays out as quite the interesting mess. Fire City is an imaginative and visually appealing film but the confusing story line might make it a tough movie to dig into. 

Labeling this genre bender is challenging. Does anyone know if there is a cinema category for a “Demon Horror Drama”?

In simple terms, this is a dramatic story of a disillusioned demon that finds his nature conflicted because of his concerns for humanity.  And he ultimately must choose between the two. We, as viewers, can see the true form of the demons but to the humans in the film the demons look like regular people. On the surface this sounds like a great premise. But the execution is jarring, confusing and contradictory.  Much of the confusion comes by showing the demons with their intricate facial makeup/prosthetics in ordinary everyday situations. Many of these demons are scary in appearance but it’s strange having these fantastic looking creatures talking on a cell phone or sitting in front of a computer. Something just does not click.

The imaginative creature makeup is reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed or the Richard Stanley/John Frankenheimer version of Island of Dr. Moreau. The director, Tom Woodruff Jr. is a masterfully accomplished special effects wizard. His mouth watering credits include The Terminator, Aliens, The X Files, The Monster Squad, Starship Troopers, and EVP: Alien vs. Predator. This is his directorial feature film debut. He has previously directed some shorts including a related nine minute short called Fire City: King of Miseries.

In short, Fire City comes across as a good episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. The acting is acceptable and the demon makeup is worth a look. Don’t look for any deep hidden insight into human relationships or demon relationships for that matter.

2 out of 5 stars.

BROADWAY PRODUCERS TO BRING EASTER-THEMED FAMILY MUSICAL TO BIG SCREEN

New York (October 27, 2015) - The producers of Matilda the Musical, La Cage aux Folles, and Sundance hits Mother of George and Blue Caprice are proud to present EASTER MYSTERIES, a modern reimagining of two medieval mystery plays that was performed at Hunter College last week and filmed for a theatrical release next March. The music, libretto and lyrics are by John O’Boyle, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, and the motion picture is directed by Danny Goldstein (Godspell, Tamar of The River) with Musical Arrangements and Music Direction by Milton Granger (Mary Poppins).

EASTER MYSTERIES reinterprets iconic figures in human terms – ordinary people with hopes, dreams and fears, uncertain of what lies ahead. Using the universal themes of death and Resurrection and love vs. betrayal, the passion play moves through Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the Last Supper, his arrest, Peter’s struggle with faith, and Jesus’ death, followed by the sightings of Jesus after his burial, Peter’s reconciliation of faith, and Jesus’ reappearance and Ascension. All begin a journey with certain expectations, only to find something very different from what they anticipated.
“Entering into the mystery of the Passion is something millions of people try to do every Easter season,” explained O’Boyle. “Participating in that mystery with a fresh and compelling angle of vision—and in a cinematic setting—seems a worthy goal.”

The array of leading lights that make up the cast includes Wallace Smith (Les Miserables, Rocky, Godspell) as Jesus, Tony Award nominee Phillip Boykin (Porgy and Bess, On the Town) as Caiaphas, Erin Davie (Side Show, Grey Gardens, Drood) as Mary, Kevin Early (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Peter, and Stephen Lee Anderson (Spiderman, Wicked, Fiddler on the Roof) as Herod. Aside from the classic biblical story, the show emphasizes faith in one’s own abilities and the power to overcome personal struggles.

O’Boyle’s fellow producer, three-time Tony Award winner Ron Simons of New York-based SimonSays Entertainment (Gin Game, A Gentleman's Guide, Porgy and Bess), called the Hunter College performance and filming “a tribute to the power in believing in something bigger than oneself.”

“The music is the wondrous connective tissue that brings this production to a remarkable level,” added director Goldstein. “Easter Mysteries is a great combination of humor, humanity and heartwarming family entertainment that offers modern day appeal to the greatest story ever told.”
The filmed presentation of the rousing oratorio will take place in 22 cities across the U.S. in March of 2016. For more information visit online at www.facebook.com/EasterMysteriesFilm.