"A Quiet Place: Day One" and the Month in Movie Reviews

[I review the movies "A Quiet Place: Day One," "Blink Twice" and "Will and Harper."]

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) 

They are BAAAACK!!!  - those creepy blind aliens with the ultra-sensitive hearing we got to know in the first two "Quiet Place" films.

I think you know how I feel about sequels.  I have griped about them here many times.  Now may I add prequels to that list of "Ick?" This is supposedly a prequel to the first two in the franchise.  I enjoy the occasional horror film and since I saw the first two and am a loyal movie watcher, I succumbed.  Sorry I did.

Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) is a terminally ill cancer patient living in a hospice outside New York City. She has a rather bad attitude but, hey, I get it.  She is dying.  She and her fellow patients are taken on a trip to the City to see a marionette show, but Sam insists that they also get pizza. Sam takes her cat, Frodo, along, too. Who takes her cat to a show?  Anyway, while there, it becomes apparent that something bad is happening.  Announcements are made from military helicopters warning civilians to stay silent and remain hidden.  An invasion of some nasty creatures has begun.

These creatures are bloodthirsty but blind.  However, they can hear the very slightest sound.  Thank goodness, they can't swim so people are being rescued onto boats.  Sam becomes separated from her group and even from Frodo but is eventually reunited with Frodo and meets Eric (Joseph Quinn), an English law student and the two, or three if you count Frodo, make their way to Harlem where, despite everything, Sam is determined to get some pizza. I mean she stays in the city despite it being full of bloodthirsty aliens, goes against the traffic heading to safety in the river and risks her life to get... PIZZA!  Huh?

Many encounters with the creatures ensue, with Sam and Eric trying to stay quiet.  There are the usual monster movie "gotcha moments" with some scary scenes but not enough to save this. 

I saw the first two installments and actually liked them, but this whole thing with sequels/prequels, has gotten out of hand. It seems that when a film is successful, the powers that be have to run the concept into the ground and wring it out for as much money as possible, and, in my humble opinion, that's what happened here.

With a screenplay by Michael Sarnoski and directed by him, there was an interesting premise - the dying young woman in a world where she is probably going to die - but I am also thinking this was supposed to be a blood-curdling adventure with some scary monsters.  It wasn't.  For me, it was a boring, irritating snooze fest with the same old monster horror tropes at play. Zzzzz.  Even the cat irritated me. And don't get me started on that whole need to get pizza no matter what. Usually in movies like this, the heroes and heroines stay in danger to save other people but...pizza? But then, there is a deeper meaning to the pizza, so I feel bad about bitching about it.   

But I have to ask...the title "Day One" implies there could be a "Day Two...or Three...or Four?"  God help us.

Rosy the Reviewer says...save your money.  However, if you don't believe me, are a big fan of this franchise and still want to see it, wait until it streams for free, unless you have Paramount+. (Available for free if you subscribe to Paramount+ and for rent on Prime and Apple+)

Blink Twice (2023)

When you are just a normal looking girl with a normal, boring life and a billionaire invites you to his private island, beware.

Frida (Naomi Ackie) is a nail artist (she likes animal themes) and a cocktail waitress but she is ready for a vacation. She is also a young woman who feels invisible and is star struck. She spends her time on Tik Tok envying the good life of tech mogul, Slater King (Channing Tatum).  However, he has fallen into disfavor and has had to say sorry and step down from his position with his company.  It is unclear what he has done, but he has stepped away from the spotlight and moved to his private island.

But wouldn't you know, he is trying to make amends by becoming a philanthropist and starting a foundation and it just so happens that Slater King's Foundation gala is at the restaurant where Frida works.  Frida and her friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat), insinuate themselves into the gala and meet Slater and he invites her and Jess to his private island.  Hey, Frida, here is your vacation.  Mmmm. 

The young girl who wants to live the dream is about to live a nightmare.

When the two arrive, there are others there: Slater's rather goofy assistant, Stacy (Geena Davis - where have you been?), who confiscates everyone's phones; photographer Vic (Christian Slater); private chef, Cody (Simon Rex); DJ, Tom (Haley Joel Osment); and young Lucas (Levon Hawke); as well as three other female guests: reality star, Sarah (Adria Anjona); app developer, Camilla (Liz Caribel); and lawyer, Heather (Trew Mullen).

All of the women are given lavish rooms, gift bags of perfume as well as food, drink and hallucinogenic drugs. Frida is dazzled by the first class treatment and the opulence.

So this is all well and good but nothing much happens in this movie for about 45 minutes until Jess is bitten by a snake and disappears and no one remembers her at all.  Then the maid seems to recognize Frida calling her "Red Rabbit" and all hell breaks loose and the twist is revealed. My favorite tag line is "Men are going to do what they're going to do.  Forgetting is a gift."

Written by Zoe Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum and directed by Kravitz, this is one of those movies about an invitation from a billionaire to go to a private island where bad things happen.  There are tons of these movies and TV series, such as the series "Murder at the End of the World" and the movie "The Menu," both of which I enjoyed. And even though it took forever for this one to get going, the reveal is revealing and a horrific ending ensues.  I enjoyed the last half, especially for the feminist theme and the female camaraderie, though the final scene was not believable. But I have to give props to Kravitz.  Female directors are hard to come by and this was a good directorial debut. I wish her great success.  

But Channing Tatum saved it for me. I have always been a big Channing Tatum fan, every since the early "Magic Mike."  I mean, ladies, he had some moves and is one handsome guy.  Here, he doesn't have a lot to do. Probably doing Zoe a favor.  She is his girlfriend, after all. But I enjoyed watching him. As for Ackie, she is not your usual leading lady but made a splash playing Whitney Houston in "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

Okay, now a rant. The movie starts with a "Trigger Warning" - yes, that was the heading -  that the viewer is about to experience abuse and other "triggering" issues.  Is this now going to be a thing? Are we now so sensitive that we can't tell the difference between reality and a movie and need to be reminded...IT'S A MOVIE.  THIS ISN'T REAL!  When you see how this movie ends, it is difficult for me to get my head around anyone being triggered because they had a similar experience. Are we going to get "Trigger Warnings" now in horror films saying we are going to see horrible monsters ripping people's throats out because it might trigger us in case we have had that happen to us in the past?  Or even a Trigger Warning on a comedy that the movie might not be funny which might upset us because we have been disappointed in the past with comedies that weren't funny?  Geez. Give me a break. Not a fan.

Anyway, bottom line for this film...what my mother always used to say..."Don't wish for something. You just might get it."  "But you go, girls."  My mother didn't say that.  I did.   

Rosy the Reviewer says...and here is also what I say..."The evil that men do." (For rent on Prime and Apple+)

Will & Harper (2024)

Will Ferrell goes on a cross country road trip with his long-time friend, Harper, who has transitioned from a male to a female.  Harper has crossed the country by car many times as a male but now wants to see what it would be like as a female. Would she be accepted?

Will Ferrell met Harper Steele when she was Andrew Steele, a writer for "Saturday Night Live." Ferrell remembers him as a "lovable curmudgeon," with a crazy sense of humor.   One of the sketches Steele is known for is Ferrell as Robert Goulet.  They later co-wrote "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga."

Longtime friends, they lost touch when the Pandemic hit but then Steele reached out to inform Ferrell and other friends that he had decided to go through gender transition, something he felt he should have done 40 years ago. So what do you do when your best friend tells you he is going to transition to becoming a female?  Why, you go on a road trip and make a documentary about it!

Steele had fond memories of the many times she had traveled cross country as a male, stopping in small towns at dive bars, hanging with the locals.  But that was then, when she was a male.  What would it feel like now as a female?  Would she be accepted?  "Will I still be loved?"

Directed by Josh Greenbaum, this film documents a 17-day road trip that Ferrell and Steele made, starting at SNL in New York City where they say hi to fellow SNL cast members and alums and then heading out across the country, stopping in small towns, meeting the locals, visiting the town Steele grew up in, visiting her sister, attending a Pacers game, and Will attempting to eat a 72 ounce steak in Amarillo, Texas, to name just a few of their adventures. There are also visits with SNL alums  Kristin Wiig, Will Forte and Molly Shannon. 

But the heart of this documentary is just the two of them - Will and Harper - as they interact in the car, asking each other questions and Harper shedding light on her journey, wondering whether the country she has loved so much as a man will love her back now as a woman. 

The film is funny and poignant and very real. Harper shares the feelings she has had all of her life and the fears she has had over this huge change in her life.  It's a documentary, a road trip, a geography lesson but mostly it offers insight into transitioning, something that is important now with so much acrimony surrounding identity issues.  But the film also shows another side of Ferrell.  This is not the goofy comedian we know and love.  Yes, he is still funny, but here he lets his friend take center stage. I have renewed respect for him.

Rosy the Reviewer says...an important, heartfelt story of Harper's transition but also the story of the transition of a heartfelt, important friendship. A must see! (Netflix)

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

If You Like Documentaries...#2

[I review the documentaries "Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces" as well as "Brats" - remember "The Brat Pack?" - and "Dancing for the Devil" - a three-part series about a dance cult]

 

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces (2024)

An absolutely extraordinary documentary about Steve Martin.

I am saying that up front because I know people don't read much anymore, and you probably are not going to read this entire review, so I wanted to give you the bottom line from the get go. Whether you are a big Steve Martin fan or not, this is how biographical documentaries should be done.  It's an extraordinarily wonderful journey.  

Directed by Morgan Neville, there are two parts to the documentary - "Then" and "Now." 

In Part 1, "Then," Martin's voice-over documents his family life and early days as a performer.  Steve grew up in Orange County, California.  His family had moved there because his Dad wanted an acting career. Steve's father lacked affection and was a disapproving guy, so it makes sense a young kid would want to make his Dad laugh. At an early age, Steve discovered magic, and he got away from home by spending a lot of time at the very new Disneyland where he found work. It was there that he was influenced by Disneyland comedian, Wally Boag, whose act consisted of wearing bunny ears and doing magic tricks, obviously an early influence on Steve. Saying Steve's early stand-up comedy was "out there" is an understatement.  He had no shame, which was why he was funny, but it took awhile for people to get him, but eventually, Steve had career breakthroughs with his comedy and some successful segments on late night talk shows secured his popularity.

I was lucky enough to see Steve in San Francisco in the 70's, in the early part of his career when he was opening for "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band." We were there to see the band, not the opening act, but there he was, Steve, in his white suit, arrow through the head, playing his banjo, making balloon animals and having "happy feet."  He was outrageously hysterical.  Nobody was doing what he was doing, and yes, he tried to lead the audience outside to go get fast food (one of this schticks)! Who knew what a career he would have? Well, I did. I have never forgotten that night (kind of forgot The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). After that night, I knew he would have a big career. I am so glad I was there. 

And what a career it has been. "Excuuuuuuze me!" and "I'm just a wild and crazy guy" are now part of the comic lexicon, and I had forgotten just how many movies Steve has starred in.

Part 2 - "Now" - documents the older Steve and his career accomplishments with no voice over, but rather this part has an interview feel with Steve in real time telling about his life. We also learn things we might not have known about him, e.g. that he has been an avid art collector and cartoonist; he has been away from stand-up for 30 years; he and Martin Short are good friends in real life; and Steve suffered from anxiety as a young man. That's kind of a tough thing for a stand-up comic.  I can't imagine anything more anxiety producing than standing up on an empty stage all alone trying to make hundreds (or even thousands) of people laugh. 

But now in his 70's, Steve has found contentment as a happily married man with a young child and then, of course, there is "Only Murders in the Building." This second half of the documentary is a rare glimpse into the very private man.

Rosy the Reviewer says...you don't need to be a huge Steve Martin fan to enjoy this documentary because it's so well done, but if you are not a fan, you will be after seeing this. (Apple+)

 

Brats (2024)

Those growing up in the 80's were affected by the youth movies that "The Brat Pack" starred in, but how did being called "The Brat Pack" affect these young actors?  Here is the story.

Andrew McCarthy never really got over being called a "brat."  At the height of the teen movies of the 80's, an article appeared in "New York Magazine" called "Hollywood's Brat Pack," a play on words from Sinatra's "Rat Pack."  It was meant as a profile of Emilio Estevez but ended up being a not very flattering account of the young actors starring in such movies as "St. Elmo's Fire," "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club."  They were all lumped together as untrained young actors and partiers, and they were not happy about it. That nickname stuck on some of them in a bad way. It implied that they were not serious actors. Was Martin Scorsese going to cast someone who was called a "brat?"

 

So who were the members of the "Brat Pack?" 

Though there were many young stars in movies aimed at teens, it is generally accepted that the Brat Packers were McCarthy, Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.  

So McCarthy, now 61, takes a look back on that time by writing the screenplay, contacting his fellow Brat Packers and directing this documentary. He interviews Estevez, Lowe, Sheedy, and Moore (Molly Ringwald turned him down and he kept trying to find Judd Nelson), all lumped together as "brats" to see how they were affected by the moniker all those years ago, and they all have different perspectives o what that did to them and their careers. "Brat Pack adjacent" stars - Timothy Hutton, John Cryer and Lea Thompson - are also interviewed along with writers Bret Easton Ellis and Malcolm Gladwell, the latter adding some perspective on how the "Brat Pack" affected pop culture.

 

Despite the fact that everyone in the 80's assumed these kids were friends in real life, few of them had seen each other in 30 years.  Some, like Demi Moore, went on to have really successful careers, others like Sheedy and even McCarthy, not so much. You can tell the article really affected McCarthy who was a moody young man back then and I think still takes himself really seriously now.

But McCarthy also tracks down David Blum, the author of that infamous article, and interviews him in a particularly interesting segment.  Blum explains himself a bit but is unrepentant, and even takes some credit for the success of some of the "Brat Pack" films.  However, I think, talking with Blum helped McCarthy put that whole period and his life into perspective.

The film also touches on the generational transition that was happening in the 80's in Hollywood with so many movies about teens, and the film breaks down why those movies were so significant. Before that, movies were about adults for adults, but the 80's was the Golden Age of youth movies, and though these "kids" didn't like being called "brats," especially McCarthy, he and they have worked it out and realized that "The Brat Pack" was and is a positive part of the movie lexicon.

Rosy the Reviewer says...an interesting, introspective flashback to the 80's about a pop culture phenomenon. If you were a teen in the 80's, you will love this. Oh, and McCarthy never did find Judd Nelson. (Hulu)

 

 

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M Tik Tok Cult (2024)

A documentary series about Robert Shinn and his Shekinah Church and cult allegations against him and his talent management company 7M Films.

Former clients of 7M Films and past members of the Shekinah Church shed light on young dancers lured into a religious cult supposedly masquerading as a talent management company. They allege that Robert Shinn, the founder of the church and the management company, abused his followers and financially exploited young dancers he represented, taking over 80% of their earnings. 

The series follows several young people who joined the church, some from the early days and some lured into it later with the promise of becoming a famous dancer via the management company. Some of the survivors of the cult are interviewed.  However, the primary focus is on Miranda Derrick, a TikTok dancer previously known as Miranda Wilking, who along with her sister, Melanie, gained millions of followers making cute sister dance videos before Miranda joined the Shekinah Church and was recruited by 7M.  Her parents and sister allege that she and other dancers have been isolated and controlled by Shinn. Also two Korean sisters, Melanie and Priscylla Lee, who Shinn preyed, upon are highlighted. 

If you are a fan of "So You Think You Can Dance" or "World of Dance," you might have seen some of the dancers in this series.  It is not uncommon for young people to be lured into cults with the promise of fame and fortune. In this case, Shinn's daughter, Kloe, was a singer/songwriter who was also involved with dance videos and filmed dancers performing in videos (the documentary features some great dance segments). From that, Shinn got the idea to form a management company and manage the dancers while at the same time luring them with his religious message.  When young people are "at sea," a regimented religious group can be inviting.  You will not just be saved religiously, but in life as well. It can be comforting to have someone tell you what to do and that is what Shinn did. And of course they were promised fame.

One of Shinn's tenets was "dying to yourself," which meant giving up loved ones to save them.  Then everyone would go to heaven together.  So that's what Miranda supposedly did but her family wasn't having it and much of the series focuses on their attempts to contact her and get her out of the cult, though Miranda has come out to say she is not in a cult. 

I have always been fascinated with cults, wondering, how does this happen?  How are handsome, beautiful, talented young people manipulated and willing to give up everything to follow one person, especially when they endure abuse and isolation?   

Naturally, 7M Films has denied the allegations raised in the documentary and Derrick herself released a statement on the documentary in an Instagram story, characterizing the allegations as part of a family dispute. Shinn and other members of 7M declined to be interviewed for the documentary.

Rosy the Reviewer says...directed by Derek Doneen, the series shines a light on the dark side of social media fame and ends with a sobering fact.  It is not easy to bring a cult down because it is not against the law to run a cult. The Shekinah Church is still operating today. Fascinating and scary stuff. (Netflix)

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

 

 

 

 

 

More Good Movies You Might Not Know About, Part 2

[I review the new documentary "Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg," as well as an indie character study, "Mickey Hardaway," and the rom-com, "Somebody I Used To Know."] 

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2023)

A documentary about a famous person you have probably never heard of....rock and roll muse, Anita Pallenberg, who was most famous for her relationships with the Rolling Stones (yes, more than one) in the 1960's and 70's, but who was much more than that. 

I was a child of the 60's and loved the Rolling Stones.  I knew who Anita Pallenberg was, but I didn't really know anything much about her.

What I knew:

She was a model and an actress who was the girlfriend of Brian Jones, then Keith Richards with a bit of dabbling with Mick Jagger.  Well, I didn't really know the Mick Jagger part. She was a style icon of the 60's and 70's, starred in some movies, and she and Keith were both addicted to heroin.

What I didn't know:

Born in either Rome or Hamburg (her early life is unclear), she moved to New York City at 19 and became part of Andy Warhol's Factory.  She became a model and traveled the world, meeting the Rolling Stones back stage in Munich in 1965. She was a free spirit who drew people to her infectious personality. Immediately attracted to Brian Jones (he was the handsome Rolling Stone), the two became an item and she gave up modeling and moved to London to be with him.  The two got involved in taking drugs, but Brian's drug use overtook him.  He was abusive to Anita, at which point Keith, who had always had a crush on her, moved in to rescue her, though she hardly needed rescuing.  When she and Brian would fight, she threw as many punches as he did. 

It didn't help the relationship with Brian when Anita discovered acting and starred in "Barbarella" and later the cult classic "Performance," the latter film also starring Mick Jagger. Those two hooked up briefly, though Anita always said she was never that attracted to Mick. By then, Anita had moved on from Brian to Keith and her affair with Mick upset Keith so much he wrote "Gimme Shelter." And when she went back to Keith, Mick wrote "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Drugs had always been a part of Anita's life but with Keith, the heroin addiction began in earnest and when Brian Jones died and she had her first child, she started going off the rails.  There was the death of a child, a breakdown and and break-up but like a phoenix from the ashes, Anita endured.  She died in 2017.

After watching this riveting documentary directed by Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill, now I know all about her and what a presence she was. Her impact on the Rolling Stones and others who knew her was enormous. She was the ultimate 60's rock chick.

Both of Keith's and her living children - Marlon and Angela (aka Dandelion) - weigh in on their mother's life and her impact on them.  At her death, an unpublished autobiography was found and in the film, Scarlett Johansson tells Anita's story "in her own words." Keith and Marianne Faithfull also weigh in along with others who knew Anita. The film is full of never-before-seen footage, film clips, photographs and home movies. 

Keith calls Anita "a piece of work (in a good way)," and others talk about her charisma, her intellect and talent and what a force of nature she was. Keith ends the film by saying "She made a man of me."  Mick does not weigh in.

Rosy the Reviewer says...an absolutely fascinating true story that is a must-see for Rolling Stones fans, and you Baby Boomers out there will enjoy reliving your youth. I know I did. (in theatres or for rent on Amazon Prime)

Note: A great double feature would be this film along with "The Stones and Brian Jones," another documentary I reviewed back in April. 

Mickey Hardaway (2024)

A young man tries to rise above the trauma and abuse he suffered as a child to follow his dreams.

Mickey (Rashad Hunter) is a talented artist who dreams of being a cartoonist and sketch artist, but he can't seem to rise above the abuse he suffered at school and at home. His father (David Chattam)not only beat him physically but beat down his dreams. He thinks art is a waste of time. But Mickey finds encouragement from his art teacher (Dennis L.A. White) and later his counselor (Charlz Williams) at the Art Institute where he was awarded a scholarship.  But sometimes, when abuse runs deep, even well-meaning people are not enough. After being taken advantage of by an employer who Mickey thought was going to help him with his animation career, he starts drinking and his life unravels.  But Grace (Ashley Parchment), his caring girlfriend, encourages him to seek help. He meets with Dr. Cameron Harden (Stephen Cofield Jr.), and in a series of flashbacks during his sessions, we see just what Mickey has gone through.

Filmed in black and white, with a brief bit of color, this is a grim character study, very neo-noir and talky with some actors better than others, but, you will keep watching, because you want to see what will happen to Mickey.  Will he make it?  And you care because of Hunter, whose portrayal of Mickey is poignant and effective. And when Mickey says things like, "When you feel the world doesn't give a damn about you, you feel you have nothing to lose," you worry about Mickey, and, as the film progresses, and he says,  "It's hard to be good when all you know is evil," you worry even more as you get insight into why some young men turn to violence.

Written and directed by Marcellus Cox and based on his short film of the same name, this is his feature film debut, a bit of raw naturalism reminiscent of early Spike Lee, and a look at what can happen when someone feels he has nowhere to turn after years of abuse and disappointment.  

Cox says the film showcases "the generational trauma and mental exhaustion that people, in particular black men, have to endure and how we're taught to keep moving on with life without discussing our emotions and seeking help until it's too late and even then sometimes it's not enough once you find it...it's a conversational character study that doesn't seek to give you answers but more to show how folks, in a time more than ever with depression being a mainstay, reach their breaking points...with mental health being at an all-time high in the Black community, I really wanted to bring this subject to a much needed forefront."

And Cox has done that.

Rosy the Reviewer says...some grim realism but the film shines a light on the effects of generational trauma and mental illness, and for a first feature film, Cox shows promise for a long career as a serious writer/director. Make some room, Spike! (Tubi)

Somebody I Used To Know (2023)

Workaholic Ally returns to her hometown and reconnects with her old boyfriend - trouble ensues.

Ally (Alison Brie) is a showrunner for a reality show called "Dessert Island," that is part "Survivor," part "Love Island" and part "The Great British Baking Show (sounds like my kind of reality show)!" In case you didn't know, a showrunner literally "runs the show," so Ally is a bit of a workaholic and doesn't have much going on except work.  And she has never taken the time to evaluate her life and ask herself if she is happy, so when her show is canceled she decides to go back to her hometown - Leavenworth, Washington and visit her mother (Julie Hagerty).

While there, she runs into her old boyfriend, Sean (Jay Ellis), at a bar and they spend the evening together reminiscing. Ally had always wanted to leave town to follow her dreams to become a documentary filmmaker, but so far that dream as eluded her, but Sean likes it in Leavenworth, thank you very much.  He is close to his family and even has a house on their property. With no job and few prospects, getting back together with Sean seems very appealing to Ally. Maybe she made a mistake to leave. The evening ends with a kiss with Ally wanting to go further but Sean begs off.  She finds out why the next day - Sean is getting married the next weekend. Awk-ward!  And even more awkward is the fact that Sean's mother, Jojo, insists that Ally come to the wedding and film it! Ally jumps at the chance because now she thinks she should be with Sean, not his fiance, Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons). 

But wait, there is more awkward stuff.  With a nod to "My Best Friend's Wedding," Ally starts meddling in an effort to split them up.  But then things get complicated when Ally and Cassidy get to know each other and their initial suspicions about each other fade away. Things continue to be awkward and go from bad to worse... until they get better.

The Christmas-oriented Leavenworth, Washington makes for a scenic backdrop for a rom-com. Having lived in Washington for several years, I have personal experience about the cuteness of Leavenworth, and it has an interesting history.  It is a small town in the Cascade Mountains styled after a Bavarian village. In the 1960's when the lumber mills closed and the town was in decline, the city looked to tourism to revitalize the area.  They modeled the town after the Danish-themed town of Solvang, California, and today Leavenworth is a hotspot of tourism, especially at Christmas.  There are countless restaurants serving German food, pretzels and beer, a nutcracker museum and even a Snow Train from Seattle that takes visitors there (I've done that too)! 

Brie is a talented comic actress and she and Ellis are an engaging couple. Brie is especially good at awkward, and I mean that in a good way.  The rest of the ensemble are also first-rate and the town of Leavenworth also stars. 

Written by Dave Franco and Brie (who are married in real life) and directed by Franco, this is not your usual silly rom-com. It's a smart one with real, believable characters and a message about loving yourself before you can love anyone else. Instead of "boy meets girl, boy and girl break up and then get back together," this is more "boy meets girl and girl finds herself."  And there is even a satire on reality TV thrown in.

Rosy the Reviewer says...a sweet and enjoyable rom-com with a serious message. (Amazon Prime)

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

"Civil War" and the Week in Reviews

[I review the new movie "Civil War" as well as "The Miracle Club," and the documentary "The Stones and Brian Jones." I also review a stellar local production of "Sweeney Todd"]

Civil War (2024)

It's the future, the United States is in a civil war and a team of journalists travel to Washington D.C. to try to get an interview with the President.

In this dystopian tale, the President of the United States (Nick Offerman) is an authoritarian, has given himself a third term, speaks in hyperbole, thinks journalists are the enemies of the state, has disbanded the FBI and is kind of stupid.  Sound familiar?

In a very unlikely scenario, California and Texas have banded together to secede from the United States and a civil war has erupted against the authoritarian U.S. government.  War photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and her colleague, Joel (Wagner Moura), have decided they need to travel from New York City to Washington D.C. to interview the President before the city is taken over by insurgents.  But before they leave, Lee saves a young girl - Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) - from a suicide bombing attack. Jessie just happens to be an aspiring photojournalist and manages to beg a ride from Joel.  Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), an older journalist and Lee's mentor, also tags along, wanting to get as far as Charlottesville where the Western Forces (Texas and California) are assembling.  Lee is not happy that young Jessie is tagging along.  Lee is kind of a sourpuss.

The four go on a kind of dystopian road trip as they make their way to D.C. from New York.  They have to take a meandering route by way of Pittsburgh and West Virginia because the freeways are closed. The movie reminded me a bit of "The Last of Us" as the foursome encounter harrowing incidents as they make their way to D.C. but it wasn't nearly as good as that dystopian series. Will they make it to D.C.?

You know what?  After about a half hour, I didn't care if they made it or not. Though I liked the fact that the movie focuses on what photojournalists go through to try to bring us the news and dramatic pictures, that's all I liked.  What I didn't like was everything else. 

Kirsten was a one-note sourpuss throughout.  I know, I know, she is supposed to be war weary after having seen it all but as I always say...I judge a film on whether or not it's an enjoyable filmic experience and watching her act was not.  And Cailee Spaney, who starred as Priscilla Presley in "Priscilla," is practically unrecognizable and not given much to do. She deserves better than this. 

This movie was so slow going that I was actually glad for the gotcha moments because they woke me up.  The dialogue was over-dramatic, the acting was wooden and the story itself didn't seem to have a point other than paying homage to photojournalists, though we don't really get to know them as people. But as for the civil war motif, here was a chance to make some much-needed political statements, but...nope. Clearly, writer/director Alex Garland made that choice, but choosing to say nothing made the story really confusing.  Who was fighting whom or what? And why?

The movie was also fanciful. I still can't get over pairing California and Texas together. That would never happen!  But it really got me when the insurgents finally made it to the White House. Decoy cars left the White House and the President WAS STILL IN THERE. Number One, if the White House was under attack, I don't think anyone would be leaving via limo. And the President certainly would not stay behind on his own, Secret Service not withstanding.  Did British writer/director Garland not know there is a tunnel from the White House for just such moments as these so that the President and all of his allies can escape?  Why in hell wouldn't the President have left the building?  Well, remember what I said earlier. The President is kind of stupid. And the movie is, too, at times. I guess our journalists needed a quote from the President.  

Garland is better known for sci-fi and horror ("28 Days Later," "Ex Machina," "Annihilation") and, yes, a dystopic America in a civil war is a horror story.  I just wish he had made that point better. 

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you like dystopian dramas, save your money and watch "The Last of Us" instead. (in theatres)

The Miracle Club (2023)

In 1967, four women travel to Lourdes from Ireland in hopes of a miracle.

Chrissie (Laura Linney), a woman in her fifties, returns home to Ireland from Boston for her estranged mother’s funeral.  Chrissie was banished from her home for something that happened when she was a young woman that is eventually revealed.  But she wasn't just estranged from her mother. She was also estranged from her cousin, Eileen (Kathy Bates), and her mother's friend, Lily (Maggie Smith).

Before her death, Chrissie's mother had arranged a talent contest and the prize was two tickets to Lourdes. You know, it's that place in France where the Virgin Mary was spotted and has since became a religious pilgrimage site where miracles are supposed to happen.  Lily, Eileen and, especially the much younger Dolly (Agnes O'Casey), are desperate to go to Lourdes.  Eileen has a lump in her breast, Lily has problems with her legs and has never gotten over the death of her son, Declan, and Dolly has a son who either can't or refuses to speak and she hopes that he will be cured.  Despite the animosity towards her, Chrissie also tags along because it was her mother's dying wish that she go. So the women go off to Lourdes, leaving their useless husbands (Stephen Rea, Mark McKenna and Niall Buggy) home to fend for themselves, something they are not used to doing.  But just as the women find resolutions in Lourdes, so, too, do the husbands learn some things about themselves.

Written by Jimmy Smallhorne, Timothy Prager and Joshua D. Maurer and directed by Thaddeus O' Sullivan, this is one of those films where you know what is going to happen.  The miracle isn't so much Lourdes itself, but what the women learn about themselves and the repairing of friendships but it doesn't matter if you know the outcome because it's the journey.  These Oscar-winning veteran actresses are always a joy to watch and it's a journey I enjoyed. 

Rosy the Reviewer says...an old-fashioned, feel-good movie where the miracle is those wonderful actresses. (Netflix)

The Stones and Brian Jones (2023)

A documentary about Brian Jones, one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones and an early member of the 27 Club.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  One could say that about the 1960's and Brian Jones. If you weren't there, you can't really understand the youthful excitement that was in the air, especially the excitement bands generated in those days. But there was also a dark side.

This documentary highlights Brian Jones, one of the original members of The Rolling Stones, who has been virtually forgotten since his early death in 1969, and yet, he gave the band its name, was the leader of and spokesperson for the group when it began and was quite possibly the most talented of the founding members.  He could play any instrument and devised many of the memorable riffs we associate with The Rolling Stones today. He was also the handsome one, with that long blonde hair. But sadly, his personal demons, his rivalry with Mick Jagger and his insecurities about Mick's and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership got the better of him and drugs and alcohol took over to the point that he was fired from the band. It had been Brian's band and there is a sense here, that Keith and Mick stole it from him.

Jones started out as a dutiful son, but when he started playing guitar, he rebelled and his strait-laced father kicked him out of the house. So Brian started a blues band in 1962 with Mick and Keith. His family never came to his concerts and considered him a failure, even after becoming rich and famous. It didn't help that Jones also fathered a child at 16, and at the time of his death, had fathered at least five children. 

Written by Nick Broomfield and Marc Hoeferlin and directed by Broomfield, this documentary is filled with never-before-seen footage, interviews with ex-girlfriends and others who knew Jones, and the music.  It pays homage to Jones, who deserves to be remembered, though his is a sad story of success getting the better of a young, talented man. Not surprisingly, Mick and Keith do not weigh in here, but original Stones bassist, Bill Wyman, does, and he was clearly a fan of Jones, and offers some interesting insight. The film ends poignantly with a letter from Brian's father that Brian had kept and that was found after Brian's death. His father expressed regrets about the way he had treated him.

Rosy the Reviewer says...it's a sad story about the dark side of fame. It turned out to be the worst of times for Brian Jones in a time that some of us Baby Boomers remember as the best of times, especially because of the music. (Hulu and for rent on Prime and Apple+).

***Live Theatre***

"Sweeney Todd" at the Paper Wing Theater and Supper Club, Monterey, CA

A first-rate production of the renowned Stephen Sondheim musical.

I live in a small town but last night sitting in the audience of my small town at the Paper Wing Theatre watching their version of “Sweeney Todd,” I felt like I was sitting in a theatre on Broadway or in London’s West End. It is a wonderful production that does Stephen Sondheim proud!

I can’t believe I have never seen “Sweeney Todd,” especially since it opened on Broadway so long ago (1979). And I am a musical comedy gal. I mean, I starred in the musical version of “Irma La Douce (yes, I was Irma).”

Based on the 1970 play by Christopher Bond, book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the subtitle of the play is “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and it tells the story of Benjamin Barker who was unfairly sent to prison in Australia by Judge Turpin, an evil judge who lusted after Barker’s wife. Now Barker is back in London calling himself Sweeney Todd and seeking revenge, not just on Turpin but everyone else who did him wrong. He reopens his barber shop and teams up with pie maker, Mrs. Lovett, who is having difficulty finding meat for her pies. You can see where this is going.

I am a believer in supporting local theatre but if you think this is a run-of-the-mill community theatre production, you would be wrong. This is an exciting professional production with a wonderful acting and singing ensemble. L.J. Brewer is first-rate as Sweeney Todd as is Olorin Braun as Anthony Hope, the young sailor in love with the ingenue, Johanna, played by Sarah Gaudoin. Braun has a gorgeous voice and reminded me of a young Orlando Bloom. And then there is Kate Faber as Mrs. Lovett. She lights up the stage every time she comes on!

This musical is not an easy one to pull off. Almost all of the show is set to music, and it is pure Sondheim with intricate lyrics and singers meshing with one another. And it’s also a dark tale…but funny dark.

Rosy the Reviewer says…thank you to producer Koly McBride, director Justin Gaudoin, Musical Director Taylor Safina, the actors and singers and everyone else who helped bring this show to our community. It’s very special and not to be missed! (playing in Monterey Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday through April 28 but if you are not local, support local theatre near you)

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!