Brooklyn

Brooklyn – a movie review by Tony Baksa 12/21/2015

                                               

Rating – 4 Suns

It’s like a cozy and engrossing curl-up-in-a-big chair novel. “Brooklyn” is a marvel. Director John Crowley has delivered a richly sentimental tale full of nostalgia. The story involves a young ambitious Irish immigrant, Eilis (Saoirse Ronam), looking for a life she can call her own in 1952. She is blessed with a wonderful array of characters who whether they know it or not support her expectations.  

We first encounter Eilis every bit the young Irish lassie preparing to immigrate to Brooklyn, NY. Her uncle has financed her transition also setting up lodging for her at a boarding house for young ladies in Brooklyn. Eilis is very much the fish out of water. She lands a job at a department store. After an initial period of shyness and homesickness, Eilis warms to Brooklyn and Brooklyn warms to Eilis. She begins to assimilate making friends and eventually falling in love with a charming young Italian, Tony.

What seems like stereotypical situations and characters soon revert to an original and very specific story. Eilis’s new life is put to the test by conflict. She returns to Ireland under sad circumstances. Meant to be a short visit, Eilis is drawn back into the comfort of familiarity in her Irish town. To complicate matters, she seems to be falling for a local Irish lad. Is Tony becoming a distant memory? She prolongs her stay unable to decide if she should return to America. An incident involving an infamous local merchant is the catalyst that propels our young heroine into action.

I’ve left out many plot details because “Brooklyn” is best viewed knowing as little as possible. For me, it was a delightful surprise. It reminded me of the Merchant/ Ivory films of the 1970’s and ‘80’s with a dash or two of Masterpiece Theatre thrown in for good measure. 

The film looks good. The actors are all great especially Emory Cohen as Tony and Saoirse Ronan as Eilis. The superlative script by Nick Hornby (About A Boy, High Fidelity) plus the set, great art direction and costumes bring 1952 Brooklyn to authentic life with a bit of a glossy glow. This film is one big valentine to its enthusiastic immigrants wholeheartedly adding positive diversity to their perceived utopia – America.

 I loved this movie and plan on seeing it again once it goes out to wide release. It will be coming to local theaters soon. See it!

Steve Jobs

‘Steve Jobs’ a satisfying drama

                                                   

Thursday November 5, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

If you like a movie chock full of great performances, brimming over with dramatic conflict and relevancy, you will love “Steve Jobs”. Director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) delivers a tremendous wallop of a movie involving genius techy, Steve Jobs, creator of Macintosh and the beloved IPod.

Boyle structures the movie like a three act play. Each act serves as a prelude to the launch of a new product engineered by Jobs for Apple. The behind the sc enes drama and hijinks that leads up to each presentation to the world is unbelievably thrilling. This is a brilliant device by superstar screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin that shows Jobs in all his suits – innovator, entrepreneur, corporate team player, friend and especially interesting and touching, father.

Steve Jobs who passed away in 2011 was a driven man. It follows that like most driven men he was difficult. I guess when you’re smarter than anyone else and almost always right, it can rub people the wrong way. What Boyle and Sorkin do is show Jobs in all his faults and all his glory. With wit, humor and deep understanding, Steve Jobs emerges as complex and very human.

Michael Fassbender portrays Jobs with fire and astounding charisma. He is the pied piper of Silicon Valley. Who wouldn’t follow such a man? Fassbender is currently one of our finest actors. I would say he is a great actor building an astounding resume of outstanding performances in recent years (12 Years a Slave, The Counselor, Shame). His performance alone is reason enough to see this movie.

Before each product launch, Jobs deals with a multitude of conflicts that would make an ordinary person crumble. Yet, he forges on at top speed dealing with each confrontation and the residue and scars that result from the encounters. Scenes with his partner Steve Wozniak, Apple CEO John Sculley, and computer scientist and Mac designer, Andy Hertzfeld bristle. Especially enthralling are the scenes between Jobs and his “work wife” Apple marketing director, Joanna Hoffman. Their relationship is the thread that runs through the movie with an enormous emotional pull.

Fans of television’s “West Wing” are familiar with the full gallop that Aaron Sorkin’s scripts provide. You can expect the same speed with this film. Pared with Danny Boyle’s astute direction, “Steve Jobs” moves like a high speed train bent on reaching its destination on time.

Every performance is a gem with Oscar worthy turns by Seth Rogen (Wozniak), Jeff Daniels (Sculley) and Michael Stuhlbarg (Hertzfeld). Kate Winslet (Hoffman) is simply amazing. She is so authentic that I did not recognize her only to discover her name in the end credits.

“Steve Jobs” is that rare film that portrays genius in human terms. It is intelligent and revelatory, stylish and witty. But, above all else, it is high drama delivered with an exciting rat-a-tat rhythm and emotional fireworks resulting in a satisfying and exhilarating experience.

http://www.thesunnews.net/index.php

The Walk

‘The Walk’ a visceral experience

Thursday October 22, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

“The Walk” is much like a procedural. Usually procedurals are associated with the solving of a crime. No real crime, here, but the commonality is the utter focus on an event. The path to this event is almost as exciting as the event – the walk.

What is “The Walk”? It is a true story of an extraordinary wire walk across the twin towers of The World Trade Center high above lower Manhattan in 1974. High-wire artist Phillipe Petit becomes obsessed with attempting this death defying act after he sees a picture of the towers in a magazine. So he recruits a support team to realize his dream. The method to his madness is portrayed in a most exciting way as Phillipe and company travel to America from France to work out their scheme. Two-thirds of the film is devoted to this richly detailed plan. It is highly interesting and weirdly comical. In fact, the entire movie is weirdly comical – from the situations of danger in the planning right up until the walk across the massive void form tower to tower.

The film moves along with a momentum that keeps us interested. We are treated to key moments in Phillipe’s maturing as an artist in Paris. He is reluctantly mentored by the stern but funny Papa Rudy played deliciously by Ben Kingsley. A task master, Papa Rudy, ultimately is won over by Phillipe and funds his project to take on the towers. Also available for support is Annie, a Parisian street artist who is charmed by the charismatic Phillipe. Played by Charlotte le Bon, Annie is equally as charming as our hero.

The remaining third of the movie is riveting and edge of the seat enthralling. Petit wire-walking with only the clouds and an occasional bird for company will have you reeling. Why would anyone want to do this? As played by the whimsical Joseph Gordon-Levitt, you can believe his passion. Gordon-Levitt turns in a funny performance – charming and heroic. His motely support crew is as idiosyncratic as a grunge band – entertaining and likeable. But, it’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt that, like the wire-walk, is the main attraction.

Much of the credit goes to veteran film maker, Robert Zemeckis (Forest Gump, Polar Express). Zemeckis specializes in subtle whimsy. He is the reason “The Walk” is such an original piece. His screenplay is based on Petit’s book “To Reach The Clouds”. Directed with an emotional pull, Zemeckis manages to give the audience an amazing experience. Watching “The Walk” in 3D is the next best thing to walking the walk – or not. I was thrilled by the feeling but some may not enjoy the visceral high-wire experience. It may make you squeamish but it’s a fun kind of squeamish akin to the thrills one gets from a really scary horror flick.

Evoking 1970’s New York City and Paris, I appreciated the subtle nods to this era. We get gut wrenching shots of the former World Trade Center that serve as homage to these tragic monoliths. It is quite moving. With astonishing cinematography by Dariusz Wolski, “The Walk” is unlike any movie I have seen in years. To evoke old time Variety movie critics, “Run, don’t walk to “The Walk”. It is great fun!

http://www.thesunnews.net/around_town/611-'The_Walk_a_visceral_experience.html

Grandma

‘Grandma’ makes for a good road movie

                                     

Thursday October 8, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

It is rare for a movie to deal with hot button issues and not politicize. “Grandma” starring the irrepressible Lily Tomlin in the title role is such a movie. A no-nonsense type, grandma Elle is faced with the predicament of helping her teenage granddaughter, Sage, come to terms with an unwanted pregnancy. Although a well-known author, Elle is temporarily broke and unable to offer financial assistance to Sage. So, they embark on a mission to get $600 dollars from grandma’s friends and acquaintances. Somewhere in that mix is grandma’s ex-husband who she hasn’t seen in thirty years.

What we have here is that old staple – a road movie – a really good road movie. Tomlin is front and center in a funny and touching performance. She portrays a woman who has battled her whole life for a logical and relevant existence – neither of which she has achieved. Her life is in constant turmoil what with financial worries and most especially the loss of her life partner, Vi. Known as grandma Vi to Sage, it seems Vi would have been Sage’s logical choice for guidance at this difficult time. But Vi has passed away, recently. Grandma Elle seems a bad choice for Sage to seek help. But her spirit and resilience is charismatic and offers a strange kind of comfort to her granddaughter. You know all will work out in the end. Getting there is what the movie is all about.

So Grandma and granddaughter go on this journey to raise the cash. We meet a wide variety of Elle’s friends and so-called friends as well. It is these encounters that show Elle in survivor mode – a glorious sight to behold. The episodic nature of this movie is what makes it so satisfying.

Paul Weitz, producer and writer of such hits as “About A Boy” and “American Pie”, takes a stab at directing - apparently for the first time. His straight forward no gimmicks approach serves the movie well. He has assembled a sturdy cast of veterans and a few newbies to lay before us a heartfelt scenario.

Tomlin is simply wonderful as grandma Elle. Julie Garner is perfect as the naïve Sage. Outstanding is Sam Elliot in two riveting scenes that reunite him with his former wife, Elle. Marcia Gay Harden as Sage’s over bearing mother brings humanity to a role that could have easily come off as mean.

“Grandma” is funny, sad and slightly disturbing. It is also extremely entertaining. With a wise and knowing screenplay by Weitz, we are looking in on real people facing life’s challenges as we all do. It isn’t about happy or sad endings. Like life, it’s about keeping on and moving on and - as the song says - people needing people.

http://www.thesunnews.net/

The Visit

‘The Visit’ is scary, but not entertaining

                           

                   

Thursday September 24, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

M. Night Shyamalan has to be admired for his sheer perseverance. As writer and director of 14 films and several TV series spanning 23 years, Shyamalan manages to get movies produced based on his 1999 blockbuster success “The Sixth Sense”. He has never matched the quality of “Sixth Sense” and it looks like he never will. His newest offering, “The Visit”, has so much wrong with it that it is difficult to know where to begin with my criticism.

The set-up is enticing. Siblings Becca and Tyler are sent off by their single mom for a week’s visit with their grandparents at their Pennsylvania farm. The kids have never met their mother’s parents due to a 15 year estrangement. Secrets abound and the fun of the movie should be uncovering these secrets. No fun here as predictable events follow each other to a sordid and most unpleasant conclusion. The unpleasantness comes from watching a 15 year old girl and a 13 year old boy being terrorized by, frankly, disgusting methods.

A horror film should be scary but fun and above all else entertaining. None of the above applies. From the moment the kids set foot on the remote farm, the anticipation is stolen from us by obvious signs of trouble. We are then taken through the week as the screen‘s graphics announce the passing of each day leading up to the inevitable Saturday showdown. And you see it all coming from the first reel. There is one major plot twist that is fantastic and may have been the selling point to the movie’s producers. Would that it had inspired a better backstory.

“The Visit” is scary but not in a compelling way. It is atrocious and repulsive in the way it forces you to avert your eyes! It fails to set up rules for us to believe in. It is more than anything else – annoying. The script is pretentious. There are so many holes in its logic. I wish I could point them all out to you but for this genre that wouldn’t be fair. I am opposed to spoiler alerts. Just to say, the only spoiler here is M. Night Shyamalan. How could this movie come from the same person who gave us the hauntingly beautiful “The Sixth Sense”? How does he get money to make films? His track record is abysmal. What is especially pathetic is that Shyamalan steals unashamedly from low budget movies like the “Paranormal” franchise and can’t even up the ante.

On a positive note, the unfamiliar cast is appealing given the circumstances. I’d like to see Olivia DeJonge (Becca) in future projects. She has a natural quality that makes you care what happens to her.

Directed with no wit or vision, the movie avoids much needed special effects. The same can be said of the script. Rod Serling would have had a field day with this story.

At the risk of being obvious, don’t visit “The Visit”. It is a trip you will regret.

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/780-'The_Visit_is_scary,_but_not_entertaining.html

It's never "just a movie" anymore

It’s Just a Movie – a commentary by Tony Baksa 8/27/2015

                                    

People say it all the time. I have said it. “It’s just a movie”. In fact, much of the time movies are more than just flickering images with clever dialogue. We are moved emotionally and intellectually by movies. We gain a social conscience. We learn so much through film. Sometimes a movie can help us come to terms with personal issues. “It’s just a movie” no longer applies if it ever did.

Case in point - two movies I recently watched on DVD and Netflix :

As I age I am acutely aware of death. I hate that word DEATH. It is so final. According to spiritualists as well as many religious teachings, death is not final. There is the other side - the afterlife. I love believing in the afterlife. I am in love with the idea. Yet, I ask myself, what is it I really believe?

I watched a movie two days ago that has thrown me into this age old quandary. It was a beautifully sad movie about true love entitled "Amour". It depicts an old couple in their final days - a long married very accomplished duo with so much to live for. I should say, so much to remember - so much to cherish - but already lived. They are both experiencing serious health issues but they have each other and are surrounded by the many things that mean so much to them. However, in the end aren't they just things? What seems to matter is the present and how they deal with two strokes, bad nurses, an inability to talk, walk and bathe without help. These once strong vibrant people are also dealing with peculiar signs at their door - scratches and marks left by what seems to be a screwdriver - an attempt to break into their home - this home with so much history. To end a wonderful life in such an un-wonderful way is the tragedy and so unfair.

This film devastated me as much as a movie can. Of course it isn't true devastation. It is simply my response to a great film. It is a great film but I will not see it again. Movies, books, theater are there to entertain, teach sometimes and illuminate our lives. "Amour" made me look at what I know but mostly what I don't know - and that is scary. And that is why I cannot view this masterpiece again. However, I do not regret seeing it. Its lesson was so potent and like any work of art it will not be forgotten.

In "Hannah and Her Sisters" Woody Allen plays a man searching for the meaning of life - actually more so the meaning of death. He is so disturbed in his search that he tries out all the religions known to man for answers. It, of course, is comic. Finally he realizes that no answers are forthcoming. He is deeply frustrated and goes to his elderly father for words of wisdom. He asks his dad why must we die - where do we go - is there life after death - what are the truths? His dad answers, "Why worry - there's nothing you can do about it - so relax - live - forget about it and just live. What will happen will happen."  This releases Woody and as the film winds down, our hero finds a happy way to live without the burden of his personal doomsday fears.

I recall after seeing "Hannah" a great feeling of relief because I, like Woody, lived with the constant search for life's answers.

Here, then, are two films so opposite in tone – one a comedy the other a tragedy – both with lessons to be learned - two movies that seemed to speak directly to me. To be highly entertained and enriched – to laugh and cry and gain profound insight is the gift a good movie provides. Is it “just a movie”? Not always and we are the better for it.

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/780-Its_never_'just_a_movie_anymore.html

The Gift

“The Gift” – a movie review by Tony Baksa 8/16/2015

Sun Rating – 2 Suns

                                                         

A good mystery is difficult to pull off these days.  As a collective movie going audience, we’ve seen it all. We are all too familiar with the mechanizations that propel a mystery. So, there’s nothing new under the sun. Well, once in a while there is. “Gone Girl” is a recent example of surprise twists and turns.  “The Gift” a new mystery seems to be reaching for this same effect. After all, isn’t that the purpose of a good suspense, to catch us unawares? Hitchcock was a master at this.

Produced, written and directed by Joel Edgerton “The Gift” almost succeeds. Edgerton does a fine job creating truly creepy suspense. The tone is realistic with subtle performances by Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall. Especially good is director Edgerton in a major role. He plays Gordo, a sad loner who runs into an old high school classmate, Simon (Bateman) and his wife, Robyn (Hall) in a home goods store. They have just relocated back to Bateman’s hometown where he has been given a high powered new job with all the trimmings – big money, perks and a glorious new house. It is apparent that Gordo – known as Weirdo back in high school, is Simon’s polar opposite.

Gordo insinuates himself into the couples lives by systematically giving them gifts – leaving them at their door or at work or just showing up unannounced. He especially has this habit of visiting while Simon is at work and Robyn is home alone. We begin to see why Gordo was called Weirdo twenty-seven years ago. This goes on for much of the movie with bits and pieces slowly being revealed about the true nature of the men’s long ago “friendship”.  Raising the bar a bit for this genre are themes of forgiveness, nostalgia and trust.

However, when the big reveal comes, it is such a letdown. It hardly seems worthy enough for what preceded it. Up until this point, “The Gift” – which actually refers to three final gifts, is a taut and riveting thriller. The performances are top notch. But that darn reveal doesn’t live up to all the fuss - plus it’s rather offensive and not in a good horror movie way. Perhaps if it were renamed “Much Ado About Nothing” audiences might feel less let down.

Without giving it away, the villain’s motivation which is really what “The Gift” is all about is weak and illogical. I just didn’t buy it. It’s unfortunate. This could have easily been fixed by a very minor rewrite. That beautifully chilling last shot as Gordo fades out of frame in a blur would have carried such weight. I would wager that with a rewrite, the film’s ending would have reached classic stature in years to come.

It doesn’t help a mystery, when half way through the plotting, too much is telegraphed. The guessing game shouldn’t be this easy.  I also had problems with plot points. There are too many holes in the script. These contrivances get in the way. Edgerton sacrifices believability for plot manipulation. He has a story to tell and he’ll be damned if plausibility hampers his task.

I will say this, however, Joel Edgerton is a good actor and a promising film maker. Maybe he’ll get it right next time out.


http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/201-'The_Gift_is_one_that_deserves_to_be_returned.html

Mr. Holmes

Mr. Holmes Surprises

                                       

Mr. Holmes – a movie review by Tony Baksa 7/26/2015

Rating – 4 Suns

Summertime moving going can present problems for the serious cinephile.  With the abundance of sci-fi and superhero blockbusters, the serious minded film goer must wait out the summer for the fall and winter explosion of erudite offerings. Well, hidden in the pile of populous bill of fare is a movie that seems so out of place for this time of year – thankfully so. I admire the usual bombastic summer fun at the movies but “Mr. Holmes” is a welcome relief from the noise.

Sherlock Holmes has to be one of the most filmed literary characters ever. However, it seems, we never tire of him. He has been portrayed in diverse ways by many fine actors. One of our finest actors working today has now taken the old sleuth on. In “Mr. Holmes” the prolific Ian McKellen (Harry Potter & Hobbit movies) presents Sherlock as you have never seen him. In retirement, battling serious health and aging issues, Holmes is haunted by his last case which if not resolved professionally has never been resolved emotionally. It doesn’t help that his memory or lack thereof, has become his enemy. With dignity to spare, McKellen portrays a proud, realistic and compassionate man at the end of his days trying to make sense of it all.

The case in point is a fascinating one involving a young married couple’s tragedy, marital unrest, mysterious strangers and psychic forces. This complex scenario stirs in parallel plots involving a concerned house keeper (Laura Linney) and her brilliant young son (Milo Parker), a Japanese admirer (Hiroyuki Sanada) and bee keeping. Parallel lines meet at the end, of course, as all good mysteries demand. It’s the getting there that makes or breaks a good mystery.

“Mr. Holmes is a warm, wise and wonderful film based on the book “A Slight Trick of the Mind” by Mitch Cullen.  Moving at a pace that should work against interest, director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, The Twilight Saga) wisely chooses a languid momentum to mirror Sherlock’s elderly reveries. McKellen gives an Oscar worthy performance with unblinking honesty as a man facing the end of his remarkable life. Laura Linney is solid as always. The miracle here is 12 year old Milo Parker as Holmes’ young protégé. His strong performance has depth and uncanny understanding for someone so young. We are seeing hints of what Sherlock Holmes might have been like as a boy. The relationship is a classic one between an old man and a young boy. It is the heart of the movie.

Set in rural Sussex, England, we are treated to lovely misty pastel landscapes. Director Condon mixes the many plots with such ease employing flashbacks galore – yet, never cumbersome or confusing. The story remains intriguing to the very end. An added treat – we go away learning some very interesting facts about bees. 

INSIDE OUT

‘Inside Out’ brings childhood anxieties to life

Wednesday July 22, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

Disney/Pixar has created a classic. “Inside Out” is compelling in its originality and deeply moving. It is the story of an 11-year-old girl’s journey through depression. Funny and sad, “Inside Out” tackles this delicate subject matter in a most surprising and entertaining way.

Young Riley is uprooted from her suburban home in Minnesota to San Francisco, due to her dad’s job transfer and she is faced with the reality of building a new life. The cleverness of this movie cannot be overstated. As Riley sinks into unhappiness, her inner voices become characters – Fear, Anger, Disgust, Joy and Sadness. Expertly voiced by a brilliant and expressive cast, “Inside Out” is profound, intelligent and speaks to all ages.

Front and center are Joy battling Sadness – not in a mean, cartoonish way, but gentle and loving. We learn that Joy and Sadness are necessary allies for Riley’s well-being. Fear, Disgust and Anger cannot be dismissed and also aid in motivating Riley to adjust to her circumstances.

Beautifully animated and filled with delightful characters, “Inside Out” succeeds in bringing childhood anxieties to life. The surprising level of suspense supplies an irresistible momentum that is breathtaking.

Standouts include Bing Bong, Riley’s imaginary friend that still lingers in her memory, even though she has outgrown such things. Voiced by Richard Kind, Bing Bong is sweet and funny and ultimately touching. Sadness, voiced by Phyllis Smith, is the star of the show. She is strangely loveable and completely necessary. Her chemistry with Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler, is the engine that runs the movie.

Credit co-directors Peter Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen, along with their team of writers, for the abundance of imagination brimming over in this remarkable film. Essential to the emotional life of this movie is the delicate score composed by Michael Giacchino.

Be prepared to laugh. “Inside Out” is very funny. Be prepared to cry— several times— as “Inside Out” astonishes you with its power.

http://www.thesunnews.net/around_town/927-'Inside_Out_brings_childhood_anxieties_to_life.html

San Andreas

San Andreas – a movie review by Tony Baksa – 6/10/2015

3 Suns

It was with a cozy touch of nostalgia that I viewed “San Andreas”. We, of a certain age, remember the rash of what was labeled “disaster films” a few decades ago.  “The Towering Inferno”,” Airplane”,” Hurricane” and “Earthquake” were just a few of the more successful films of this genre.  Director Brad Peyton returns us to an updated hi-tech disaster earthquake that will blow your mind. In this summer’s first official blockbuster, California is decimated by the mother of all earthquakes.  

Scientists have gone on record stating most of what we see here is improbable.  Who cares.” San Andreas” is a highly entertaining visual and visceral feast.  Starring Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino, this roller coaster ride is fun from start to finish.  High rises topple, tsunamis overwhelm, streets and houses crumble, Hoover Dam is destroyed. Failed and successful rescue attempts abound. To use a well-worn cliché’ – there is never a dull moment.

Well, hardly ever if you can ignore the corny personal dramas of the stock characters. Trust me, this you can do.  I won’t even bother recounting these scenarios. They really are beside the point.  The obvious mission of “San Andreas” is to take its audience on a thrill ride. Mission accomplished. This flick is jam-packed with jump out of your seat moments.

“San Andreas”, with an enormous special effects and stunt team, is state of the art. And it is a sight to behold. Excitement is guaranteed. A special nod goes to film Editor Bob Ducsay for his seamless work.

 The cast which also includes quirky character actor, Paul Giamatti, is likable which makes us care for their survival despite their less than imaginative backstories.

The best thing about this movie is that it runs just under 2 hours.  With its non-stop deluge of comic book danger, the smart filmmakers know when to quit.

“San Andreas” can also be seen in 3D. Save yourself a few bucks and catch it in 2D. With all the action exploding continuously, who needs a brick or two in the face. This film’s major asset is its fine ebb and flow. 3D gimmickry sabotages this effect.  Just stay on the ride until its breathless conclusion. You will smile at the impossibility of the last line uttered by Dwayne Johnson as the American flag unfurls. Not even Brando could make it plausible. But that’s the fun of “San Andreas”.  What could be more appropriate than shaky science in an earthquake movie.

Tomorrowland

Don’t waste today on ‘Tomorrowland’

Thursday June 4, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

Disney’s latest sci-fi adventure, “Tomorrowland”, is a big, bad guilt trip. This preposterous tween movie’s premise is that we have no future if we continue to be negative. Positivity will save the day. Just believe in a future and all will be well. It’s pretty simplistic and definitely not a strong enough theme to support a 2 1/2-hour scolding.

Director Brad Bird and team have filled the screen with the most boring visuals and special effects. Lots of noise and fast movement assault our senses with no significant meaning. It brings to mind Macbeth’s famous line, “It is a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” It is also a tale full of confusion. I really didn’t know what was going on. It made me wonder if the target audience would have the same difficulty.

“Tomorrowland” stars George Clooney as inventor Frank Walker, scarred by youthful rejection. We first encounter him as an optimistic boy (Thomas Robinson). He fails to impress the judges at The Hall of Inventions with his jetpack, which actually doesn’t work. However, the young Athena (Raffey Cassidy), feels it has potential. Somehow, her opinion has some weight. She is a bit of a mystery for most of the film until the final reel when she, who has not aged, reunites with the pessimistic adult Frank (Clooney). Then the lame mystery is solved, but still doesn’t explain her purpose.

At the center of this confusion is the feisty, optimistic Casey Newton (Britt Robertson). She discovers a pin from the 1964 World Expo that transports her to Tomorrowland when she touches it. She learns that the future is governed by Nix (Hugh Laurie) who is determined to destroy the negative present to ensure a positive future. Casey becomes convinced that the world needs saving from this lunatic. The odd thing is that “villain” Governor Nix is on the right side of the issues. He has proposed solutions to global warming, political and sociological unrest. So, if he lives in the future and cured these worldly ailments, then where’s the conflict? We are left with the message that the world needs more dreamers and that everyone should drink Coke – mucho product placement – and visit Disney World, especially Tomorrowland. This is a shameless overstuffed promo for Disney.

The performances lack enthusiasm, except for Cassidy as the enigmatic Athena. As for the direction and screenplay – Bird and crew may know what “Tomorrowland” is about. Perhaps they can film a tutorial and let us all in on the “fun.”

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/749-Dont_waste_today_on_'Tomorrowland.html

Still Alice

‘Still Alice’ a devastating story of Alzheimer’s

Thursday May 21, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

At the center of this very sad tale is Alice. She is smart, strong, loving and lovable. She will break your heart. Her descent into Alzheimer’s is truthfully depicted. The drama is carefully measured as to avoid histrionics and theatrics. It is quite an achievement.

We watch hopelessly Alice’s unavoidable decline. Memory loss is a major symptom of Alzheimer’s and the most devastating. Alice experiences episodes where she doesn’t recognize her children and her husband. She also has bouts of disorientation – not knowing where she is. She goes out jogging only to find herself not recognizing the street or why she is there. It is harrowing, in its quiet way.

This is a powerful film. Is it entertaining? Well, not in the normal sense. Yet, in its authenticity, it is deeply involving. There is a stand-out scene with Alice lecturing as she bravely fights her limitations. It just may be the most moving moment in film this year.

Julianne Moore as 50-years-old Alice gives a quiet, subtle portrait of a vital woman knowingly facing this terribly cruel disease. Her intelligence in dealing day-to-day with strategies she devises for herself is inspiring. There is no implied light at the end of the tunnel here. We know, as does Alice, her story has a predictable, inevitable conclusion.

Alice – ironically a linqiustics professor – is prominent and accomplished in her field. She shares her life with an equally successful husband (Alec Baldwin) and three grown children. Her youngest daughter (Kristen Stewart), an aspiring actress, puts her career on hold to the barbed amazement of her siblings so she can be with her mother in her obvious time of need. Hunter Parrish, as Alice’s only son, also stands out. He puts credence to the old Stanislavski proverb, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” With very few lines and screen time, Parrish fashions an emotional portrait of a loving son hit hard by his mother’s struggle.

“Still Alice” is a film that’s difficult to recommend. I’m glad I saw it but, frankly, I wouldn’t see it again. Its realness is its strength and its weakness. It is just too depressing.

The movie’s authenticity may, in part, be due to the sadly fascinating fact that “Still Alice” was co-written and directed by Richard Glatzer, who was suffering from another terminal neurologic disease, ALS, during the filming. This was his last film before his death in March of this year.

“Still Alice” has been re-released due to Moore’s Oscar win as best actress. This was a movie that very few people saw the first time around, but the audience has grown.

I think the most important message I took away from this film was how necessary efforts are to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. This disease, like this movie, does not have a happy ending.

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/360-'Still_Alice_a_devastating_story_of_Alzheimers.html

Eyes Wide Open - A Commentary

Eyes wide open: Rediscover classic film

Wednesday April 22, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

For movie-lovers, this is the golden age. Not necessarily because movies are better but that they are so abundant. And with abundance come choices and so many wonderful ways to access this great art form.

I love movies – new, old, short, long, intimate, epic, black and white, color, Cinemascope, 3D – so many bad flicks but so many good ones, too.

You can go the conventional route and catch the latest releases at your local Cineplex. You can rent or buy the movie of your choice on DVD. Television and the Internet offer plenty of options from On Demand, premium channels and streaming.

And then there’s another option – my favorite – Turner Classic Movies. Bless TCM. Bless Robert Osborne – TCM host, guide and film expert. While I’m at it – Bless Thomas Edison and the Lumiere Brothers.

I pick movies the way I pick books. One of my favorite “libraries” is TCM. I adore this television network. It isn’t nostalgia that beckons me to this channel. It’s an aesthetic. TCM, like a library, has the good the bad and the interesting.

Today on TCM I watched a series of short Lumiere films – movies from the 1800’s! Two of them were in color. What an experience. Viewing movies from two centuries ago was like a visitation from Marley’s ghost – chilling, thrilling and a little scary but also a kind of spiritual experience.

I recently watched “Giant’ with Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson. It was fabulous. I was astounded to realize what a great actress Taylor was, in her prime. I was surprised at how good Hudson was and how bad the forever young Dean could be. “Giant’s” director George Stevens was a revelation.

Another surprise was the phenomenal performance by a young and very beautiful Natalie Wood in “Splendor in the Grass.” Warren Beatty made his movie debut in “Splendor” and was pretty stunning – all the earmarks of a screen star. Directed by Elia Kazan, Wood’s heartbreaking performance was never equaled by her.

TCM is a treasure trove of great 20th Century “literature.” Yes, TCM also shows bombs but viewed as history, these bombs blow away many of today’s hits – you know – like the repulsive “Hangover” movies, the stupid Jennifer Aniston romcoms, the grating Adam Sandler indulgences, the smarmy Paul Rudd buddy flicks, the recent spate of senior citizen romantic comedies starring the likes of Diane Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep and Robert Dinero.

I am not saying old movies were better than today’s efforts. I am saying that today’s garbage is smellier. In an attempt to be real, many movies have given up wit, true humor and poetic vision. That said, today we have Ang Lee, Spielberg, Scorsese, Danny Boyle et al making very good movies. There is much to enjoy and savor today, but ah - yesterday’s Bette Davis, Kazan, Garland, Cagney, Charles Laughton, Montgomery Clift, Geraldine Page, Ava Gardner, Kim Novak, William Inge, Hepburn, David Lean, Brando, Coppola, Lumet, MGM musicals and that marvelous roaring lion and so on.

But I don’t have to dwell in a nostalgic mist. I just turn on TCM and catch a dream – eyes wide open.


    http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/227-Eyes_wide_open_Rediscover_classic_film.html                                       

American Sniper - Rating 3 Suns

'American Sniper' is heartbreaking to watch

Friday March 13, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

HAMBURG— I do not understand the controversy surrounding this film. “American Sniper” is a straightforward movie about a reluctant war hero. Chris Kyle is a Navy Seal sniper with an uncanny talent for accuracy. He is so proficient that he gains the title “legend” from his peers. What he does is not pretty. But war is not pretty. He is good at what he does. Often, he must make the difficult decisions. Aiming his gun at the enemy, which sometimes includes women and most horribly, children, are his most disturbing decisions. It is heartbreaking to watch. These scenes are harrowing and will very likely cause you to have conflicting feelings. But this is why Kyle is a hero. How many people could perform such a duty and hold on to their sanity?

As portrayed by Bradley Cooper, Kyle is a sympathetic character. His demeanor is very much like his director’s persona – Clint Eastwood. Cooper is masterful. Eastwood’s direction is sturdy and penetrating.

By the way, “American Sniper” is a true story set in Texas and Iraq. It is compelling and ultimately quite sad. Kyle’s fate is tragic and unfair. Unblinking in its narrative, we are shown battles and skirmishes with Kyle’s sniping as the main tactical maneuver. These are the scenes that are most wrenching.

We are given some relief from the war zones with family scenes back home in Texas, when Kyle is on leave. These scenes are fraught with great love but laced with unnerving anxiety. We know he will return to Iraq, culminating in four tours with the Seals.

So, if this film is to be believed and I have no reason to feel otherwise, Kyle was a hero. He was a decent man with a deadly talent that served his country. The devastating details of his life make him even more heroic, in my opinion. The so-called “controversy” regarding this movie is lame and insulting.

My one quibble with American Sniper is its failure to deal head-on with the final chapter of Kyle’s story. I would have preferred the film to include a dramatization of a key incident. The impact could have been stunning. Nevertheless, its final denouement still packs a punch.

In the supporting cast, Sienna Miller as Kyle’s wife, Taya, delivers a beautifully realistic performance. Taya is torn between her desire for domestic stability and her necessary support for her husband’s duty. As their marriage progresses, they have children and a seemingly normal life – except for his long departures when he must leave to serve his country. Her demands for this normal life are thwarted by his need to serve and the Seals’ need for his special ability.

The look of the film is rather mesmerizing. Eastwood shoots his war scenes so honestly. He forces us to be witness to what war is really like. There is one scene shot in a sand storm that is brilliant in its unnerving aspect.

American Sniper is not your glossy Hollywood war film of yesterday. And Bradley Cooper is not John Wayne. This is an engrossing story about true commitment, a believable victory and gritty honor.

American Sniper is currently in theaters.


 http://www.thesunnews.net/index.php

Into The Woods

The Sun movie review: ‘Into the Woods’ is a magical trip

Monday February 23, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

Four suns.

“Once Upon a time in a far off kingdom” ... and so it begins. “Into the Woods” they go to reverse a bitter witch’s curse. What a musical fantasy delight this movie is; A story that works on several levels jam-packed with life lessons for adults and children alike.

The songs weave a spell of intrigue. The characters – all from different fairy tales – converge in a clever plot, which involves coming together for a common good. Of course, as they meet in the woods, conflict and peril unfolds everywhere.

The plot is set in motion when a baker and his wife are visited by their neighbor, an angry witch who has been cursed with ugliness by her mother due to past deeds involving a garden, the baker’s father and other dark secrets. In retaliation, she has rendered the couple childless. They never knew of this wicked spell. Due to the actions of the baker’s absent father, the witch stole the baker’s baby sister and raised her. He did not know he had a sister – Rapunzel.

As the story unfolds, Cinderella, her stepmother and stepsisters, two Prince Charmings, Little Red Riding Hood, her granny and the wolf, Jack of the bean stalk and two furious giants fill out the cast of characters to take the audience on an exciting and haunting journey. The goal is to reverse the curse and bring on a “happily ever after” ending for everybody, including the witch.

Well, we get that happy ending in the middle of the movie! But wait – you know the old saying “Be careful what you wish for?” The second half of the story deals with discontent and payback. Having upset the tranquility of the giant’s kingdom, Jack is wanted as retribution. So, back into the woods this collection of fairy tale characters go to hide young Jack and plot their defense against the angry giant. The scenes of blame and accusation, of hurt and loss, of sweet lessons learned, are wondrous.

Directed by Academy Award winner, Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), Into the Woods has his stamp of luscious visuals and wit. The cast is perfect. What a treat to have a musical where everyone can actually sing. No talk-singing or trick techy nonsense to disguise a star’s lack of musicality. Meryl Streep as the witch is a revelation. We all know what a great actress she is. Her singing in “Mama Mia” didn’t even hint at the tremendous power and dramatic force she delivers in song. Also outstanding is Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood and Daniel Huttlestone as Jack. Surprising in their own right are performances by Emily Blunt, Chris Pine and James Corden.

Broadway’s genius composer Stephen Sondheim has never been properly served in movies – until now. His philosophy, humor and humanity displayed in his clever lyrics, plus his beautifully unique melodies, have had a difficult time in past transfers to film. This time, they got it right.

“Into the Woods “is currently in theaters.

http://www.thesunnews.net/news/383-'Into_the_Woods'_is_a_magical_trip.html

Annie

The Sun movie review: Updated ‘Annie’ falls flat

Thursday February 5, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

One Sun

Little Orphan Annie, Daddy Warbucks and Sandy the dog started out as comic strip characters in the Great Depression. Vastly popular, this comic strip brought optimism to a bleak period in our history. Annie, the eternal optimist with the big round eyes and big red hair has never left us. She has seen the lights of Broadway in what has become a classic musical. Filmed in 1982 with a star-studded cast and then again as a television special, also with a star-studded cast, Annie and friends continued to gain admirers.

Now, a newly reimagined “Annie” has hit the silver screen with a thud. This lackluster production has subtracted everything from the original that was charming and relevant. Not only have the characters been changed and renamed – except for Annie, of course – but the classic score has been so altered that the songs are unrecognizable. I am not a purist, but this is ridiculous.

The updated plot revolves around Annie who, in this version, is no longer an orphan. She is now a foster child. Annie pines for her biological parents, as in the original. She shares a cramped bedroom with several other foster children – all girls under the supervision of mean Miss Hannigan, dreadfully played by Cameron Diaz. On her daily excursions in looking for her parents, she encounters Mr. Stacks, a cell phone tycoon with political aspirations. For some stupid reason, he takes our little waif into his home for media coverage, in hopes it will soften his public image and get him elected as mayor. Annie goes from Hannigan’s dreary New York City tenement to Stacks’ high-tech penthouse. Of course, the predictable happens, as lovable Annie melts Mr. Stack’s cold heart. Along the way, we are assaulted with the worst musical numbers I have ever witnessed on screen. Lacking production value and with the most awkward staging, the songs fall as flat as the performances.

The cast appears clueless. The performances are so weak as to be nonexistent. To be fair, the actors, all good in other movies, have apparently been left to their own devices without any direction. Produced, written and directed by Will Gluck, this vanity production is so wrongheaded. What a missed opportunity to bring this delightful musical to a new generation. Jamie Foxx seems to be sleepwalking through his part. Rose Byrne, as his assistant and long suffering secret admirer, is zombie-like, in this flattened-out film.

The usually wonderful Bobby Cannaval is awful as a crooked opportunist. Quvenzshane Wallis as Annie has energy to spare and too many smiles to bare. She’s cute, is the kindest thing I can say for her performance.

With songs like the iconic “Tomorrow” plus “Hard Knock Life” and “Maybe” so unrecognizable in their updated treatments, one wonders why Gluck and company were inspired to remake “Annie.” Did they think they could improve on an already good thing with newly written, extremely inferior songs? Or did they believe they could make it better by adding a superfluous car chase?

To see “Annie” at her best, check out the 1982 film version, directed by the great John Huston starring Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, or the 1999 TV film directed by Rob Marshall starring Cathy Bates. These are available on cable and streaming on syndication services.

There is also a national tour of the stage play coming our way this year. All three options are better bets, to see “Annie” in all her rightful glory.

“Annie” is currently in theaters.

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/516-The_Sun_movie_review_Updated_'Annie_falls_flat.html

The Imitation Game

‘The Imitation Game’ is second to none

Friday January 23, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

Four Suns.

“The Imitation Game” is a true story about an unsung hero starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Fans of PBS’s stylish delight, “Sherlock Holmes” will be familiar with the quirky Cumberbatch. He couldn’t be more perfect as Alan Turing, the young genius mathematician who, with a support team, was instrumental in ending World War II. Over a span of two painstaking years, this dedicated team worked to crack the Nazi code “Enigma.”

This well-crafted movie takes us through this process in a most entertaining way. It is more than a tale of code-breaking. It is a dramatic look at teamwork and love. But mostly, it is a character study of a genius misunderstood and egregiously underappreciated. Turing performed heroic work in decoding the Nazi machine and saving thousands of lives. It has been estimated that breaking this code shortened the war by two years. This decoding allowed Britain to know Germany’s tactical moves. It should also be said that Turing actually laid the foundation for the modern day computer. He truly was an extraordinary mind.

So why was Alan Turing not celebrated or decorated? Why did he receive such punishing treatment from England? The main reason was because Turing was gay. This brilliant young man’s contribution has been buried away from history books and school curriculum for 50 years. England finally recognized his achievement in 2012 – too late to alter the devastating outcome of a life sadly abused by a harsh society.

Director Morten Tyldum has gathered an impressive ensemble of actors. Keira Knightley is charming as the only woman on this team who shares a strong bond with Turing. Charles Dance and Matthew Goode also turn in strong performances as Turing’s commander and teammate. However, it is Cumberbatch that steals the show. He has become adept at portraying outsiders and superior intellects with such humanity and charisma.

The Imitation Game works on so many levels. It is a spy thriller. It is suspenseful. It is a love story. It is a social document. It is history. First-time screenwriter Graham Moore and the creative team deserve accolades. The history of the world is filled with untold truths and unsung heroes. Race, gender, sexuality and religious taboos have kept the facts hidden, in many cases. The Imitation Game is a step in the right direction. Due to the appalling neglect of such an important historical episode, The Imitation Game – movie and book – should be required viewing and reading until the time comes when Turing’s story is justly included in our history books and lessons.

 The Imitation Game is currently in theaters.

http://www.thesunnews.net/scene/533-'The_Imitation_Game_is_second_to_none.html

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies

Hobbit is an epic masterpiece

Saturday January 3, 2015 | By:Tony Baksa |

Four Suns.

The genius director Peter Jackson is back to conclude The Hobbit trilogy. The tale of unassuming Hobbit hero Bilbo Baggins has spread out over three blockbuster movies. This final episode, “Battle of the Five Armies” does not disappoint.

Rich with adventure, drama, a pinch of comedy and loads of thrills, “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies” stays true to the nature of filmmaking – special visual effects, amazing scope, otherworldly sound, set design of monumental proportions – the score, the costumes, the make-up – a wholly improbable yet believable world created to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece to life.

The characters are all there to bring us to the end of Bilbo’s first adventure. Don’t forget – we meet him again in “Lord of the Rings.” Middle Earth is once again abundant with monsters and villains, good guys and heroes, elves and dwarves, ogres and wizards, kings and fools and one fabulous dragon! And, of course, that precious gold ring is there to haunt Bilbo.

This last Hobbit film picks up where “The Desolation of Smaug” left off. Bilbo’s chilling words, “What have we done,” at that movie’s conclusion was hardcore enticement to return to this final film to see just that. The dragon Smaug has threatened annihilation on the city of humans nearby his lair. As the movie begins, Smaug is keeping his threatening promise flying over Lake-town, destroying everything in his way, as he swoops over the city spitting fire. Bilbo and the dwarves must complete their mission to take back the mountain, home of the dwarves and reclaim Smaug’s wealth. Matters are complicated by the greed of Thorin the dwarf king and outside forces, such as the evil Orcs, as well as the noble elves.

All of this leads up to the film’s centerpiece, the battle of the five armies. The pitch of excitement is high as the amazing war explodes on the screen. All the factions battle for the mountain and the enormous treasure it holds. Here in these battles is the stuff of pure cinematic drama. The battles don’t stop the film. The stories, unfold as all the characters fight for survival.

Peter Jackson has created three gorgeous masterpieces of fantasy. This final installment is not to be missed. “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” can be \ enjoyed on its own without having knowledge of the two preceding films. It can be viewed in 2-D, 3-D and IMAX. I saw it in 3-D, which provided detail, texture and extraordinary clarity to Jackson’s visually striking canvas. “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is currently in theaters. I believe it will be in theaters for quite some time.

http://www.thesunnews.net/news/778-Hobbit_is_an_epic_masterpiece.html