Nocturnal Animals is cleverly written

Movie Title:  Nocturnal Animals

Grade:  B+

Rating: R, 115 minutes

• In a Nutshell: This disturbing, stylish drama is very cleverly written and unfolds perfectly.  
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•  Tom Ford wrote the screenplay and directed this movie.  He is a great storyteller and does an excellent job layering three stories over and under each other.  Did you know he got his start as a fashion designer?

Uplifting theme: 

• “Do you ever feel like your life has turned into something you never intended?” – Susan Morrow (Amy Adams)
• Regret, emotional scars.
• Believing in someone.

Things I liked:

• I love Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaall in anything.  They’re both super talented and deliver fantastic emotional performances.
• You begin to understand the symbolism at the same time Susan does.
• Michael Shannon does a great job as a crusty old cop who is dying physically and emotionally.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Karl Glusman make you so angry as the sleazy scumbag criminals you want to see get what they deserve.
• I thought the movie poster was really clever.
• As an author, I always enjoy movies about other writers.  I would love to have my writing affect a reader so powerfully as Edward's did on Susan.  This is the book the film was based on:                                      
• This film will stay with you. The more you think about it, the more you'll notice the connecting cues throughout the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• It annoyed me when Susan described her conservative, religious parents as racist, as if all of those things are naturally connected.
• Some very talented actors had very small parts (Laura Linney, Michael Sheen, Armie Hammer, Jena Malone) and I would have loved to see more of them.
• It’s emotionally very dark.

Interesting lines:

• “Enjoy the absurdity of our world.  It’s a lot less painful.” – Carlos (Michael Sheen who has another movie out in theaters right now: Passengers)
• Susan asks, “Why are you so driven to write?”  Edward answers, “I guess it’s a way of keeping things alive.  I’m saying things that will eventually die.  If I write it down, then it’ll last forever.”
• “My husband used to call me a nocturnal animal.” – Susan
• ‘I’m not scared.  I’m unhappy.” – Susan
• “They say we all become our mother.” – Anne Sutton

Funny lines:

• “Do you not trust your nanny?” – Susan

“No, I do.  I just hate her.” – (Jena Malone)

Tips for parents: 

• This is not a family-friendly movie that children should watch.  It is a very dark Rated R film with mature themes.
• Vulgar profanity.
• Discussion and portrayal of a brutal rape attack.
• You see a guy sitting on a toilet naked.
• Abortion, marriage infidelity, illegal activities.

@trinaboice 

Arrival will tickle your brain and warm your heart

Movie Title:  Arrival

Grade:  A

Rating:   PG-13, 116 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Earning 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this intelligent sci-fi thriller features an outstanding performance from Amy Adams that already has garnered Oscar buzz.  This fascinating film will tickle your brain and warm your heart.

I didn’t want to post my review right after I saw it, because I wanted it to percolate in my head and process it for a while first.  The more I thought about it, the more I loved it.   It’s hard to write a review without giving too much away, so I apologize for the spoiler alerts below.  It’s better to see the movie “blind”, so to speak, so that you get to experience the unfolding of the story.  

"Arriving" at the end of the movie and understanding it is a satisfying journey when you have to work it out in your own mind.

You know a movie has done its job when the audience claps and then slowly walks out of the theater, as they try to contemplate what they have just experienced.  That’s what happened when I sat in a packed theater Friday night.  I can’t wait for you to see it and read your comments!

Uplifting theme: 

• “Language is complicated and messy and sometimes it can be both.” – Dr. Louise Banks
• This is less about aliens and science fiction, but instead, more about humanity and working together.
• “If you could see your whole life start to finish, would you change things?” – Dr. Louise Banks    I loved the movie City of Angels and how, despite life being hard and even heart-breaking at times, it’s still worth living….every minute.

Things I liked:

• Director Denis Villeneuve usually makes violent, profanity-laced Rated R movies like Sicario and Prisoners, so I was happy to see him offer something else more family-friendly and cerebral. 
• The cinematography is fantastic.  One of the best takes is when we first see the alien spacecraft in a field in Montana with fog drifting over the ridge.  Gorgeous. The camera rolls in almost a 360 degree span that is absolutely stunning.
• It reminded me a little bit of the movie  Signs , which I loved, because of the lingering uneasiness that lasts throughout the entire movie.  The tension is handled very well.  It also reminded me of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and Contact, because of the lessons we learn about humanity and our connection to the universe.
• I loved the no-gravity chamber inside the spaceship, especially when the people inside could look far down below at the people walking around.  Super cool. 
• I’m such a nerd that when Dr. Banks’ lecture on the Portuguese language was interrupted, I was disappointed that I didn’t get to hear it.   Ha ha 
• We’ve never seen aliens like this before.  We’ve never seen a spaceship like this before.  We’ve never seen a written language like this before.  Three cheers for creative writers!
• I was mesmerized with how the spaceships left the atmosphere….soooo cool. 
• Did you catch Louise’s earrings at the fancy event when she was talking to General Shang of China (played by Tzi Ma)?  If you look closely, you’ll also see that same image repeated on her daughter’s notebook.  Pay attention to other places you see a bird in a cage too.
• There is a little bit of humor, which audiences always appreciate.
• SPOILER ALERT.  As a university professor who teaches English, I LOVE that the film revolved around language and trying to communicate with the aliens, yet was really about how we humans communicate with each other.  Amy Adams’ character (also a college professor) wrote, “Language is the cornerstone of civilization.”  The gift that the aliens brought was perfect. An intriguing idea in the movie is that language shapes the way we think more than the way we think shapes our language.
• HUGE SPOILER ALERT!!!!   I LOVED the way that time was used in the movie.  Because we’re human, we view time as linear.  That simple fact makes us believe that what we’re seeing at the beginning of the movie is the beginning of the story.  The movie folds over on itself, just as the language of the aliens does.  Once Louise realizes that, we also realize what is happening in the story.  Very cool.
• Did you notice that the release date was 11/11?  Another palindrome in the movie...

Things I didn’t like:

• Some viewers have complained about the slow pace, but I didn’t mind, because it gave my brain a chance to consider all of the different story angles and messages.
• Each encounter with the aliens cut off too soon.  I wanted them to last longer.
• Jeremy Renner delivers a good performance.  Unfortunately, his character doesn’t contribute much and he admits that they wouldn’t be anywhere without Louise.  He figures out one thing without her and he makes a really strange decision in the end that I didn’t like. 
• What was the deal with Forest Whitaker’s weird accent?
• There is a lot of quiet mumbling, making it often difficult to understand what people are saying.
• Sometimes things were out of focus, which was annoying.  I recognize that was an artistic choice, forcing us to focus on a specific thing, but sometimes it just annoyed me; I wanted to see everything!

Interesting lines:

• “If all I ever gave you was a hammer…” – Louise

“Every answer is a nail.” – Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker)

• “Memory is a strange thing.  It doesn’t work like I used to think.  We are bound by time, by its order…” – Louise
• “There are days that define your story beyond your life.” - Louise

Funny lines:

• “You made quick work of those insurgent videos.” – Colonel Weber

“You made quick work of those insurgents.” – Louise

• “When was the last time you did something stressful?” – Army doctor

“Does this count?  Just saying…” – Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner)

• “Yeah.  That just happened.” – Ian Donnelly
• “Trust me.  You can understand communication and still end up single.” - Louise

Tips for parents: 

• Kids will think the aliens are cool, not too scary.
• Yay for science and math!  
• There are some subtitles your kids will need to read or have read to them.
• The one and only person who dropped an F-bomb happened to be an Avenger…Jeremy Renner. 
• The movie is based on a short story by Ted Chiang  

Big Eyes gets my big applause

Big Eyes

PG-13, 1 hour 46 minutes

Grade:  A-

In a Nutshell:   Big Eyes is an EYE OPENING biopic about the pop art of Margaret Keane, as well as a social commentary of the male dominance of the 50’s and 60’s. 

Christopher Waltz plays the charismatic Walter Keane so well that you can’t tell if he’s simply a deluded and hopeful salesman or a manipulative monster. Amy Adams uses her innocent charm to portray the talented, subdued artist Margaret Keane.

I don’t normally like director Tim Burton’s dark style, but this film is more conventional, while still including his somewhat magical, warped flair, similar in taste to his earlier film Big Fish .

Uplifting Theme:

·         Honesty, integrity, talent, self-assurance, self-expression

Things I liked:

·         I’ve always liked Amy Adams.  She is fantastic in this.  I love the picture at the end of the movie with her and the real Margaret Keane, who is still alive!

·         It was fun seeing North Beach in San Francisco in the 60’s.

·         As a non-fiction author of 21 books, I completed related to the artists’ struggle to get work “out there” and have people appreciate it.

·         Krysten Ritter was perfectly cast as Margaret’s big-eyed best friend, DeeAnn

·         Margaret’s evolving hairdo’s reminded me of my own mother’s during that time period.

·         I thought Lana Del Rey’s theme song was perfect for the tone of the film.  “With your big eyes and your big lies.”

Things I didn’t like:

·         Margaret is portrayed as being forced into the fraud, but she definitely agreed to allow it to happen.  Yes, Margaret was conflicted, but the sting of dishonesty seemed to be somewhat mellowed with money.   Funny how that works.

·         It’s interesting how Walter was criticized for not having the real talent, but his marketing abilities were extraordinary, especially for the time.  He brought art to the masses at an affordable price and was a genius at merchandising.

Funny lines:

·         “I make things up for a living.  I’m a reporter.”  - Dick Nolan (played by Danny Huston)

·          “Expresso?  What’s that?  Is that like Reefer?”  - Margaret

·         “Walter Keane was not a subtle man.  Subtle doesn’t sell.” – Dick Nolan

·         “Quiet.  I’ll have you whacked. If you tell anyone, I’ll have you taken out.  I know people.  Remember Ben Ducci’s cousin, the liquor wholesaler?” – Walter

·         “Life imitating art…a crying Keane.” - Walter

Interesting lines:

·         “So, what’s that with the crazy, big eyes?” - Walter

“Well, I believe that you can see things in the eyes.  Eyes are the window to the soul.  Eyes are how I express my emotions.” –  Margaret

·         “When you look at me like that, I could fall hard.” – Walter

·         “Jane, don’t bother Mr. Keane.  You know creativity comes from within.” – Margaret

·         ‘You’re right!  It’s paradise!  Only God could create these colors!” – Margaret on her honeymoon in Hawaii

·         “I think people buy art because it touches them.” – Margaret

“Yeah, you are living in Fairy land.  People don’t get to discover anything.  They buy art because it’s in the right place at the right time.” – Walter

·         “It’s like a mirage….From a distance, you look like a painter, but up close there’s just not much there.” – Margaret

·         “The more you lie, the smaller you seem.” - Margaret

Tips for Parents:

·         Some profanity, including 1 F-Bomb.

·         There isn’t a lot of action, so some children will get bored.

Margaret and Walter lie to their daughter to protect the ruse.

 To learn more about their fascinating story, check these out:

 

2014 Award Show Season Begins!

It's January! So do you know what that means? Here come all of the award shows! The first major entertainment awards show of the year is the 71st Golden Globes. We'll see if these names continue a winning streak this season...

Funny girls Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the glitzy shindig for the second time. The first award of the night went to Jennifer Lawrence, who won for Best Supporting Actress for "American Hustle", still in theaters across the country. Last year she took home a trophy for Best Actress for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook."

Below is a listing of all the big winners (and losers) of the evening. You always have to wait until the end of several hours to find out which movie won "Best motion picture", but I'm going to start you off with that big announcement!

Best motion picture, drama

• "12 Years a Slave" -- WINNER
• "Captain Phillips"
• "Gravity"
• "Philomena"
• "Rush"

Best actress in a motion picture, drama

• Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine" -- WINNER
• Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"
• Judi Dench, Philomena"
• Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"
• Kate Winslet, "Labor Day"

Best actor in a motion picture, drama

• Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
• Idris Elba, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
• Tom Hanks, "Captain Phillips"
• Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club" -- WINNER
• Robert Redford, "All is Lost"

Best motion picture, comedy or musical

• "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• "Her"
• "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• "Nebraska"
• "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy

• Amy Adams, "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"
• Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha"
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Enough Said"
• Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"

Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

• Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
• Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
• Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street" -- WINNER
• Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• Joaquin Phoenix, "Her"

Best animated feature film

• "The Croods"
• "Despicable Me 2"
• "Frozen" -- WINNER

Best foreign language film

• "Blue is the Warmest Color"
• "The Great Beauty" -- WINNER
• "The Hunt"
• "The Past"
• "The Wind Rises"

Best supporting actress in a motion picture

• Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"
• Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years a Slave"
• Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"
• June Squibb, "Nebraska"

Best supporting actor in a motion picture

• Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
• Daniel Brühl, "Rush"
• Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"
• Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"
• Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club" -- WINNER

Best director, motion picture

• Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity" -- WINNER
• Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"
• Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
• Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
• David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best screenplay, motion picture

• Spike Jonze, "Her" -- WINNER
• Bob Nelson, "Nebraska"
• Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan, "Philomena"
• John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave"
• Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best original score, motion picture

• Alex Ebert, "All is Lost" -- WINNER
• Alex Heffes, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
• Steven Price, "Gravity"
• John Williams, "The Book Thief"
• Hans Zimmer, "12 Years a Slave"

Best original song, motion picture

• "Atlas," "Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
• "Let It Go," "Frozen"
• "Ordinary Love," "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" -- WINNER
• "Please Mr. Kennedy," "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• "Sweeter Than Fiction," "One Chance"

Best TV series, drama

• "Breaking Bad" -- WINNER
• "Downton Abbey"
• "The Good Wife"
• "House of Cards"
• "Masters of Sex"

Best actress in a TV series, drama

• Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
• Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"
• Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"
• Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
• Robin Wright, "House of Cards" -- WINNER

Best actor in a TV series, drama

• Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" -- WINNER
• Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
• Michael Sheen, "Masters of Sex"
• Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
• James Spader, "The Blacklist"

Best TV series, musical or comedy

• "The Big Bang Theory"
• "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" -- WINNER
• "Girls"
• "Modern Family"
• "Parks and Recreation"

Best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy

• Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
• Lena Dunham, "Girls"
• Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
• Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" -- WINNER

Best actor in a TV series, musical or comedy

• Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
• Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
• Michael J. Fox, "The Michael J. Fox Show"
• Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
• Andy Samberg, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" -- WINNER

Best TV movie or miniseries

• "American Horror Story: Coven"
• "Behind the Candelabra" -- WINNER
• "Dancing on the Edge"
• "Top of the Lake"
• "White Queen"

Best actress in a miniseries or TV movie

• Helena Bonham Carter, "Burton and Taylor"
• Rebecca Ferguson, "The White Queen"
• Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Coven"
• Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
• Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake" -- WINNER

Best actor in a miniseries or TV movie

• Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
• Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra" -- WINNER
• Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Dancing on the Edge"
• Idris Elba, "Luther"
• Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Best supporting actress in a series, miniseries or TV movie

• Jacqueline Bisset, "Dancing on the Edge" -- WINNER
• Janet McTeer, "The White Queen"
• Hayden Panettiere, "Nashville"
• Monica Potter, "Parenthood"
• Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or TV movie

• Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
• Rob Lowe, "Behind the Candelabra"
• Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
• Corey Stoll, "House of Cards"
• Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan" -- WINNER