La La Land has everyone singing its praises

Movie Title:   La La Land

Grade:  A

Rating:  PG-13, 128 minutes

In a Nutshell:  With a theme song that will be stuck in your head for a long time, this unexpected romantic musical feels like one of those magical movies Hollywood use to pump out decades ago.   

Beautifully shot in CinemaScope, it features the glamour, hope, sacrifice, pain, and dreams found in Los Angeles.  

It’s very entertaining and honest, already winning a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as a big trophy for both of its lead actors: Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

Uplifting theme: 

• “People love what other people are passionate about.” - Mia (Emma Stone)
• Here’s to the ones who dream…
• “You gotta give this everything you got.” - Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Things I liked:

• Emma Stone’s face can show a thousand different expressions.  She is so charming that you just can't keep your eyes off of her in every scene.
• It’s fun to hear some good jazz.  Sebastian explains, "You can’t just hear it; you have to see it.” 
• I know they must be partially or even completely manufactured, but I loved all the pretty LA sunsets. 
• Ryan Gosling.  Good on you.  He can do it all.  He actually learned how to play the piano for this movie.  
• Ryan and Emma Stone have great chemistry.  This is not their first movie together.
• I love the scene where they hold hands for the first time.  I remember those breath-taking moves from dates gone by.
• It's really such a breath of fresh air. Keep those musicals coming.
• John Legend!
• Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Damien Chazelle.  Nice job!
• I liked how the movie announced the seasons, reminding us how the seasons of our life come and go.
• This film reminded me of last year’s film Cafe Society that makes you ache with love, regret, and longing.
• Is this film a love letter to Los Angeles or Hollywood or being passionate about your dreams? Or maybe all three?
• The musical numbers easily blend into the traditional storytelling.
• The sequence at the end was done so well.
• I didn't expect to see J.K. Simmons in a musical!
• Mia and Sebastian go to the famous Griffith Observatory with a little nod to James Dean. Put it on your bucket list.  It has one of the best views of La La Land...I mean Los Angeles and Hollywood.
• It's clever that there are 2 story lines...2 paths that could have been.  In La La Land a/k/a Hollywood, movies end with "happily ever after", but in real life...not so much.  So, which story did YOU think was the REAL movie?

Things I didn’t like:

• I love Emma Stone, but I’m just wondering how much more fantastic this could have been with Anna Kendrick in the female lead role?  Maybe match her up again with Justin Timberlake like when they were together in Trolls?  Wow, can you imagine how great the soundtrack would have been?  As it is, Emma and Ryan aren't what I would call "powerful" singers.  If Director Chazelle was going for "sweet and simple", then he nailed it.  Some say that the "not perfect" singing was part of the point of the movie...everyone, even everyday people can make their dreams come true.  What do YOU think?
• That string of hair that constantly droops in Sebastian's face.
• The sound isn’t always quite in sync with the lips.
• It was funny, but also super annoying how Sebastian would honk loud and hard when he went to Mia's house and pick her up. Really?  Be a gentleman and go to the door, Bud.
• It conjured up images of great dance numbers with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, although not nearly as good.

Interesting lines:

• “Why don’t you want to do it anymore?” – Sebastian

“Because I think it hurts a little too much.” – Mia 

Funny lines:

• “This idea that we’re re-imagining Godilocks and the three bears from the perspective of the bears…it could be like a franchise.  There’s a lot we don’t know.  There could be 4 bears.  We don’t know.” – Carlo (the real screenwriter Jason Fuchs)
• “It’s pretty strange that we keep running into each other.” – Mia

“It IS strange.  Maybe it means something.” – Sebastian

“I doubt it.” – Mia

“Yeah, I don’t think so.” – Sebastian

• “You’re a real…um….what’s the word I’m looking for?” – Mia

“Knight in shining armor.” – Sebastian

“Weirdo…that was the word.” – Mia

Did you catch all of the Easter Eggs and tributes to other movies?
* The opening CinemaScope opening gives a tip of the hat to old movies from the 1950's and early 60's.
* Look at all of the pictures hanging in the cafe where Mia works and you'll see a bunch of celebrities eating or cooking food.
* Check out all of the movie posters in Mia's apartment.
* I love Ryan Gosling on the street lamp post ala Singing in the Rain.

• The dance scene on the street at night pays homage to Top Hat with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 
• Guy and Madeline on a Park bench is represented by a scene where a movie poster rolls by Sebastian and Mia.
• To learn about more, check out this fun video.

Tips for parents: 

• This is pretty safe for all ages, but your daughters will probably enjoy it more than your sons.  It’s a romantic musical after all.
• 1 F-bomb; otherwise, no other profanity. 
• You see a couple living together out of wedlock.
• Mia flips someone the bird (the middle finger).
• Plan on listening to your kids sing these songs over and over again.

@trinaboice 

Critics are saying good-bye to Aloha

Movie:    Aloha

PG-13, 1 hour 45 minutes

Grade:  C

In a Nutshell:   The cast is a delight to watch: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Alec Baldwin and Bill Murray.  Unfortunately, this RomCom is just too messy.   Most of the characters will frustrate you, as well as the pacing and transitions.  It’s pretty predictable, but yeah, I’m a sucker…the last scene made me tear up a little anyway.

Uplifting Theme:

·         In the beginning of the movie, a kid who is a Hawaiian myth buff (played by Jaeden Lieberher)  announces the theme by asking Colonel “Fingers”, “Are you aware of the so-called ‘Arrival Myth’?  The calendars all say that this week is the return of the playful Hawaiian god “Lono” and he will wreak havoc in the sky with the fire goddess Pele.”

·         “Nothing’s sacred.  It’s all for sale.” – Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper)

·         Bill Murray’s character explains “The future isn’t just something that happens.  It’s a brutal force with a great sense of humor that’ll steam-roll you if you’re not watching.”

·         Islander purity and folktale vs. big business

Things I liked:

·         The movie starts with the sounds and images of old Hawaii, including cultural and military history.  Throughout the movie you get to hear lots of great Hawaiian music and feel the laid-back attitude of the islanders.

·         Emma Stone’s character describes Bradley Cooper’s character by saying “you look into his eyes and it’s like miles of blue.”  I’m pretty sure a lot of other women would agree.

·         Who doesn’t like Alec Baldwin as a fast-talking general?  I first loved him in a military uniform in The Hunt for Red October

·         The unspoken “conversations” between Brian and Woody weres hilarious and awesome.

·         Watching Emma Stone dance with Bill Murray was both funny and disturbing.  She said “I danced with the devil and I liked it.”

Things I didn’t like:

·         It’s pretty insensitive and inappropriate for a spouse to invite an ex over for dinner, don’t you think?  It’s got to be one of the most awkward positions you can put your spouse in, right?  Rachel McAdams’ character seemed too selfish to me by putting her unfinished, romantic past before the needs and happiness of her marriage and family. Yeah, yeah…there’s that “thing”…NO Spoiler alert.

·         Emma Stone’s character is a little too intense and the performance uneven.

·         It might surprise you to know this mediocre movie was written and directed by Cameron Crowe, who brought us box office hits like Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous

Funny lines:

·         “A double espresso.” – Brian

“Good morning Sir!  I’m so jacked for today!”  - Allison Ng

“Make that a triple.” – Brian

·         “Why is dad in places where the war is supposed to be over?” - Grace

“Oh, I don’t know, Sweetie.  That’s why your mom takes long walks.” – Tracy

·         “You’re a workaholic who creates works to avoid real work.” – Tracy

“Well, I’m still working on that.” – Brian

·         “I don’t hook-up; I get deployed.” – Allison Ng

·         “I’d just rather be alone.  Mostly it’s with guys like me.  I just call them ‘alone- togethers.’” – Allison Ng

·         “Happy holidays Bottom-Feeder.” – General Dixon

Interesting lines:

·         I will tell you this for sure.  In its many forms , I have found that nothing beats fun.” – Brian

“Maybe, purpose.”  - Allison Ng

·         “If we can’t look up and see purity or promise, we are finished.” – Allison Ng

Tips for Parents:

·         Young children will be bored with all of the romantic drama.  Teenage girls will get lost in Bradley Cooper’s eyes and the love triangle.

·         There is very little profanity

·         Pre-marital sex,.  You see people kissing and then later, they're in bed.

Other movies by Cameron Crowe:

Amazing Spiderman 2 squeezes Maguire's 2 & 3 into one flick

Movie Title:     The Amazing Spider-Man 2
PG-13, 2 hours 22 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:   

This new installment of the Spider-Man franchise successfully makes you feel like you’re reading the panels of a comic book, but also has the effect of a choppy story that is common within that genre.  The flick is full of acrobatic stunts, impressive car crashes, and electrifying villains that young kids will get a kick out of.  I saw a few little ones walk into the theater wearing their Spidey costumes.  Adorable.  Most teens and parents who still have the Toby Maguire DVD sitting in their cabinet at home are asking “Why are they doing a remake so soon?” 

Uplifting theme:   

• Peter Parker’s girlfriend, Gwen, gives the Valedictorian speech at her high school graduation that pretty much sums up the theme for the movie: “It’s easy to feel hopeful on a beautiful day like today, but there will be dark days ahead of us too.  There will be days when you feel all alone and that’s when hope is needed most.  No matter how bad it gets or how lost you feel, you must promise me that you will hold on to hope.  Keep it alive.  We have to be greater than what we suffer.  My wish for you is to become hope.  People need that.  And even if we fail, what better way is there to live?”

Things I liked:

• The beginning of the movie sheds more light on Peter Parker’s parents and their unique mission which caused them to leave their young son.
• The slow-motion sequences were really great.
• Where else can we see Jaime Foxx with bad comb-over?
• The audience I sat with thought it was hilarious when Spider-Man sticks to a vehicle while it drives down the road.  He says to Gwen on the phone “I got a little stuck in traffic.”
• I pretty much love Emma Stone in anything.  This is a much softer version of her sass.
• This installment in Spider-Man is stuffed with villains.  Some say too many.  I rather liked the fact that the formula wasn’t “fight bad guy-win-happy ending-the end.
• (No spoiler alert)  I loved the story line and ending with the brave little boy.

Things I didn’t like:

• While Garfield and Stone have some chemistry, there’s no magical kiss like the one Maguire/Dunst created in their famous upside-down scene.
• It’s hard for Spider-Man to be really amazing when we’ve seen so many truly awesome CGI movies lately….with and without Superheroes.
•  Is it just me or does it seem like all of the villains in movies lately aren’t really bad, but just misunderstood?
• Before the movie started at the Regal Theater I attended, a bizarre announcement played with Emma Stone and a drugged out looking Andrew Garfield with a fake British accent.  They were encouraging patrons to upgrade to a particular ticket after the movie with access to additional content.
• Spiderman’s clever banter with bad guys just isn’t very clever at all.
• Some of Spiderman’s webs magically hook onto thin air.  What the?
•  The story line turns Peter Parker’s girlfriend into a successful Valedictorian with a loving family, much different from the Kirsten Dunst's wounded character. 
• I love Paul Giamatti, so I thought he was seriously underutilized in this film.
• Peter and Aunt May (Sally Field) fight in almost every scene they're in.
• Why do evil scientists always speak with a German accent and laugh after every sentence?

Inspiring lines:

• “What makes life valuable is that it doesn’t last forever.  What makes it precious is that it ends.”  - Gwen’s graduation speech
• “Time is luck, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.   Make yours count for something.  Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if we fall short, what better way is there to live?” – Gwen’s graduation speech
• “You’re not a nobody.  You’re somebody.”   - Spiderman  
• “The world cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”   - Albert Einstein, as quoted by Norman Osborn

Funny lines:

• Max tells Spider-Man “I will be like a god to them.”  Spiderman quips “A god named Sparkles?”

Things to look for:

• I love it when Stan Lee makes his cameo performance in Marvel movies.  Look closely in the high school graduation scene.  Stan sees Peter Parker with his Spider-Man mask on and says “Hey, I think I know that guy!”
• Some of the high school students decorate their graduation caps with little toys or words.  My oldest son just graduated from college last weekend (proud mama!) and I didn’t see any of the students decorate their caps, but I thought it was a cute idea.
• Peter Parker’s ring tone on his cell phone.
• Peter Parker’s cute “Thrasher” t-shirt.
• Aidy Bryant from Saturday Night Live is wearing a Statue of Liberty costume and says to Spider-Man “Nice costume!”
• Don’t bother looking for a fun sneak peek at anything after the credits roll.  When the movie is over, it’s actually over. 

Tips for parents:   

• Kids can learn about battery power and electric charges…
• The profanity is lean with only a few “mild” bad words, but there is, of course, a lot of violence.  Young children with dreams of becoming the next Superhero may need to be counseled “Do not try this at home.”
• If you missed the first Andrew Garfield Spidey, you can get it here:

Want to see the Toby Maguire version? You can pick it up cheap right here: