Only the Brave serves up emotional tribute piping hot

Movie Title: 
Only The Brave  

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 14 minutes

In a Nutshell: Based on a true story and an article written in GQ Magazine, this is a timely film that spotlights true heroes who fight fires.  More specifically, it honors the real men called the Granite Mountain Hotshots in Arizona. 

 

Uplifting theme: 

• The motto of the Granite Mountain Hotshots is "Esse quam videri," which means "To be, rather than to seem."
•  Brotherhood, unity, loyalty
•  Courage
• Family
• Second chances and forgiveness
• "Doing something that's never been done before takes time." - Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges)

Things I liked:

• Wow, how did they film some of those scenes?  The fire looks very real.  Great job.
• You get to see pictures of the actual men who served in the Granite Mountain Hotshots team at the end of the movie.
•  Jennifer Connelly makes a gorgeous cowgirl and gives the best stand-out performance in the movie.  Her emotional range was stellar.  She spent time with the real Amanda Marsh to prepare for her role in the film.
• Jeff Bridges sings in a band called "Steinbrink and the Rusty Pistol" in a bar scene!
•  I thought it was interesting that the famous travel empire, Conde Nast, was involved with this film. You see some beautiful Arizona landscapes. 
• In terms of emotion and exciting fire action, Only The Bravereminded me of the 1991 movie Backdraft, which I loved.
• Congrats to Miles Teller for having two movies in theaters at the same time!  He's currently also starring in Thank You for Your Service 
• I liked Dierks Bentley's featured song Hold The Light (From "Only The Brave") [feat. S. Carey] 

Things I didn’t like:

• There are several other movies also titled “Only the Brave”, but they are not related to this movie. Seems like they could have picked another title, right?
• There were some scenes that were annoyingly dark, as in, I couldn't see the expressions on people's faces when they were talking in a dark room.  I'm sure it was an artistic choice, but it still bugged me.
• Sometimes you can't quite hear the dialogue, because there are so many other sounds going on.
• I like Jeff Bridges, but lately he only plays the same old character in all of his movies. This is the first time he and Josh Brolin have worked together in a film since True Grit, another fantastic movie where Jeff Bridges plays the same kind of character. Don't get me wrong...he does it very well!
• Lots of spitting.  ha ha

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, trash talk, and  1 F-bomb.
• Someone gets a rattlesnake bite.
• Drug use
• Talk of sex
• Lots of dangerous fire and perilous situations
• People die.
• Wounded horse.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Hell or High Water presents a great character study

Movie Title:  Hell or High Water

Grade:  B+

Rating:   R, 102 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Director David Mackenzie present us with rich characters to study in this modern Western flick.

Uplifting theme: 

• “I’ve never met nobody who got away with anything, ever.” – Tanner (Ben Foster)
•  Family, sacrifice, brotherly love
• 
  

Things I liked:

• Chris Pine is so awesome.  I love him in everything.
• Jeff Bridges has really been hitting the Big Screen hard the last few years.  He’s perfect at playing a crusty old guy with a thick Southern drawl.  He does a great job in this film.  My only complaint is that half of the time you can hardly understand what he’s saying because he grumbles and mumbles so much.
• Ben Foster does an excellent job.
• It’s not smart to rob a bank in Texas where so many people have a conceal/carry license.  Ha ha   Tanner laughs, “These conceal carry permits sure complicate a bank robbery, don’t they?”
• I had just learned what Pemmican is and they actually mentioned it in this movie.”  Check out this video to see for yourself what pemmican is and why it's the perfect survival food.
• There is a surprising amount of humor.
• The T-bone waitress (Margaret Bowman) conversation was pretty funny.
• The weathered faces and attitudes of the poor Texans was believable. 
• You just don't mess with a good, ole boy Texan sherriff

Things I didn’t like:

• Marcus makes lots of racist comments about Mexicans, native Americans, and Christians.
• Big banks as the enemy is certainly not a new idea.
• I just really wanted the brothers to take a shower. 

Interesting lines:

• “You never understood that fighting back makes the beating last longer.” -  Toby (Chris Pine)
• "You know what Comanche means.  It means enemies forever.” – Bear (Gregory Cruz)

“You know what that makes me?  A Comanche.” - Tanner

• “You tell me not to be like you and then you offer me a beer.  Which is it?” – Justin Howard (John-Paul Howard)

Funny lines:

• “Why are you always dressed like me?” – Marcus (Jeff Bridges)

“This is our uniform.” – Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham)

• “You want to hear about these robberies or just sit there and let Alzheimer’s run its course?” – Alberto
• “Could you tell their race?  Black?  White?” - Marcus

“Their skin or their souls?” – Elsie (Dale Dickey)

• “Tweakers don’t sleep.  They just tweak.” – Alberto   (“Tweaker” is slang for drug addicts.)
• “You Rangers are an odd bunch.” – Bank Manager (Joe Berryman)

“No, just him.” – Alberto

• “Only A-holes drink Mr. Pibb.” – Tanner
• “In your last days in the nursing home, you’ll think of me and giggle.” – Tanner
• “Anything a 5 year old can do ain’t a sport.” – Marcus
• “This is what they call ‘white man’s intuition.’” – Marcus

“Sometimes a blind pig finds a truffle.” – Alberto

Tips for parents: 

• Lots of profanity, including lots of F-bombs.
• Some people get shot and killed with some blood and gore.
• You'll want to make sure your kids understand that just because someone needs money or has a sob story, it doesn't mean it's OK to commit crime.

The Seventh Son movie hits screens after a year of delays

Movie:  The Seventh Son

PG-13, 2 hours

Grade:  C+

In a Nutshell:   This heroic fantasy epic produced by Legendary Pictures hit movie theaters in France last month after almost a year’s worth of delays, but its United States release isn’t until February 6.  It feels like a mash-up of every underdog apprentice who fights dragons and witches story you’ve ever seen.   It’s fairly entertaining, but not truly memorable.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Loyalty vs. betrayal

·         If you dump your witch girlfriend, you’ll  have you-know-what to pay for later.

Things I liked:

·         There is a lot of morphing from various creatures into other creatures.

·         Oscar-nominated Julianne Moore spends most of her time in front of a green screen and is often overpowered by all the CGI going on around her as the powerful Mother Malkin.

·         There’s a nice little twist towards the end.  I love twists, although this one didn’t surprise me.

·         Much of the movie is filmed in front of a green screen, although there are some beautiful landscapes captured in British Columbia.

·         Some of the shape-shifting was cool.

·         There is some humor that allows the film to not take itself so seriously.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Jeff Bridges growls like a crusty, old pirate with a drunken accent that’s often indecipherable.  What’s with his billy-goat underbite? Now that I think about it, that’s about the only character he has played during the past several years.

·         The animal monsters look obviously computer generated.

·         The door is open for a sequel.  Do we want to see more of this?

·         Spoiler Alert: Soft-porn Game of Thrones fans will be sad to see their beloved Kit Harington not last long in this film.

Funny lines:

·         “I wonder what monsters dream about.”  - Tom Ward  (Ben Barnes)

“Probably humans.” – Alice

·          “Luck is fine.  Gold is finer.” – Master Gregory

·         “You must never have more than one sip of this a day.” – Master Gregory

“Why not?” – Tom Ward

“Because it is mine.” – Master Gregory

·         “Remember what I taught you?  Ignore it.” – Master Gregory

·         “You don’t die easy, do you?” – Master Gregory

·         “That is disgusting.  So, what does that kill?”  Tom Ward

“Cowardice.”  - Master Gregory

·         “You live in a world where legend and nightmares are real.” – Master Gregory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Tips for Parents:

·         Intense fantasy violence, some frightening images, some strong language.

The Giver asks great questions about life and free will

Movie Title:   The Giver [HD]

PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:  If you haven’t read the best-selling young adult novel The Giver by Lois Lowry, you’ll understand the movie well enough, but also won’t know what you’re missing.  The book provides more depth than the movie, which is usually the case when literature is brought to life on the big screen.  No matter…the film’s content has a lot to offer to those who are brave enough to discuss one of life’s most important questions: which is better: forcing everyone to live in peace or allowing free agency that can threaten peace? 

Uplifting theme: 

• There must be opposition in all things.  You can’t feel complete joy unless you know sorrow.  You can’t choose good if there is no evil.
• Despite the sorrows, dangers, and ugliness in the world, life is worth living every minute.  Humanity is full of flaws, but also possesses incredible beauty.   
• One person can make a difference.

Things I liked:

• I like how the movie starts in grays, blacks and whites, but as Jonas gains knowledge, he is able to see more color.  Knowledge does, indeed, color your world.
• As a college professor and author, I liked the Community’s rule to use “precise language.”  Admittedly, I’m a Grammar Nazi.
• It’s always good to see Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges in anything.
• There is some symbolism in the film that allows the viewer to dig deeper, such as using an apple to disobey one of the Community’s commandments.
• I think Brenton Thwaites does a great job of portraying Jonas, who is both thrilled and frightened by what he learns about the world.
• Cameo appearance by Taylor Swift. 
• I liked the uncertainty of the ending.  We don’t know what’s inside the house, but the exciting possibilities are endless.  Isn’t that how life is when you have choices?

Things I didn’t like:

• Katie Holmes plays a lifeless, robotic mother with bad posture.  You never see her smile once, which is, of course, appropriate for the grey existence within the Community.  It seemed inconsistent with the father’s behavior (played by Alexander Skarsgard), who laughs and shows compassion.  Even more incongruent was his ability to (SPOILER ALERT) kill one baby without feeling any emotion, while bringing home another one to save it.
• There really isn’t any humor in this film.  The only line that got a smirk out of the audience was when The Giver explains to Jonas “You’ve had a dream – a combination of fantasy, reality, emotions, and what you had for dinner.”
• It starts out feeling a lot like the recent movie Divergent.
• I hate watching any babies cry.
• (SPOILER ALERT)  The kisses between Jonas and Fiona had zero passion.  Unfortunately, there was no chemistry between actors Brenton Thwaites and Odeya Rush.
• The movie poster makes it look like Anna Kendrick is in the film, but she's not.

Insightful lines:

• “Just like music, there’s something you can’t see with your eyes…inside you.”  - The Giver
• “Listen to what’s calling from inside.”  - The Giver
• “Faith is seeing beyond.”  - Jonas
• “Memories are not just about the past – they determine our future.”   - The Giver
• “Everything is connected.  Everything is a balance.  Where there is good, there is bad.” – The Giver
• “A dwelling is not a home.  A home is more.”  - The Giver
• “The boy must hold in the pain.”  - Chief Elder
• “When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong every time.”  - Chief Elder
• “You have the courage.  Let me give you the strength.”  - The Giver
• “With love comes faith and hope.”  - The Giver
• “We are living a life of shadows, of echoes.” – The Giver
• “If you can’t feel, what’s the point?” - Jonas

Tips for parents:   Older children and teens will especially be able to relate to the idea of wanting to fit in and not being “too” different.  Jonas explains “I always thought I saw things differently.  I never said anything.  I didn’t want to be different.  Who would?”  Parents have a challenging task of helping their children discover their talents and and teaching them to embrace their uniqueness with confidence.  Parents should take advantage of the opportunity to sit down with their kids after this movie and discuss what qualities they think their children possess that makes them special.

If you liked The Giver, then you might also like:

May R.I.P.D rest in peace

 
Think Men in Black, Ghostbusters, and Ghost all mixed together.  Add in Jeff Bridges as a crusty old law man from the 1800’s (Roy), Ryan Reynolds as a rookie cop who is killed before he can right a wrong, and a go-go boot wearing Proctor (Mary-Louise Parker) somewhere in limbo and you’ve got R.I.P.D.   Oh yeah, and Kevin Bacon.  We’re always only 6 degrees away from Kevin Bacon.

R.I.P.D duals the “Rest In Peace Department” against the “dead-os” in this CGI-filled comedy action film that takes place in modern-day Boston.  The dead-os have a cartoony feel to them and the film falls short of the magic found in other movies where earthlings are oblivious to the supernatural threats around them.

Kind of a “universe protection program”, the R.I.P.D mission is to capture dead-os and send them where they belong.  Nick (the corrupt cop who dies) is taken to a sterile afterlife police department where Steely Dan is always playing because “it relaxes people.”  From there he is sent back to earth to bag dead-os.  These undead hardly compete with their counterparts in this summer’s blockbuster World War Z. 

Jeff Bridges’ old coot character has some fun lines like “She billy-goated me” when Mary-Louise Parker bites his gruffy beard, calling his Asian helper “Panda Express”, and “Boody Hoo” when he’s trying to get his young partner to man up, but his mouth sounded like it was full of chewing tobacco the entire time and I wished he would just spit and get it over with. 

Fenway Park, the Boston Commonwealth, and Boston’s Finest in uniform were proudly shown off, as well as cannolis from Mike’s Pastry shop, a popular bakery I visited a couple of years ago when I was in town.  I absolutely love Boston.  How does that merchandising work anyway?  A bottle of Fresca almost overshadowed Mary-Louise Parker in her introductory scene.  And what about all that cumin?  It was Indian food and spices which transformed the dead-o’s from regular-looking citizens into Saturday morning monsters.

One of the running gags in the film is that living humans perceive Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds to be a gorgeous blonde and an old Asian man.  The audience laughed every time at the ridiculous duo, but they were also looking at their cell phones and watches as the movie slugged along for 96 minutes.  Mary-Louise Parker's Botox is still full strength in Red 2, but she steals some scenes in that fun flick.

This supernatural movie is rated PG-13 for violence (mostly bloodless) and a heck of a lot of potty-mouths, mostly Jeff Bridges’.   The movie had its amusing moments, but my mind often wandered and thought my long laundry list of things I needed to get done as soon as the movie was over.  May this movie R.I.P.

Grade = C+