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 

Hail Caesar! pokes good fun at old Hollywood

Movie Title:       Hail, Caesar! 

Grade:   B+

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 45 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Four-time Oscar winning brothers Joel and Ethan Coen have created an extremely entertaining  comedy that pokes fun at Hollywood’s Golden Age, featuring a gigantic cast of today’s A-listers, including George Clooney, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Ralph Fiennes, Josh Brolin, Jonah Hill, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and so many more.

Uplifting theme: 

• “People don’t want the facts.  They want to believe.” – Eddie Mannix
• “God wants us to do what’s right.  The inner voice that tells us what’s right comes from God.” – priest in confessional

Things I liked:

• I liked the way the narrator told the story about telling stories.  The Lockheed recruiter tells Eddie Mannix, “The picture business is pretty silly” and yet we still love movies. They move us, inspire us, make us laugh, make us cry, make us feel!
• The film is filled with super funny sound effects, including a bird sound every time someone said the line “On wings of eagles.”  It reminded me of the running gag on “Young Frankenstein”.   A lot of the humor reminded me of the old Mel Brooks comedies.
• Funny cowboy stunt scene.  Alden Ehrenreich does a great job as Hobie Doyle.
• There’s a great dance scene with Channing Tatum in the “Swingin’ Dinghy” bar that will remind you of the fun singing and dancing films featuring legendary Gene Kelly.
• There is an amusing scene where Ralph Fiennes plays an eloquent director who uses words that simpleton Hobie Doyle (and probably some people in the audience) don’t know.  You’ll be ahead of the game when you already know these words: “mirthless” (without laughter), “rueful” (sorrow, pity) , “trippingly” (light and quick)
• “Divine presence to be shot.”   Ha ha
• Wayne knight from Seinfeld: The Complete Series has a bit part.  It was good to see him again, and funny to see him as a movie Extra.
• I thought it was interesting that the main film they were filming during the movie was the story of Christ from the perspective of a Roman soldier, which is exactly what the movie Risen is about, which is also currently in movie theaters.
• The talented Tilda Swinton plays twins.  I’m happy to get as many doses of Tilda as we can get.
• I have always adored Christopher Lambert ever since Mortal Kombat and Highlander: The Movie .  Here he has a tiny part as a German director.  It’s been awhile since I’ve seen him too.  Look close or you’ll miss him.
• My husband and I watched every episode of Numb3rs: The Complete Series , so it was fun to see David Krumholtz, who plays a Communist writer.  The Communist “club” scenes were funny and filled with familiar faces.
• Religious characters in movies are usually made fun of, but not in this one. Josh Brolin’s character is sincere, religious, talented, yet flawed in an endearing way.
• I thought George Clooney’s speech at the cross was both sweet and funny at just the right moment.
• It looked like they filmed on the actual Universal Studios lot.  I was just there a few months ago!  It’s such a fun theme park.   

Things I didn’t like:

• One shot allows you to see right up George Clooney’s nose, hairs and all.   
• Anyone over 50 should be able to remember some of the original stars and movies that are being alluded to in this film.  Those younger may not appreciate all of the inside jokes.
• Some gags go on for a little too long.

Funny lines:

•  “I need some petty cash.  Do you have $100,000?” - Mannix
• “You worship a God who doesn’t love anyone.” – Protestant Clergyman (Allan Havey)

“Not true.  He loves Jews.” – Rabbi (Robert Picardo)

Interesting lines:

• “Same thing…history and economics, isn’t it?” – Head Communist Writer (Max Baker)
• “The picture has worth and you have worth as long as you serve the picture.” – Mannix

Tips for parents:   

• Some “real” profanity, as well as harmless words like “Nuts!”
• Young kids may not get some of the humor or pop culture references.
• Some subtle sexual innuendo, but young kids will probably not catch it.

Labor Day Chick Flick

Movie Title:    Labor Day

PG-13, 1 hour 50 minutes

Grade:  C+

In a Nutshell:  First off, I was surprised that acclaimed director Jason Reitman didn’t release this film during Labor Day   Instead, it quietly opened at the end of January 2014, receiving mixed reviews from critics.  It’s an unlikely romance that digs deep into the kinds of heartaches that last a lifetime.  Whenever Tobey Maguire narrates a movie, you feel like you’re going to hear profound lessons about life’s journey.  While sappy and belabored at times, this film invites you to experience such a journey.

Based on a book by Joyce Maynard, it feels like a The Bridges of Madison County wounded romance you would read at the end of summer.

Uplifting theme:   

• Family is what brings us the greatest joys and sorrows in life.
• It’s surprising how the smallest moments between people can impact our lives.

Things I liked:

• Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith were all terrific, especially considering the material they were given to work with.
• There is a unique loss and pain that comes after a miscarriage.  I’ve had several, so I could really relate to Adele’s sorrow.  A woman never forgets the baby she could have raised.  While Adele allowed herself to withdraw from the world, her reaction is not unusual for a lot of women who have experienced her sequence of trials.  Thankfully, there is more help out there nowadays for women who go through similar circumstances.  One of the books that helped heal my soul almost more than anything else was this one:

 

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the scenes were ridiculously implausible and I found myself talking to the screen, saying things like “Oh, come on!”
• Most men won’t be able to tolerate this sugary chick-flick. 

Interesting lines:

• “A man should know how to dance.  When a man can dance, the world is his oyster.”  - Adele
• “I could feel her longing and loneliness before I had a name for it.”  - Henry Wheeler
• “The mom asks her son if his father explained sex to him.  She points out that in school they usually talk about the bodily functions of the act, but they don’t talk about the way it feels.  She said “There’s another kind of hunger.  A hunger for human touch.  A desire.  People never tell you how it feels.”  - Adele
• “There were two people who couldn’t go out into the world, so they made a world with each other.”  - Adult Henry Wheeler

Dumb lines:

*  Frankly, this needs to happen.  - Frank

Tips for parents:   While the theme is about families, this isn’t really a movie appropriate for young children.  There are a lot of sexual innuendos, but very little bad language.  If you want your kids to see it during the Labor Day weekend, use it as a kick-start to talk about "stranger danger" and how to avoid potentially dangerous situations.