The Mountain Between Us blends genres, but no heat

Movie Title:    
The Mountain Between Us

Grade:  C+

Rating:   PG-13, 100 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Based on The Mountain Between Us: A Novelthis dramatic romance with a survival backdrop features two great actors: award-winning Kate Winslet and Idris Elba.

 

Uplifting theme: 

• Love
• Hope

Things I liked:

• Winslet and Elba offer solid acting.
• Some say the melodramatic ending is corny, but I liked it.  Call me a hopeless romantic.
• The cinematography sets up great shots in the beautiful mountains.

Things I didn’t like:

• There’s no way to tell how much time has passed on their journey, other than when Kate Winslet’s character tells us.
• As far as a survival movie goes, they easily happen upon food and shelter, so there’s no feeling of desperation.  I kept imagining the actors sitting in a warm camper, drinking hot cocoa right before each scene they did.
• There's not a lot of character development.  
• The romance feels forced and then rushed.  Some would call that a lack of chemistry.     

Funny line:
* "It would be funny if you weren't really a doctor." - Alex
    "Why would that be funny?" - Ben
    "Because you'd be doing all this just to see my fancy underwear."
      - Alex
    "They're not that fancy." - Ben



Tips for parents: 

• Pre-marital "relations".
• Some profanity.
• Some perilous situations.
• Kids will like the dog, but probably be a little bit bored.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Collateral Beauty is manipulative and sappy with fortune cookie wisdom, but still got me to cry

Movie Title:  Collateral Beauty

Grade:  B+

Rating: PG-13, 94 minutes

In a Nutshell: I really love two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith and I was so excited to see this film after the trailer practically had me in tears.   SPOILER:  The trailer is a bit deceiving.  The film isn’t quite what you think it’s going to be.

For that and other reasons, a lot of film critics are ripping this emotional drama to shreds, stating that it’s manipulative and overly sappy with fortune cookie wisdom.  Well, I agree that it may be all of those things, but I also think they’re missing an opportunity to reflect inward and learn some of the life lessons this insightful film attempts to teach us.

What would you say if you could talk to Time, Death, and Love?  An even more interesting question is what would they say to you?

Uplifting theme: 

• ‘Just be sure to notice the collateral beauty.  It is the profound connection to everything.” – Madeline (Naomie Harris)
• “What is your why?” – Howard (Will Smith)
• “We’re here to connect.  Life is about people.” – Howard
• “We don’t get to choose who we love and who loves us back.” – Whit (Edward Norton)
• “Tomorrow’s not promised.” – Howard
• “Your children don’t have to come from you; they come through you.” – Time

Things I liked:

• The performances are really great.  I love the entire cast.
• Will Smith digs deep for his performance that only a father in real life could do.  Did you know he has won 4 Grammy Awards?  He has been nominated for 5 Golden Globe Awards and 2 Academy Awards, but he hasn’t won those big boys yet. Surprising, right?  Everyone loves him.  He should have won an Oscar for The Pursuit Of Happyness.  His performance in Concussion was outstanding, but he lost to Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant, which I can’t disagree with.  I mean, DiCaprio practically blew himself up, ate a live fish, and got beat to a pulp, for heaven's sake!
• Academy Award winner Helen Mirren is a national treasure.  I adore her. She just looked stunning in those blue feathers. She had some great lines and provided some depth and comic relief.  I love her in everything.

• There is an interesting Domino metaphor.
• It cracked me up that Howard’s friends hired a private investigator who they said looked like a “Mormon grandmother.”  Well, I’m a Mormon and can tell you that not all Mormon grandmothers look like that, but she really did.  Ha ha
• I’ve been to New York City twice before, but never during the Christmas season.  It looks so magical in December.
• Brigitte mentioned the movie Gaslight   Have you seen it?  I haven't either.  I'm going to have to add that one to my list. 
• Madeline tells Howard that 79% of couples divorce after losing a child.  According to a recent study by at Montana State University-Billings, that’s pretty accurate, sadly.
• There’s a twist.  I love twists.  Well actually, it’s more of an unveiling.  Still, it worked for me and drew out the expected tears that director David Frankel had intended.
• If you're looking for a therapeutic film about losing a loved one, adult or child, I highly recommend A Monster Calls, which is also currently in theaters.

Things I didn’t like:

• Would you want such manipulative friends who go to such great lengths to prove that you’re crazy?
• We never really get to see a happy Will Smith with his daughter, so we feel less invested in them than if there had been some happy flashbacks or something.
• Well, yeah…it’s manipulative on every level.  Some people don’t mind that.
• We saw a softer side of Michael Pena as Simon.  His story line seemed extra contrived just so Death could make a point about something (although her point was a good one.)
• This incredibly talented ensemble’s talent was appreciated and enjoy, but mostly under-utilized.

Interesting lines:

• “We long for love, we wish we had more time, we fear death.” = Howard
• “This doesn’t feel right.” – Claire (Kate Winslet)

“I know, but when everything starts with a 6 year old dying, nothing is gonna feel right.” - Simon (Michael Pena)

• “Life is found when you shed your skin…..OR Shed your skin; find your life.” = Amy
• “I’m trying to fix my mind.”  Howard

“You lost a child, Howard.  It’ll never be fixed.” – Madeline

Profound lines about Love:

• “I realize that I wasn’t feeling love.  I was becoming love.” – Whit
• “I am the only why.  Please don’t try to live without me.” – Love
• “I’m the fabric of life.” – Love
• “I was there in her love, but I’m still here in your pain.” - Love
• “I’m love…the very fabric of life.” – Love  
• “Love is the reason for everything.” – Love

Profound lines about Death:

• “Nothing’s ever really dead if you look at it right.” – Brigitte
• “Death is so much more vital than time. Death gives time its value.” – Death
• “You’re dying?” – Death

“Everyone’s dying.” – Simon

• “You lived right, my friend, but you’re not dying right.” –  

Profound lines about Time:

• “I’m abundant.  I’m a gift.” – Time

Funny lines:

• “I have depth.  We’ve discussed this.” – Whit
• “The word you’re looking for is philanderer, not philanthropist.  They have a slightly different meaning.” – Whit
• “I thought you can’t afford therapy anymore.” – Claire

“I can’t.  It’s my Uber driver.” – Whit

Tips for parents: 

• Talk of sex, cancer, death.
• 1 F-bomb and some other profanity.
• Children may be bored with this “talking” movie and certainly won't appreciate any of its profound truths, unless they have been through their own dark challenges.

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. 

Divergent movie review

Movie Title:   Divergent

Grade:   B

In a Nutshell:   

This planned trilogy is starting off with mixed reviews, despite its popular book by Veronica Roth.  The Hunger Games and Twilight fans will enjoy another heroine who can kick butt and fight the system while finding time for romance.  Shailene Woodley has been successful in supporting roles, but this is the first time her performance carries an entire film.

I think the ideas are interesting and Director Neil Burger creates a dystopian setting that has holes, yet is still intriguing.

Uplifting theme:   Tris declares “Don’t try to define me.”  The movie is about independent will and finding ourselves.  Jeanine Mathews (Kate Winslet) explains “The system removes the threat of anyone practicing their independent will.  Divergence threatens that system.  It won’t be safe until they’re removed.”  Teens often question where they belong, as if there is only one place that they have to find to be “home.”  This film takes a stab at showing we are multidimensional creatures that need to dance on many floors in order to find balance.

Things I liked:

• I’d love to play Capture the Flag with that glow-in-the-dark flag.  How about playing Paint Ball with those guns that shoot darts that make you feel like you’ve been really shot?
• This movie is full of dangerous stunts that make you want to stand in line to try.  For example, I love that gigantic zip-line that goes through the city.  Do you think Universal Studios will build one if this movie does well enough?  I won’t be jumping onto moving trains any time soon though.
• I thought it was interesting to watch the fears some of the characters had.  Four explains that most people have 10-15 really bad fears.  He has...four.  When Tris can’t run away and her feet move slowly in mud during her “fear evasion” sequence, it reminded me that I had that same recurring dream when I was a little girl.  It’s a terrible feeling to not be able to move forward, whether trying to escape danger or making progress on a goal.
• I thought it was an interesting concept that when people in the movie were injected with a certain serum that their thoughts could be controlled.  Isn’t that called alcohol? 
• I love Shailene’s thick, beautiful hair.
• Cool double infinity mirrors and other special effects.
• Who doesn’t love Ashey Judd?
• I’d like a blue jacket with the stylish neckline that Jeanine Mathews wears.

Things I didn’t like:

• The ending was disappointingly predictable, but I haven’t read the books, so I’m hoping there are more interesting things to come.
• Many of the characters were one-dimensional.
• Those in the Dauntless faction run during most of the movie, yet they’re never out of breath.
• Tris tells Four “I don’t want to go too fast.”  The very next thing you see is her in bed near him.  Huh?

Interesting lines:

• “My mother says there’s an art to losing yourself.” – Tris
• Tris sees the fear in Four’s eyes as they climb up and states “You’re afraid of heights.”  He reveals “Everyone is afraid of something.”
• “Are you even human?” – Four says to Tris as he watches her climb a tower with ease.
• “This isn’t real.”  What an empowering sentence you can say to yourself when you have fear.  Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do.  One of my favorite quotes by Franklin D. Roosevelt is “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Later, Tris says “Don’t think.  Just jump.”  I’m wondering if we’ll see that tagline on basketball shoes soon?
• “I think human nature is the enemy.”  Jeanine Matthews   What a terrible thought.  Human nature is what makes us all fantastically flawed, interesting, and wonderful.
• “There is a certain beauty in the resistance, but it’s a beauty we can’t afford.” – Jeanine Matthews
• In Divergent , kids who leave the nest aren’t allowed to go back.  Thankfully, in our world they can.  In this troubled economy, we’re seeing an increase in “Boomerang Kids” as college graduates return home to save money while trying to pay back student loans.  How wonderful that families can pull together and embrace returning kids to get support.  On another level, it’s a great thing that we CAN reinvent ourselves and not be pigeon-holed into one thing in our lives.
• “We train soldiers, not rebels.” – Eric
• “Trust the test; it will tell you where you belong.” – Tori  

Tips for parents:  The language is clean, but there are a lot of dangerous stunts you may need to remind your kids NOT to try.  An interesting dinner conversation with your family might be to ask everyone which faction they would want to join if they had to choose.  Check out this fun Infogram MTV made and check out the Harry Potter comparisons.

In case you need to catch up on reading the series...