All the Money in the World will leave you dumbfounded

Movie Title:      All the Money in the World

Grade:   A

Rating: R, 2 hours 12 minutes

In a Nutshell:   If you have ever been to the famous Getty Museum in Los Angeles, you’ll get a new appreciation for what you saw there.  If you haven’t been, put it on your list of places to see next time you’re in California.  What’s ironic is that the entrance ticket is free.

Inspired by true events, Ridley Scott gives us another compelling movie that has already earned him and the lead actors nominations for Golden Globe awards.  As an added bonus, we learn that ransom money can be tax deductible if you do it right.  Ha ha

                                               

Uplifting theme: 

• “Money is never just money; it always stands for something.” – Mark Walhberg
• The value of life
• Family
• Money

Things I liked:

• Christopher Plummer was absolutely fantastic, well deserving of the Golden Globe nomination he just earned.  He did all of his scenes in only 2 weeks! You'll notice on the movie poster above that it lists Kevin Spacey.  He was replaced with Plummer as soon as sexual allegations made headline news against him at a cost of $10 million dollars to the picture. I'm sure Spacey would have been great in this, but Christopher Plummer was outstanding.  What Ridley Scott was able to do in such a short amount of time deserves an A grade alone. Another movie Plummer was magical in during this year's Christmas season was The Man Who Invented Christmas. I really enjoyed it, but it flew under the radar for most people.
• Good for Michelle Williams for having two great movies in theaters at the same time!  Her other film is “THE GREATEST SHOWMAN IN THE WORLD.” She does a great job in both and earned her 5th Golden Globe nomination for her role as Gail Harris Getty.  I wonder if Angelina Jolie regrets declining the role.
• Most of the movie is filmed in Rome, which I adore.  There are beautiful vistas and scenery.
• It was fascinating to see J. Paul Getty pay obscene amounts of money for artwork, yet he couldn’t see the value of human life.  Twice, he admires a painting of the Madonna and child, saying breathlessly, “There you are…beautiful child”, while his own grandson was being tortured as a captive.
• Oscar winner Timothy Hutton and Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg also give excellent performances.  Because of the reshoots, Mark Wahlberg had to be refitted for his suits.  He had lost 30 pounds for another movie he was shooting.

Things I didn’t like:

• Have you ever noticed that people who arrogantly say, “I can take care of myself!” are usually the ones who need to be rescued?
• I thought it was interesting that J. Paul Getty thought he was a reincarnated Roman emperor.  He sure lived like one.  And yet, he was such a cheapskate that he had a phone booth installed in his house in case his guests needed to make a phone call.  Yikes.
• Sometimes I couldn’t understand what Cinquanta (Romain Duris) said, because he had such a thick accent and mumbled a lot.
• Other than being young, we're not given a lot of reasons to really care about Paul Geddy, the grandson who got kidnapped.  He seems like a spoiled wanderer, so I would have liked to know more about him.
• It is truly mind-boggling that a billionaire wouldn't be willing to pay money to save his own family.

                                                                     

Interesting lines:

• “If you can count your money, then you’re not a billionaire.” – J. Paul Getty
• “I don’t have any money.” – Gail Harris Getty (Michelle Williams)

“Get it from your father-in-law.  He has all the money in the world.” – Cinquanta

• “Everything has a price.  The challenge in life is to discover what that price is.” – Getty
• “There’s very little in life worth paying full price for.” – Getty
• “You never really know anyone until you get divorced.” – Getty
• “You’re not a person anymore; you’re a symbol.” – detective 
• “Guns are for people who don’t have money.” – Getty
• “Getting rich is easy.  Any fool can and many do, but BEING rich is different.” – Getty
• “There’s a purity in things that I’ve never been able to find in another human being.” – Getty
• “What would it take for you to feel secure?” – Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg) 

“More.” – Getty

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity and F-bombs.
• Some spoken Italian with no subtitles.  Otherwise, most of it has subtitles.
• Lots of smoking and drinking.
• Bloody, violent deaths.
• Burned, charred body.
• You watch bad guys slice the ear off of Paul.  It’s bloody and disgusting.
• Young children will be bored.  This is a long movie with lots of talking and not that much action.

                                            @trinaboice 

Kidnap showcases every parent's fear

Movie Title:  Kidnap

Grade:  C

Rating:   R

In a Nutshell:  Having your child kidnapped is every parent’s fear.  You don’t mess with a mother and her son.  (I have 4 sons.)

Uplifting theme: 

• “I will never let you go.” – (Karla McCoy) Halle Berry   That's the fierce attitude of protection every parent of a young child needs to have.  
•  Think smart. 

Things I liked:

• The opening music tells you that you’re in for an intense ride that rips your heart out.
• Halle Berry is as beautiful as always.  How is it that she doesn’t age, but I do?
• What a miracle it was to watch the little boy grow up in the opening sequences. My babies grew up way too fast.
• Lots of interesting drone views from above and other different camera angles.
• I was impressed that she spoke nicely about her ex-husband’s new girlfriend for their son's sake.  Wow, I don't think I would be that composed.
• She does a lot of things right, but she also makes some dumb mistakes.
• I can’t blame her for not wanting to wait for the police to take care of matters.  Good for her for taking action.
• It’s somewhat suspenseful as you wonder what the scumbag abductors are going to do next and what you would do as a parent in that situation.

Things I didn’t like:

• It's just not that good of a movie.  Halle Berry is fierce, but the script lets her down.
• The custody battle that begins in the movie is left unresolved.
• SPOILER: That was pretty bold and dumb of the kidnappers since they didn’t know she wouldn’t have a cell phone on her. For all they knew, she could have easily called the cops or anyone for help within seconds.
• Lots of driving around, watching Halle Berry look worried and upset.
• There should have been some kind of informational graphic at the end, telling audiences about how many children are kidnapped each year, and providing a web site for more information on how to keep your kids safe. 

Tough lines yelled by an angry mother:

• “You took the wrong kid!” - Karla 

Funny lines:

• “Hey God, I know I never pray to you unless somebody is sick or dying or in an airplane…” - Karla 

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, including an F-bomb.
• Body count.
• Lots of crashes and destruction.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Salt and Fire showcases acting as flat as the salt fields in Bolivia

Movie Title:  
Salt and Fire

Grade:  C+

Rating:  It is posted as NR (Not Rated), but I would give it a PG-13 for some violence and people in perilous situations.  98 minutes long.

In a Nutshell: Filmed in Bolivia, this eco-drama was shot in only 16 days and features Michael Shannon.   Salt and Fire is named for the famous and expanding Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, and the volcano nearby.  The location is stunning, but the acting is as flat as the salt fields.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” – a parrot quoting Ecclesiastes in the Bible
• “Truth is the only daughter of time.” – Matt Riley (Michael Shannon).  The original quote has been attributed to several people, most commonly linked to Aulus Gellius.
• “It’s ok to be afraid of the dark, but the real tragedy in life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Matt Riley, quoting his grandmother
• Personal and social responsibility
• Nature, saving the environment
• Perspective

Things I liked:

• Director and writer Werner Herzog gets a cameo as one of the passengers on the plane near the beginning of the movie.  I always get a kick out of directors who slip into their movies.
• The cinematography of the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia was captivating.
• Gael Garcia Bernal’s character was entertaining.  I would have liked to see more of him in the film.
• I thought the scene with the contorted, anamorphic artwork was really interesting, requiring the tall, reflective cylinders in order to see the paintings.  I’ve never seen that before!
• The cloister painting at Santissima Trinita in Rome was fascinating.  From afar, you see one picture, but as you walk closer, the image completely changes. I've been to Rome twice (I LOVE ITALY!!!), but I missed this fascinating mural on both trips.  Next time!  The reference of this art piece illustrates a theme in this movie: perspective.
• I loved the goofy photographs they took on the salt flats.  The salt flats are the highlight of the movie.
• Most Americans have never seen the beautiful Veronica Ferres in anything before, although she has been acting in Germany for many years.  Sometimes her acting seemed very stiff, but she was believable at other times.  She has such wonderfully pouty lips.  She was genuinely sweet with the two little blind boys.
• There was a scene where they went to see an old train stuck in the desert, Herzog's metaphor for mankind and civilization.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the acting was just terrible.  
• Some of the music choices were quite odd. 
• The writing is VERY forced.
• Michael Shannon, who is normally very good, seemed extremely stiff.  Poor writing does that to even good actors.  Too bad.
• The story is just silly.  Kidnapping was simply not needed and added a false, weak sense of urgency.  It was more annoying than anything else.  
• Some of the characters are absolutely ridiculous, like Lawrence Krauss, whose acting was dreadful and whose existence in the story was dumbfounding.  The whole wheelchair thing was just bizarre and made Matt Riley seem even more unhinged.  And he has two names.  Just weird.  And those goggles at the end?  I know he was meant to provide some comic relief, but it fell salt flat.
• The film is listed as a thriller on some web sites, but it is far from that.  Most viewers will be bored.
• The movie was adapted from video game writer Tom Bissell's short story Aral, which proves, again, that not all video games translate into good movies.

 Funny lines:

• “This is the mother of all diarrhea.” – Dr. Arnold Meier (Volker Michalowski)
• “I only use the wheelchair when I’m tired of life.” – Krauss/Aristidis

Interesting lines:

• “There is no reality. There are only views of reality, only perceptions...all collective anxieties condensed into conspiracy theories.” – Matt Riley
• “I think I was meant to live a different life.” – Matt
• “I’m trying to bring who I really am into focus.” – Matt 

Tips for parents: 

• No profanity.
• Most kids will lose interest after only a few minutes.  Skip forward to the scenes that show the amazing salt flats 

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Split showcases a fantastic James McAvoy

Movie Title:  Split

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 116 minutes

In a Nutshell: James McAvoy thrills in this psychological horror story by M. Night Shyamalan, a director who knows how to take his time unfolding a story.  

The camera work by cinematographer Michael Gioulakis adds to the intrigue.

Uplifting theme: 

• “We are what we believe we are.” – Patricia
• “Have these individuals, through their suffering, unlocked the mysteries of the brain?” – Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley)
• “The thrill is whether you can or can’t outsmart this animal.” – Casey's father (Sebastian Arcelus)

Things I liked:

• McAvoy delivers an amazing performance.  He displays 24 distinct characters, not with simple costume changes, but more with transforming accents, facial expressions, and impressive physicality.  The audience got a kick out of Hedwig and Patricia in particular. Watch them as if they are an amalgam of animals in a zoo...
• M. Night Shyamalan has been beaten up by movie critics for many years.  I’ve always enjoyed his work and appreciated his talents, so I’m happy that he has been receiving praise for this new film.  I love how he always puts himself in a scene in each of his movies.
• There is a fun surprise at the end that made the audience gasp.  Hint: You’ll want to watch the Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable as a refresher.  If the ending means what I think it means, then we're in for an extremely interesting sequel that takes us back in to the Unbreakable universe.  Mind blown.
• Some of the characters do really dumb things, so I loved it when the audience would yell, “No!”  ha ha
• Dissociative Identity Disorder is addressed.
• There are some fun Easter Eggs in the movie that point to other Shyamalan movies.  For example, did you notice Mr. Pritchard's name on the computer screen?  That's a character in the movie Signs, which I thought was brilliant.
• I thought Casey Cooke's character arc was really well done.  Anya Taylor-Joy did a great job and out-shined the other teen girls.
• Hedwig's dance scene was pretty awesome, etc.

Things I didn’t like:

• Bone-crunching sounds.  The entire audience groaned and squirmed in their seats.
• I hate it when victims sit around crying.  Stop crying and make a plan! Don’t be a victim.  Get out of the car and run! Everyone needs to learn how to pick locks.  Here’s a crazy tip: Look up from your cell phone to see what’s going on. Check out my son’s class called Spy Escape and Evasion.

Interesting lines:

• “Only through pain can you achieve your greatness.” – Beast
• “The broken are the more evolved.” - Beast
• “There must be limits to what a human being can become.” – Dr. Karen Fletcher  
• “You like to make fun of us, but we’re more powerful than you think.” – Dennis
• “I’m trying to be good.” – Barry
• There is an interesting discussion of the “light” that is used when characters emerge.  Patricia said, “In the sun, we will find our purpose.” 

Funny lines:

• “You guys lied to me.  You made me scared, etc.” – Hedwig (The audience laughed every time he said “etc.”)
• “You might be pregnant now.” - Hedwig after an awkward kiss

Tips for parents: 

• There are some dark themes that are not very family-friendly, such as bullying, child abuse, kidnapping.
• Blood, violence
• Profanity, including 1 F-bomb.
• Some of the girls are forced to take off their clothes, so you see them in their underwear.

@trinaboice