Gifted charms in a predictable way

Movie Title:  Gifted 

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 101 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This quick-witted film charms and pulls tears out of your eyes.  Directed by Marc Wed (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), takes a look at parenting especially gifted children and trying to find a balance for a happy life.

Uplifting theme: 

• Love, family, loyalty
• It’s ok to be a child and not grow up too fast.
• Even Einstein learned how to ride a bike.

Things I liked:

• McKenna Grace is fantastic as the brilliant Mary.  She has a bright future in Hollywood, if she wants it.
• Captain America!  I love Chris Evans in anything.
• Octavia Spencer is always a sure win.  She was recently in Hidden Figures, a wonderful movie about some other females who are great at math.  Maybe this film can help girls to start thinking more about how cool math is.
• We heard Jenny Slate's unique voice in Zootopia, but this time we get to see her too.  She's irresistible.
• The scene in the hospital was really touching.  That was a brilliant idea Frank had.
• I thought it was adorable seeing Mary sit in a college math class wearing her little Brownie outfit.  I was a Brownie when I was her age.  Um….that’s pretty much where the similarities end.  Ha ha
• Nice soundtrack.
• I loved the sunset beach scene where Mary is climbing up Frank, like little kids do, while they have a conversation.  Their relationship is really sweet.
• This reminded me of Jodie Foster’s old movie Little Man Tate that is also about a child prodigy.  It also has elements of Searching for Bobby Fischer in case you’d like to watch a couple of other movies that have similar themes.
• Fred.  I thought it was great that they featured a “defective” pet and I got a kick out of all the loving one-eyed cat jokes they made about their beloved cat.

Things I didn’t like:

• Deadbeat dad.  They make me so furious.
• I always think it’s weird when kids call their parents by their first names instead of “Mom” or “Dad”.
• Pretty predictable ending, although there is a little twist I thought was interesting.
• Evelyn’s character seems a little too one-dimensional.

Funny lines:

• “I dunno.  Try being a kid.” – Frank (Chris Evans)
• “If anyone takes that baby away, I’ll smother you in your sleep.” – Roberta (Octavia Spencer)
• “Fred’s not a killer.  He’s a lover.” – Mary (McKenna Grace)
• “If we separate our leaders, if we segregate them from people like you and me, you get….Congressmen.” – Frank
• “I’d kill a priest for a Benadryl.” – Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan)    I can relate.  My allergies this year have been INSANE!
• “Manufacturers of Legos should all be in jail.” – Frank  (I can relate to that one too.  I stepped on a million Lego pieces while raising my 4 sons.
• “Frank says I’m not supposed to correct older people.  Nobody likes a smart-ass.” – Mary
• “I don’t watch TV, but I got hooked on Sponge Bob.” – Mary
• “Foster people….they can watch Sitcoms with her, take her to Olive Garden, teach her to say ‘irregardless’…”  - Evelyn         I had to laugh at that because I’m such a grammar Nazi.
• “You drive like an old lady.” – Mary

“It’s Florida.  I’m blending in.” – Frank

Interesting lines:

• “Never get on the bad side of small-minded people who have a little authority.” – Evelyn
• “What about Jesus?” – Mary

“Love that guy.  Do what he says.” – Frank

• “It doesn’t count if it’s not eye to eye.” - Frank, referring to apologies

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, including one F-bomb.  I especially hate it when little kids swear in movies.
• Pre-marital relations.
• It’s an interesting look at how parents with gifted children need to balance those gifts and provide appropriate education levels with just being a little kid.
• There are no explosions or huge action scenes, so some kids may be bored.  It’s one of those “talking” movies, which I love, but it may not keep some kids engaged long enough.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Hidden Figures is an overdue movie with heart and humor

Movie Title:  Hidden Figures

Grade:  A

Rating:  PG, 127 minutes

• In a Nutshell: Based on true events, this uplifting film with a fantastic title shines the spotlight on some overlooked figures in history.   
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• While the movie features new math that was invented in order to get the first man to the moon, it was really about these African-American women who struggled as second-class citizens during the Civil Rights movement and who were pivotal to the success of NASA’s space program.

The film sheds inspiring light on the space race and Jim Crow laws of the 1960’s, one that lifted mankind to new heights and one that pushed them down.  This story was long overdue.

Uplifting theme: 

• “You know what’s dangerous?  Inaction and indecision.” – Jim Webb (Ken Strunk)
• “Discovery is not just for the sake of discovery, but survival.” – Al Harrison (Kevin Costner)
• “I looked beyond.” – Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)
• “We set sail on this new sea because there is knowledge to be gained.” – Al Harrison
• “We all get to the peak together or we don’t’ get there at all.” – Al Harrison

Things I liked:

• Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer truly light up the screen. All of their performances were stellar (pun intended, and true.)
• Janelle Monae is absolutely fantastic as Mary Jackson and is a true stand-out.  From the minute you first see her on the screen, she radiates intelligence and determination.  Mary’s speech to the judge was outstanding. She has been in a few small movies since 2014, but I’m sure her career is going to really take off after this movie (yep, another intentional space pun.)
• Pharell Williams does a great job blending the sound of the 60’s with music that sounds current to today’s audience. Click here if you'd like to relive the music: Hidden Figures: The Album
• There is a lot of humor and heart.
• You get to see real footage from historical NASA events during the film, as well as pictures of these three important women at the end of the movie.
• When I was little, my father held a top position at Lockheed.  I remember going to visit the company at a special event for families.  They proudly showed off their computer room, which was filled with gigantic computers that stood from floor to ceiling.  It’s hard to believe that we can now fit a computer on our cell phones and in even smaller spaces.  How wonderful it is to live in the Information Age when knowledge is so easily obtainable.
• They did a great job setting the 1960’s environment with rotary phones, typewriters, etc.  Some of you young ones out there may have never seen those things before!
• Written and directed by Ted Melfi, who is more than welcome to bring more inspring stories like this to the Big Screen.
• John Glenn was considered a hottie of his day, appropriately played by Glen Powell.

Things I didn’t like:

• I love award-winning Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory: Season 1, but his character pretty much just gave the stank face the entire time, not providing any big growth arc or allowing Jim to use his full talents.
• Even if you were really good at math, you’re probably going to realize you’re not as smart as you thought you were.
• Red tape and bureaucracy make me crazy.  Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons’ characters epitomize all that is wrong with companies and organizations that have no vision or flexibility.  That close-minded librarian just about made me want to scream when she said, “Well, that’s just the way it is.”  I completely understand rules are designed for the benefit of all, but when they make no sense any more, they need to be changed.
• Dorothy Vaughan steals a book from a library and gives a compelling speech to her kids about why it was ok.  While you feel the sense of injustice that the “colored” section of the library didn’t contain as many good books to choose from, it certainly doesn’t mean stealing is ok.
• There is a bit of reverse racism showing how all the white people are stupid and racist, while all the black people are brilliant and morally superior.

Interesting lines:

• “Let me ask you: if you were a white male, would you wish to be an engineer?” – Senator Patrick (Wilbur Fitzgerald)

“I wouldn’t have to.  I’d already be one.” – Mary Jackson

• “There’s no protocol for women attending.” – Paul Stafford

“There’s no protocol for a man circling the earth either.” – Katherine Johnson

• “Who makes the rules?” – Al Harrison

“You, Sir.  You are the buss.  You just have to act like one…Sir.” – Katherine

• “The kids need to see this.  Everybody needs to see this.” – Levi Jackson (Aldis Hodge)
• “This IBM is gonna put us all out of work.” – Dorothy Vaughan
• “Every time we get close to winning, they move the finish line.” – Mary Jackson
• “Separate and equal are two different things.” – Dorothy Vaughan

Funny lines:

• “Yes, they let women work at NASA, Mr. Johnson.  And it’s not because we wear skirts.  It’s because we wear glasses.” – Dorothy Vaughan
• “How can you be ogling these white men?” – Dorothy Vaughan

“It’s equal rights.  I can see fine in any color.” – Mary Jackson

• “Here at NASA, we all pee the same color.” – Al Harrison (Kevin Costner)

Tips for parents:   

• Yay math!  This movie will make your case to your kids that math IS important and they should do their homework.
• The film highlights racism in the United States in the 1960’s and uses terms like “Negro” and “colored.”  They’ll see images of colored-only bathrooms and drinking fountains, as well as see how whites and blacks were separated on busses and in the court room.

Want to see more?  If you want to learn more about the Civil Rights movement that took place in America in the 1950's and 60's, check out these VERY good movies:

Lee Daniels' The Butler
Loving
Selma
Freedom Writers
The Help