This Beautiful Fantastic will make you dig in your garden again

Movie Title:  This Beautiful Fantastic

Grade:  B

Rating: PG, 1 hour 32 minutes

In a Nutshell: Garden metaphors about life and friendship grow as this quirky "modern fairy tale" develops in this limited release.  

Uplifting theme: 

• “Today I’m going to make a difference.” – Bella Brown (Jessica Brown Findlay)
• Responsibility
• Friendship
• Everything that matters takes time.” – Alfie Stephenson (Tom Wilkinson)

Things I liked:

• I loved the magical score throughout the film.
• Jessica Brown Findlay does a great job as the odd protagonist who has a Keira Knightly quality about her.
• The Nazi librarian, her signs, and her garden name (Bramble) were hilarious, played by Anna Chancellor.
• Andrew Scott was entertaining as Vernon.
• You’re probably going to want to go outside and work in your garden or create one.
• Luna was lovely.
• I loved the last scene.
• Clever, witty dialogue.

Things I didn’t like:

• So, the title….ummm
• As a landlord, I wasn’t amused by Bella’s lack of interest in taking care of the property she was renting.
• As a former employer, I also wasn’t amused by how Bella was shocked about being fired after showing up late for work every day.
• Pretty predictable.

Funny lines:

• “I’m not a religious man, but I believe someone sent her here to test us.” – Alfie
• “Don’t worry, tea is on its way.” – Milly (Eileen Davies) Such a British thing to say.
• “Slavery was abolished in 1834, just so you know.” – Vernon (Andrew Scott)

“This country has been going down the drain ever since.” – Alfie

• “I was just trying to tidy up a bit.” – Bella

“I think that’s what Hitler said about Europe.” – Alfie

• “I’m speechless.” – Bella

“If only that were true.” – Alfie

Interesting lines:

• “You should doubt only a man who changes his story.  I only repeat myself in vague hope that one day somebody will actually hear me.” – Alfie
• “Look!  These monkwoods, so beautiful and poisonous they’ll kill a man.  That’s an interesting contradiction, isn’t it?” – Alfie 

Tips for parents: 

• Most kids will be pretty bored.
• Clean language

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Nocturnal Animals is cleverly written

Movie Title:  Nocturnal Animals

Grade:  B+

Rating: R, 115 minutes

• In a Nutshell: This disturbing, stylish drama is very cleverly written and unfolds perfectly.  
• 
  
•  Tom Ford wrote the screenplay and directed this movie.  He is a great storyteller and does an excellent job layering three stories over and under each other.  Did you know he got his start as a fashion designer?

Uplifting theme: 

• “Do you ever feel like your life has turned into something you never intended?” – Susan Morrow (Amy Adams)
• Regret, emotional scars.
• Believing in someone.

Things I liked:

• I love Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaall in anything.  They’re both super talented and deliver fantastic emotional performances.
• You begin to understand the symbolism at the same time Susan does.
• Michael Shannon does a great job as a crusty old cop who is dying physically and emotionally.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Karl Glusman make you so angry as the sleazy scumbag criminals you want to see get what they deserve.
• I thought the movie poster was really clever.
• As an author, I always enjoy movies about other writers.  I would love to have my writing affect a reader so powerfully as Edward's did on Susan.  This is the book the film was based on:                                      
• This film will stay with you. The more you think about it, the more you'll notice the connecting cues throughout the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• It annoyed me when Susan described her conservative, religious parents as racist, as if all of those things are naturally connected.
• Some very talented actors had very small parts (Laura Linney, Michael Sheen, Armie Hammer, Jena Malone) and I would have loved to see more of them.
• It’s emotionally very dark.

Interesting lines:

• “Enjoy the absurdity of our world.  It’s a lot less painful.” – Carlos (Michael Sheen who has another movie out in theaters right now: Passengers)
• Susan asks, “Why are you so driven to write?”  Edward answers, “I guess it’s a way of keeping things alive.  I’m saying things that will eventually die.  If I write it down, then it’ll last forever.”
• “My husband used to call me a nocturnal animal.” – Susan
• ‘I’m not scared.  I’m unhappy.” – Susan
• “They say we all become our mother.” – Anne Sutton

Funny lines:

• “Do you not trust your nanny?” – Susan

“No, I do.  I just hate her.” – (Jena Malone)

Tips for parents: 

• This is not a family-friendly movie that children should watch.  It is a very dark Rated R film with mature themes.
• Vulgar profanity.
• Discussion and portrayal of a brutal rape attack.
• You see a guy sitting on a toilet naked.
• Abortion, marriage infidelity, illegal activities.

@trinaboice 

Genius is for book lovers

Movie Title:    Genius

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 104 minutes

In a Nutshell:  

I'm an official book nerd, so I really liked this movie. 

As an author of 21 published books, I was fascinated with the working relationship between the 20th-century "genius" writer Thomas Wolfe and his famous book editor Maxwell Perkins.  

Based on the biography “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius” by A. Scott Berg, this stylish film is beautifully shot and has some gorgeous vignettes in almost every scene.

In a summer full of remakes and loud explosions, this period piece will hit you in the heart, not over the head.  It was fascinating to watch Thomas Wolfe and his editor create better sentences together. As you watch the film unfold, ask yourself: Which man was the true genius?

Uplifting theme: 

• “Human beings aren’t fiction.” – Aline Bernstein (Nicole Kidman)
• I loved the conversation Tom and Max had about the importance of stories.  Tom saw the people struggling during the Great Depression in America and decided that what he wrote was trivial in comparison to what they were dealing with in their lives.  Max explained that in the beginning of time, when people would gather around the fire at night to get protection from the howling wolves around them, someone would begin to talk and tell a story.  The stories gave them comfort so they wouldn’t be afraid of the dark.  Tom puts his head on Max's shoulder and breathes a sigh of gratitude and understanding.  Sweet moment.
• The creative process is messy!
• Words are powerful things.
• Transformative relationships and friendships.

Things I liked:

• For those who are unfamiliar with Thomas Wolfe, you’ll get to hear snatches of some of his beautiful work.
• Jude Law gives an excellent performance.
• It was fun to watch Max interact with other famous writers he discovered like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
• There are some really clever, funny, insightful conversations.
• The cast is absolutely terrific: Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce, Dominic West.
• The musical score was very understated, yet extremely powerful when it needed to be.  Nice job.
• It’s hard to show someone writing on paper look exciting on the Big Screen, but it works in this stirring film.
• It was fun to watch Max's family listening to the radio in the 1920’s with everyone gathered in the family room, on the couches, on the floor, letting their imaginations run wild.
• Director Michael Grandage is a Tony Award winner who is now bringing his magic to the movies.  Welcome!
• John Logan is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter who brought us Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, and Skyfall.  I loved all of those films.

Things I didn’t like:

• Max wears his hat indoors and outdoors, in almost every scene he is in.  Am I missing some kind of deep symbolism?  Was it supposed to illustrate his own quirky mania that each of his writers possessed?
• The movie uncovers the inner turmoil that some of the greatest writers of the early 20^th century endured.  Most popcorn-crunching, action-seeking audiences won’t be able to sit through such a movie. 
• Watching this movie may feel a little bit like reading one of Thomas Wolfe's books...long winded, but worth the effort.
• Some viewers describe the relationship between Tom and Max as a bromance, but it's more of a father/son relationship that is complicated like normal father/son relationships.
• The movie poster could have been so much more compelling.

Interesting lines:

• “It’s not the page count that matters; it’s the storytelling.” – Max
• “I hate to see the words go!” – Thomas
• “They’re working girls.  It doesn’t count.” – Tom
• “Yes, Tom.  It does.” – Max
• “Editors should be anonymous.” – Max
• “That’s what makes editors lose sleep.  Are we really making books better?  Or are we just making them different?” – Max Perkins
• “I don’t exist anymore.  I’ve been…edited.” –  Aline Bernstein
• “Enjoy the time with Tom.  Because after him, there is a great hush.” – Aline Bernstein
• “Am I supposed to grow up like you?” – Tom

“No, Tom.  But you’re supposed to grow up.” - Max

Funny lines:

• “Good that Tolstoy never met you!  We’d have that great novel ‘War and Nothing.’" - Thomas

Tips for parents:   

• Children and most teens are going to be bored.
• Thomas Wolfe is a loud and obnoxious drunk during most of the movie.  In one scene, he kisses some "working girls."

Goosebumps is ghoulish fun

Movie:    Goosebumps

Rating:    PG, 1 hour 43 minutes

Grade:   A

In a Nutshell:   If you grew up reading R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books or were a parent who read them to your kids like I did, you’re going to get a kick out of this homage to comedy horror stories and the author who gave them to us.

Sony Pictures Animation does a great job at blending reality with fantasy, mixed with sarcasm and romance.  Thanks for releasing it in time for Halloween!   “It gives me…oh what’s the word…goosebumps.”

Uplifting Theme:

·         “It’s time to face your demons…” – R.L. Stine

·         Connecting with real people.

Things I liked:

·         As an author, I love how the ink literally comes to life off the pages of the book.

·         I love how Slappy actually looks like Jack Black/R.L. Stine.

·         You gotta admire the way the real R.L. Stine is bringing new life and sales back to his books!  Brilliant!

·         Good for Amy Ryan for starring in 2 movies in theaters at the same time!  (Bridge of Spies )  I’ve always adored her ever since I first saw her do a Yoda impression on The Office: Season 5 .
-     There is a playful nod to the book series that was the cheap knock-off version of the Goosebump books called "Shivers".  Jack Black's character goes by "Mr. Shivers" in the beginning, before it's revealed that he's actually R.L. Stine.

·         See if you can spot the real R.L. Stine in his cameo at the school as the Drama teacher.  This is what he looks like in real life:

Things I didn’t like:

·         It was a little bit scawy…
-    It would have been fun to see more of the other characters R.L. Stine created in the movie.
-    Jack Black didn't have a mole on his forehead like the real R.L. Stine does.
-    Some of the CGI looks cartoony, although I didn't mind it.

Funny lines:  

·         “Dude, we should call the cops!” – Champ

“Have you met the cops in this town?” – Zach

·         “Is that your scream?” – Zach

“Don’t judge me.” – Champ

·         “What is that?” -    Aunt Lorraine   (played by Jillian Bell)

“I rub myself in cilantro every morning.” – R.L. Stine

·         “I don’t remember writing about a giant preying mantis!   (it then spews s sticky ick from its mouth)  “Right, now I remember.” – R.L. Stine

·         “Let’s split up!”  - R.L.

“No!  Haven’t you read any of your books?  We’re never supposed to split up!”  - Champ

·         “Look at this kitchen!” – Gale

“We don’t cook.” – Zach

“Well, look at all this counter space to put take-out on!” – Gale

·         “I’m going to get a start on decorating my room…knock it off my Bucket List.” – Zach

·         “I know I speak for the entire administration when I say how excited we are about this weekend’s dance.  We  can’t stop twerking about it.” – Gale

·         “Shut your mouth!” – Cop

“Ok, but that’s not going to help.”  - Slappy  (the ventriloquist dummy)

Things you learn about writing from R.L. Stine:

·         “Every story ever told can be broken down into 3 distinct parts: the beginning, the middle, and the twist.”

·         R.L. Stine wrote”THE GHOST NEXT DOOR book.  I guess he wrote about it twice.  Think about it.

·         “The night was cold.  Cold was the night.”  Word order is powerful.

·         “No, it doesn’t work unless it’s a real R.L. story with twists, turns and frights…and personal growth for the main character.”

·         Champ asks R.L. “Why did you have to come up with something so freaky?”  The author simply replies “I just have a knack for it.”    In other words, write what you know.

·         “Steve King wishes he could be me!  I sell way more books than him, but no one ever talks about that.”

·         “Why couldn’t you have written stories about rainbows and unicorns?”   - Champ

“Because that doesn’t sell 400 million copies.”   R.L. Stine

“Domestic?” – Champ

“No, international, but it’s still a very impressive number.  Shut up!”   R.L. Stine

·         “That typewriter is special.  It has a soul of its own.” – R.L.

Tips for Parents:

·         Some of the monsters can be pretty scary.  There are plenty of creepy things too, like clowns, ghouls/zombies, drooling werewolf with frightening teeth and claws, evil garden gnomes, dolls, bugs, aliens, etc.  R.L. Stine said in a recent interview with Plugged In that he didn't want to traumatize children who see the film, so you won't see any blood.

·         Explosions, violence, suspenseful chase scenes.
-    Topics addressed include evil, revenge, and love.

Can't get enough of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps? Check these out!


 

The Rewrite inspires you to create your own life story

Movie:   The Rewrite

Unrated, although I would probably give it a PG-13 rating

1 hour 46 minutes

Grade:    B+

In a Nutshell:   I stumbled upon this romantic comedy on an airplane, flying home from England this week.  It was given a very limited release in US theaters in February 2015, and then was immediately out on DVD only one month later.  Hugh Grant gave a special greeting to Delta passengers on the airline release, explaining “It’s a comedy.  At least, I think so.”

Hugh Grant is an expert at a stammering, dashing, befuddled leading man.  The dialogue is witty, quick, and charming.  The story isn’t completely original, but the message is one worth hearing again.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Like a carousel, keep moving forward.

·         “As long as you’re alive, you can forgive and be forgiven.  Once you’re dead, it gets significantly harder.” – line from Keith’s movie “Paradise Misplaced”

·         “Selfishness must always be forgiven, because there is no cure.” Mansfield Park by Jane Austin

·         Your 3^rd Act hasn’t been written yet.

Things I liked:

·         I adore Allison Janney in anything.  She plays Professor Weldon, an uptight Jane Austin expert who is hilarious and steals all her scenes.  Merchandising for this movie will revolve around her character and this "What Would Jane Do? item.

                                                

·         J.K. Simmons is such a likeable actor, as is his character in the film.

·         When is Oscar winner Marisa Tomei ever going to start aging?

·         There are a lot of funny moments.  My favorite is the faculty cocktail party.

·         I’ve never been to Binghampton, New York, but it’s apparently one of the Top 10 most cloudy/rainy cities and home of the “Speedy Sandwich.”    Want to see what one looks like?
                                      

·         I thought it was sweet when Keith said “My son is the only thing I had a hand in producing that didn’t need a rewrite.”

·         Other movies referenced in this movie areMarty and Dirty Dancing .

Things I didn’t like:

·         I know some people can’t stand Hugh Grant, but I quite fancy him.  Didn’t that sound British?  In real life, he may be a scoundrel, but I like a lot of his movies.

Funny lines:

·         “Nice alliteration.  I’m an English major.” – Chloe (Olivia Luccardi)

“I thought I recognized a fellow sufferer.” – Keith

·         “U.S. Marine Corps.  I like to follow the rules.” – Dr. Hal Lerner

“Writers Guild of America.  I feel the same way.” – Keith

·         “Dr. Lerner?  You must have an opinion on this.” – Keith

“I have a wife and 4 daughters.  I have no opinions.” – Dr. Lerner

·         “When I was young, I thought having the perfect Shakespeare quote for any given situation would be helpful.” – Jim Harper (funnyman Chris Elliott)

“It’s surprisingly unhelpful.” – Keith

“Yeah, it seems to really annoy people.” – Jim

·         “Give teaching a shot.  It gets its hooks in you.  You’ll see.” – Jim

“With all respect, I don’t believe anything worth knowing can be taught in the classroom and I intend to do as little as possible while carrying on this charade.” – Keith

“Yeah, if I gave it any thought, I’d probably feel the same way.” – Jim

·         Professor Weldon scolds Keith for not acting like a professional teacher and Keith assures her “I’ll watch Dead Poets Society to prepare.”   GREAT movie!  I highly recommend it.

·         “What about my car?” – Keith

“It’s a Hyundai.  It’ll be there in the morning.” – Holly

·         “Are you trying to fill a spiritual vacancy with alcohol and young women?” – Holly

“Yes.” – Keith

·         “I’ll work on reality TV…either as a writer or a contestant.” – Keith

·         “I’m hoping there will be something else.  Much more else.” - Keith

Writing tips learned from the movie:

·         As an author, I aspire to be a great writer.  As a realist, I know I have a long way to go before anyone would ever call my work “great.”  There is an interesting conversation between Keith and his agent.  She asks him “You know what J.K. Rowling said?”  He quips “Where did I put my last billion?”  She tries to inspire him by explaining “J.K. Rowling said that failure was the best thing that ever happened to her because it freed her from the inessential; it allowed her to focus on the thing that mattered most – writing.”

·         “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and a lightening bug.” – Mark Twain

·         Keith explains to his screen-writing students what a protagonist is by asking “What is his goal and how will he overcome obstacles?”

Tips for Parents:

·         In the airplane version I saw, all mild profanity was bleeped out, as well as a soft blur that was used to cover up someone flipping the bird.
 ·         Keith sleeps with a young girl, but you only see him crawl out of bed.

Great movies about inspiring teachers:

        

Books by Trina Boice

I love watching movies and writing about movies, but I thought you might like to see some of my more recent published books! My next one hits stores next month!