Better as a drive-thru than a Ride Along

Movie Title:  Ride Along

PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

Grade: C

In a Nutshell:  Ride Along should really just be a drive-thru, maybe later, after it’s out on DVD or in the dollar bin at Wal-Mart.  One F-bomb short of an R-rated movie, this buddy cop clichéd flick is filled with profanity, racial slurs and police brutality jokes.  It relies on the physical humor that Kevin Hart provides as he screams in a panic during the entire film.  The plot is canned, as are the jokes.  It’s 100 minutes of exaggerated silliness, so if that’s what you’re in the mood for don’t be disappointed with the thin plot and stereotyped characters.   

Uplifting theme:  Santiago (played by the talented John Leguizamo) says to James (played by straight-faced Ice Cube) “It must be tough being an island, huh?  Nobody to watch your back?” Some of the biggest themes of the movie are that we all need each other and to believe in your dreams.  Oh yeah, and playing video games gives you handy skills because, as Omar says "Everybody wants to be on the winning side."

Things I liked:  Kevin Hart is adorable and it’s inspiring to see his character never give up on his dream.

Things I didn’t like: I thought it was ridiculous that while Ben (Kevin Hart) was out trying to survive various antics, his girlfriend (Tika Sumpter) sat around the house scantily clad, anxiously waiting for him to return so they could…

Funny lines:

* “I’m not about to buy that girl with a goat.”   - Ben

* “How tall is Omar now?” – Ben

* The audience howled with laughter when Ben smacks James (several times)
* "Respect is best served cold."  - Ben  Omar corrects him: "No, it's revenge that's best served cold."

Things to look for:  Sophisticated humor…Nope, you won’t find it here, folks.

Tips for parents: This is not exactly a family-friendly movie and not appropriate for little ones…or older ones.  Lots and lots of profanity, including a scene where a young kid has a terrible potty-mouth.  There is a strip club scene and lots of sexual jokes, as well as disrespect for the popo…oh, I mean the police.

Skip the Nut Job

Movie Title:  The Nut Job

Grade: C-

   

In a Nutshell:  Skip it.  When stunning animation movies like Frozen are out in the theaters, why would you waste your time or money on this one?  It’s a meager attempt at following the recipe for a successful kids’ movie.  Young kids may be entertained, but parents will either fall asleep or want to stab a fork in their eyes.

Filled with an unlikeable main character, endless capers, dumb gangster goons, an obligatory dance scene and electrocution moment, and lame lines such as “Let’s not get nutty around here”, this Saturday morning cartoon falls way short of being memorable or magical.

Uplifting theme: It’s important to work together.  Teamwork doesn’t have “I” in it.

Things I liked:        Great voice actors include Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, and even ventriloquist Jeff Dunham.  Unfortunately, none of them had good material to work with, so their talents were underutilized. I thought the red cardinal that Racoon carries around was pretty cute and I liked the 3D popcorn popping effect.

Things I didn’t like:  When the writers couldn’t think of clever jokes they just resorted to lots of farting and burping. The animation itself was simply inferior.  The supporting characters lacked visual distinction or interest.  The scary rat gang looked like ugly stuffed animals.

Funny lines:

• “Is that Bubonic Plague you’re wearing?”  - Surly
• “That’s my cologne, made of tree sap and falcon tears.” - Surly

Inspiring lines:

• Hmmmm….can’t think of any.  Pretty sad, right?

Things to look for:

• Baby squirrel sucking its thumb
• Little bird’s trembling lips when the tree burns

Tips for parents:  See something else. 

Blue Jasmine takes Cate Blanchett to the Golden Globes and Oscar

Movie Title:   

Blue Jasmine

PG – 13, 1 hour 38 minutes

Grade: B+

In a Nutshell:  The best part of this Woody Allen film is the stunning Cate Blanchett, who just won a Golden Globe for this role, as well as an Oscar nomination with buzz of a win.  She plays Jasmine/Jeanette, a wealthy Park Avenue wife whose life unravels, leaving her to discover and reinvent herself. It’s a bit depressing, but darkly funny.  Some people will find some satisfaction in watching a rich snob fall to the bottom of the financial barrel.  Of course, Alec Baldwin is completely believable in his role as a Bernie Madoff type of husband.  Andrew Dice Clay hardly has to act and British actress Sally Hawkins is delightful as Jasmine’s sister Ginger.

Uplifting theme:  It’s a cautionary tale of sorts for women.  Girls, pay attention to your finances; don’t “let” your husband take care of it all.  Be an informed partner.  Jasmine’s brother-in-law Augie said about her “She’s a phony and had to know.”  Did she?  We hear one of Jasmine’s wealthy gal pal’s advise her “Just don’t file a joint tax return.”  Jasmine sighs “I sign anything…I’m very trusting.”  Famous last words.   

Jasmine’s step-son asks “Did you not suspect anything or did you not care?”  Good question.  She turned the other eye at her husband’s dishonest business dealings, but ironically, she drew the line at his cheating.  Jasmine is so delusional that she makes a remark about another man who can’t seem to live without a woman, but in reality, she is the one who can’t live without a man.  She criticizes her sister for choosing to date losers, but Jasmine’s husband Hal is the bigger loser, albeit an extremely wealthy one.

Jasmine said “There’s only so many traumas a person can withstand before you take to the streets and start screaming.”  Perhaps those who judge “crazy” people mumbling on the park bench will now stop to consider what pains and sorrows brought the person to that point.

Things I liked:  Cate Blanchett is simply mesmerizing to watch. Woody Allen is a master at building characters and choosing his leading women.  I loved Jasmine’s gorgeous home on the beach.

Things I didn’t like:  I hated watching women being lied to by married men.  I was surprised that there was nothing interesting to see at the beginning…just rolling names on the screen. I might have panned across beautiful homes of the “rich and famous” or the The Hamptons: Life Behind the Hedges .  Same thing.  The film is a bit messy at times, but I suppose that matches the lives of the people in it.

Funny line:

• “I changed it. Yeah, Jeanette had no panache.”  - Jasmine
• Can you believe I had to move out of my beautiful home and take a place in Brooklyn?”  - Jasmine
• Ginger asks Jasmine “How did you fly First Class” and Jasmine answers “I don’t know.  I just did.”
• “I suppose I’m going to have to invite them to my birthday party now.” – Jasmine
• “Tomorrow I’m definitely taking the day off. I’ve neglected everything: my yoga, my pilates…”  - Jasmine

• “Not bad taste for a Philistine businessman.”  - Hal when he gives Jasmine an expensive bracelet”

• “Nurses are hot to go to bed with.” – Ginger’s new boyfriend
• “They say every year millions of brain cells just die off.” – Jasmine as she throws back a glass of alcohol
• “He’s sexy and he doesn’t steal.” – Ginger
• “Edison’s Medicine – because they use electricity to get you thinking straight again.” - Jasmine

Things to look for: 

• The way she treats people in the service industry at the beginning.
• The “infinity pool” in her backyard
• Jasmine checks her watch when Ginger & Augie come to visit
• Jasmine’s gigantic diamond wedding ring

Tips for parents:

This is really not a movie for children.  The film is a character study with no action.  In other words, they’ll be bored to death.  Some profanity, but no F-bombs.  Some sexual discussions and a terrifically awkward groping scene with a pathetic dentist.

Win a free book by Trina Boice!

I'm taking a quick time out from movie reviews to let you know about 2 contests that are giving away my books for free!

Click on the "Enter to win" at Goodreads before January 21st and you could win!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Ready Resource for Relief Society Teachings of the Presidents of the Church

by Trina Boice

Giveaway ends January 21, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

How to Stay UP in a DOWN Economy

by Trina Boice

Giveaway ends January 27, 2014.
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2014 Award Show Season Begins!

It's January! So do you know what that means? Here come all of the award shows! The first major entertainment awards show of the year is the 71st Golden Globes. We'll see if these names continue a winning streak this season...

Funny girls Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the glitzy shindig for the second time. The first award of the night went to Jennifer Lawrence, who won for Best Supporting Actress for "American Hustle", still in theaters across the country. Last year she took home a trophy for Best Actress for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook."

Below is a listing of all the big winners (and losers) of the evening. You always have to wait until the end of several hours to find out which movie won "Best motion picture", but I'm going to start you off with that big announcement!

Best motion picture, drama

• "12 Years a Slave" -- WINNER
• "Captain Phillips"
• "Gravity"
• "Philomena"
• "Rush"

Best actress in a motion picture, drama

• Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine" -- WINNER
• Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"
• Judi Dench, Philomena"
• Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"
• Kate Winslet, "Labor Day"

Best actor in a motion picture, drama

• Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
• Idris Elba, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
• Tom Hanks, "Captain Phillips"
• Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club" -- WINNER
• Robert Redford, "All is Lost"

Best motion picture, comedy or musical

• "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• "Her"
• "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• "Nebraska"
• "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy

• Amy Adams, "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"
• Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha"
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Enough Said"
• Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"

Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

• Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
• Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
• Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street" -- WINNER
• Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• Joaquin Phoenix, "Her"

Best animated feature film

• "The Croods"
• "Despicable Me 2"
• "Frozen" -- WINNER

Best foreign language film

• "Blue is the Warmest Color"
• "The Great Beauty" -- WINNER
• "The Hunt"
• "The Past"
• "The Wind Rises"

Best supporting actress in a motion picture

• Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"
• Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle" -- WINNER
• Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years a Slave"
• Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"
• June Squibb, "Nebraska"

Best supporting actor in a motion picture

• Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
• Daniel Brühl, "Rush"
• Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"
• Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"
• Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club" -- WINNER

Best director, motion picture

• Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity" -- WINNER
• Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"
• Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
• Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
• David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best screenplay, motion picture

• Spike Jonze, "Her" -- WINNER
• Bob Nelson, "Nebraska"
• Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan, "Philomena"
• John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave"
• Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best original score, motion picture

• Alex Ebert, "All is Lost" -- WINNER
• Alex Heffes, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
• Steven Price, "Gravity"
• John Williams, "The Book Thief"
• Hans Zimmer, "12 Years a Slave"

Best original song, motion picture

• "Atlas," "Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
• "Let It Go," "Frozen"
• "Ordinary Love," "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" -- WINNER
• "Please Mr. Kennedy," "Inside Llewyn Davis"
• "Sweeter Than Fiction," "One Chance"

Best TV series, drama

• "Breaking Bad" -- WINNER
• "Downton Abbey"
• "The Good Wife"
• "House of Cards"
• "Masters of Sex"

Best actress in a TV series, drama

• Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
• Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"
• Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"
• Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
• Robin Wright, "House of Cards" -- WINNER

Best actor in a TV series, drama

• Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" -- WINNER
• Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
• Michael Sheen, "Masters of Sex"
• Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
• James Spader, "The Blacklist"

Best TV series, musical or comedy

• "The Big Bang Theory"
• "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" -- WINNER
• "Girls"
• "Modern Family"
• "Parks and Recreation"

Best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy

• Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
• Lena Dunham, "Girls"
• Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
• Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" -- WINNER

Best actor in a TV series, musical or comedy

• Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
• Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
• Michael J. Fox, "The Michael J. Fox Show"
• Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
• Andy Samberg, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" -- WINNER

Best TV movie or miniseries

• "American Horror Story: Coven"
• "Behind the Candelabra" -- WINNER
• "Dancing on the Edge"
• "Top of the Lake"
• "White Queen"

Best actress in a miniseries or TV movie

• Helena Bonham Carter, "Burton and Taylor"
• Rebecca Ferguson, "The White Queen"
• Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Coven"
• Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
• Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake" -- WINNER

Best actor in a miniseries or TV movie

• Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
• Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra" -- WINNER
• Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Dancing on the Edge"
• Idris Elba, "Luther"
• Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Best supporting actress in a series, miniseries or TV movie

• Jacqueline Bisset, "Dancing on the Edge" -- WINNER
• Janet McTeer, "The White Queen"
• Hayden Panettiere, "Nashville"
• Monica Potter, "Parenthood"
• Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or TV movie

• Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
• Rob Lowe, "Behind the Candelabra"
• Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
• Corey Stoll, "House of Cards"
• Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan" -- WINNER