Monthly Archives: April 2023

Movie Reviews

REVIEW: “ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET” (2023) Lionsgate Films

9 Comments

You Must… You Must… You Must… see this movie!!

To say girlhood is never easy is an understatement and possibly never has a film spoken to young girls more than “ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET”– Judy Blume‘s classic coming-of-stage story. The film is set in 1970 but its themes of growing up are truly timeless.

The film starts right after Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), finishes summer camp between fifth and sixth grade. She returns to her families New York City apartment where her Grandma Sylvia (Kathy Bates), blurts out that she is moving to New Jersey i.e., ‘the burbs’ (oh the horrors!). Her father Herb (Benny Safdie), has a new job, and her mom her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams), well she is going to join the PTA. Before they can even unpack, Nancy (Elle Graham) is at the door and they rush off to become quick friends, with Elle using her knowledge of puberty as a form of control. And before long, Margaret and the others in the ‘secret club’ members, Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), believe getting their first period and growing breasts are the only path toward happiness. The club also gossips – mostly about which boys they are obsessed with, but also about one of their shall we say, more developed classmates, Laura Danker (Isol Young).

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

Life comes at you fast–this is a reality that young Margaret and her friends find out in so many different ways and the script simply follows Margaret along as she attempts to navigate a new school, a difficult task for anyone, but here the focus from director Kelly Fremon Craig, is wielded towards showing it can be funny to anyone who witnesses it from the outside, whether it be Nancy or even Margaret’s parents. Her mother taking her to shop for a bra, while Margaret mostly hides what she really feels from Nancy and the others. Her secret crush on Moose (Aidan Wojtak-Hissong), and how it’s portrayed is perfectly done with a sense of curiosity and hilarity all at the same time.

But the easy subjects are what are the point here. It’s the harder ones as when Margaret has to leave the Grandma she adores, and finds out about why she’s never met her other side of grandparents. The questions that arise in her about religion leading into her asking the primary question we’ve all probably asked at one time or another “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret”. Along with a developing body that one just doesn’t know what to do with, and the feelings that come with finding out who your friends just might really be, they all flow out here in at a pace that isn’t too slow and not too fast – all coming together to make these things handle all of this simplistic adventure so well to many audiences.

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

Truly this is how you make a faith based movie. Where instead of preaching to the choir and having it thrown in your face – you demonstrate challenges and questions for the character to fill in your own interpretations, bringing about a discussion for the audience and characters alike. Adding in that the film has brilliant comedic pace giving each moment proper of time to be enjoyed or again, pacing itself enough to cause you to feel with each and every character along with the drama and stress of each situation Margaret faces.

To add icing to the cake is the powerhouse performance by Abby Ryder Fortson as without this beautiful interpretation by her, this film would not be as almost perfect as it is. Along with her cast of friends, Elle Graham playing that bossy almost teen is just too pefect for words. Kathy Bates, while not being on screen as much as we’d like her to be, makes an impact, as well as McAdams playing the ‘cool mom’ and Safdie pulling up the rear as a just overall good dad. Without these performances this movie just might not have worked as well as it did. And lest we forget the soundtrack – which is nothing short of badass. It helps to propel the film forward and creating something that when the music plays, it fills the screen and works to supplement the characters, and the narrative. The songs help to develop and set the tones throughout the course of the film.

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” should win over audiences of all ages through its likable cast, and its sweet approach to potentially challenging material. Whether it be sex, religion or purpose in life the film dives into the innocence of these subject matter and how they would be experienced by so many – capturing that anxiety, joy, and pain in pefect harmony.

Grade: A

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

“ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET” FROM LIONSGATE IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

Action, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Family, Female Director, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “POLITE SOCIETY” (2023) FOCUS FEATURES

2 Comments

“POLITE SOCIETY” is writer-director Nida Manzoor‘s first film – as we best know her from her hit TV show “We Are Lady Parts” – a personal favourite of mine from Peacock. She stays within the Pakistani community culture that she knows and does so well with again here, giving us a very smart, yet super stylised, inventive and sometimes over the top familial story. Manzoor divides the film into five chapters – entitling each with the theme at hand such as “Khan vs. Salim” or “Khan vs. Khan”, highlighting what each chapter will offer up.

4167_D039_00291_R Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Priya Kansara, a newcomer to the big screen, stars as Ria Khan, a Sophomore/Year 11 private school student, Ria is highly determined to achieve her goal of becoming a working stuntwoman. She remains laser-focused on this despite her teacher and parents parents Rafe (Jeff Mirza) and Fatima (Shobu Kapoor), laughing it all off as nonsense and trying at every turn to re-direct her towards becoming a doctor. Ria also adores her older sister Lena (Rita Arya), who has recently moved back into her parents home after dropping out of a prestigious art school. Ria is worried about her as she seems to be drifting in life. So instead, together they film Ria’s stuntwoman ‘practices’ all the while she sends letters to top professional stuntwoman Eunice Huthart expresses her love for all things stunt related, and yet at some point, her life intertwines in them as well.

Things change quickly for everyone as at a meet & greet aka match-making soiree’ as Salim (Akshay Khanna), a doctor and every mothers dream match for their daughters, steps in and begins wooing and winning over Lena. Ria senses things aren’t right with the relationship and is also convinced that Lena should resume her dreams of being artist, rather than be with the too-good-to-be-true Salim. And then there is Salim’s mother Raheela (Nimra Bucha), who raises every red-flag visable as the overbearing mama’s boy mother. Of course, Ria suspects things aren’t all on the up and up here and sets out to prove it with her two best school friends Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri), who get some of the best one-liners of the film. And the fun begins as they strategize and scheme to undercut the relationship, but they are no match for Salim’s mother.

4167_D018_00093_R Seraphina Beh stars as Clara, Priya Kansara as Ria Khan and Ella Bruccoleri as Alba in director Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

While the story might have it’s over-the-top moments to be sure, the acting never does. Kansara and Arya are perfectly paired here and clearly are having fun as they execute the physical martial arts sequences beautifully, yet also show promise in the more serious moments switching back and forth flawlessly. And the supporting cast which we have yet to mention the school bully turned partner in crime Kovacs (Shona Babyemi), who offers some wonderful comedic relief helping the three friends out in their wily scheme to ‘free’ Lena. All these ladies need to be put on everyone’s “Actresses to watch for” lists – as well as filmmaker Nida Manzoor on their Female Directors to watch list. Anyone who can entertain at this level deserves the opportunity to do so as frequently as possible.

In the end, after all the kicks, punches, and schemes, ‘Polite Society’ is about culture, friends, sisterhood and being true to who you are with Nida Manzoor giving us extremely creative film with a balance of themes that proves immensely entertaining.

Grade: B

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

“POLITE SOCIETY” FROM FOCUS FEATURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

Biography, Drama, History, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “CHEVALIER” (2023) SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

7 Comments

The life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges is definitely one that needs to be told. He was an accomplished man, a scholar, fencer, a virtuoso at the violin, besting even the likes of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or so the story goes. Most of all, he was a composer and a much sought after one at that. All this took place from 1745-1799 to be exact, during Marie Antoinette’s reign. But because of who he was, his storied life was all but erased from history as we know it thanks to one little guy named Napolean Bonaparte’ when he reinstated slavery in France.

And this is where “CHEVALIER” the film steps into play boasting a based on a true story – screenplay by Stefani Robinson that doesn’t escape the predictability of the usual bio-pic story structure, as well as the possible taking of a few liberties here and there. Director Stephen Williams does turn this into a surprisingly captivating look at the life story of the composer who grew up the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society hence him being crowned with the title of Chevalier, taking his suffix from his father, “de Saint-Georges”—named after a plantation in Guadeloupe—to become known as ‘Chevalier de Saint-Georges’. The film chronicles his talent, his supposed ill-fated love affair with Marie Josephine (Samara Weaving), and his falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and her court. Chevalier bucked the norm and competed to try to get appointed as the head of the Paris Opera at one point, but the Opera’s prima donnas, notably La Guimard (Minnie Driver), the Operatic Vocalist Queen of the time, went to Queen Marie Antoinette and halted his potential candidacy because they didn’t want to take orders from a ‘mulatto’ or Creole as he could be called. In the film, they show it as he would not bed the elder Guimard, again, possibly a small liberte’ taken here.

What is incredibly beautiful here is the music and the costumes. Both coming at you with such a vibrance with Harrison performing spectacularly on the violin in a fun opening moment. There is bound to be nominations for both of these, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., having been my one to watch a few years back, he has not failed me yet and delivers a ‘bonne performance’ here as well. Chevalier can feel drawn out at times and even predictable, and overall the pacing of the film is definitely a little strange occasionally, but the actors take it and make it the compelling story that it is.

Even with it’s ups and downs, It’s a sensitive topic, yet also tremendously inspiring narrative set to incredible classical music that allows it to have a powerful conclusion.

Grade: C+

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

“CHEVALIER” FROM SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, Documentary, Movie Reviews, Movies, Music

REVIEW: “LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING” (2023) CNN FILMS

Leave a comment

A wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom

Richard Penniman aka Little Richard was many things throughout his life. One of those things is he is undisputably the real King of Rock n Roll with this documentary not just celebrating his work, but also recognizing him for being, as Richard himself says, “The one that started it all.” Directed by Lisa Cortes “Little Richard: I Am Everything” puts much of it’s emphasis on the music first and formost. That galatic talent on the piano and some of the biggest names who followed in Richard’s wake, how others disregarded his talent, and his complicated legacy regarding race and queerness. I must say, while it’s not long in length, this documentary cuts to the nitty gritty of it all, and you learn from it.

The movie is a remarkable journey, that captures the spirit of Richard himself. We see everyone from Billy Porter, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Tom Jones, the latter three all one time members of Richard’s inner circle, and director John Waters whose insight into Richards life impacted his own with the copying of the infamous tiny mustache. The list of who he influenced is longer than that – as there would be no Elvis, David Bowie, who cameos here as well, Prince or even Harry Styles, without the influence of Little Richard. The film traverses the lines between Richard’s life as well as clearly his confusion between who he was, his religion and who he wanted to be, are all put forth to decipher.

Born December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia as Richard Penniman in a family that included twelve children in total and he grew up surrounded by blues music. Macon was also a religious town, and it was in a church where Richard first began singing. But along with that strict religion to conform to, his even stricter father who threw him out of his home at an early age. Richard was then taken in by the owners of a queer-leaning nightclub. An all-too-familiar situation that – as we later find out – likely impacted Richard. Soon though, he performed across the country (sometimes in drag shows) and later formed a band to record a demo tape of songs including ‘Tutti Frutti.’ From there, as his popularity began to soar, going into ‘forbidden’ terrority so to speak, so did the judgement. leading to ridiculous things like that same song being re-recorded by America’s religious darling at the time, one Pat Boone.

Ironically, it was a supposed sign from that very same religion that espoused him that led him to renounce himself more or less. He ended up at a conservative college, became a gospel artist, and even burned some of his old records. Then realizing gospel preaching didn’t pay, he flips the lid once again and gives that up for tours of Britain and a big, colourful comeback in the 1960s. And then, you guessed it, another reform again in the 1970s, turning his back fully on own homosexuality once again. All these back and forth renouncements and constant fluctuation represent Richard’s lifelong struggle to balance his love of Christianity, yet also speak strongly of his other maybe more real true love of rock-n-roll. One might ask why so many turnabouts – yet this answer is never revealed. most likely because Richard himself really never knew the answer himself sadly.

What the film does reveal is how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked falling star somewhere inbetween God, sex and rock n’ roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was another type of being altogether – and while he never received much of the deserved accolades or money until the end – he was unabashedly everything. All at once.

Grade: B+

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

“LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING” FROM CNN FILMS IS OUT IN THEATERS AND VOD FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

1980's, Drama, Movie Reviews, Movies, Sports

REVIEW “Air” (2023) AMAZON STUDIOS

4 Comments

I’m not sure how Ben Affleck does it – he takes these stories which are based on real life scenarios like “Argo”, and now here again with “AIR”, and makes them magical. Even though we know the end line, somehow once again, he was able to put his finger on just the right pulse in how to tell this story with excitement and great character work, to keep us thoroughly engaged and immersed in the story for every single minute of the film. Or maybe he just has good luck with films that start with the letter “A”. Which ever it is I hope he never stops as ‘Air’ brings on another one of these fantastic real life stories with this one taking on Michael Jordan’s ‘Air Jordan’ journey.

Air – is first and foremost, a sports drama that brings us back to the 1980’s and recounts the events that saw Nike, then just a scrappy upstart in the major sneakers – sports shoe market, make a huge historical stride in the world of what we now know as one of the most lucrative markets on the planet, the basketball shoe market. It was a huge gamble at the time, and one that would see them put everything on the line, to gain on rivals Converse and Adidas. And thanks to a risky, all-or-nothing pursuit of up-and-coming college basketball – going NBA star Michael Jordan (Damian Delano Young), history is made. But it’s all in the story-telling, and boy, is there some great interwoven story-telling happening here.

Matt Damon is front and centre as Sonny Vaccaro, an Nike representative in the much-lacking basketball division at Nike with a brilliant eye for new talent, who decides to take matters into his own hands and approach the Jordan family directly at their home. But he will have to woo Jordan’s mother Deloris (Viola Davis), who plays this role with a calmness and authority that denotes how in the South, the mother is the matriarch and her son’s biggest decision in life, will probably be very influenced by her. Rumour has it that this was Michael Jordan’s only special request for that film, that Queen Viola Davis play his mother.

And although the outcome is already known, that doesn’t stop “Air” from being an intriguing story and ultimately, an uplifting experience from beginning to end. There is something that Affleck, as a director, has his finger on with these kind of stories, and that is the element of a suspense like, edge of your seat feeling, that while you know the outcome, it’s yet still instilled in the film and hence entices the audience throughout.
⠀
And yes, you can say the film is sure to just be a crowd-pleaser as it’s about one of the greatest basketball players of all time and it’s a given, but that’s not always the case. As someone who has never probably watched an entire NBA game from start to finish, the film possesses great energy with punchy, charismatic dialogue, and that dynamic direction from Affleck pays off. but what wraps this one up with a bow and makes it stand out here as well, are the performances. The ensemble cast do an ample job of making us care about Nike’s plight and their unorthodox plan to sign basketball’s future star – and of course, there’s plenty of humour throughout, and much of it is thanks to the larger-than-life performances. So let’s delve in and talk a bit about said performances.

With Matt Damon pulling our lead role here, he is doing what he does best, playing a hero that is not flawless, more realistic, and constantly knows he is a human being. Sure we have seen this kind of work from Damon before, but it’s been a while since he’s been this good, looking so relaxed as he probably pulls out one of the best performances of his career, and definitely the best in some years. Ben Affleck’s does a bit of double duty giving himself a plumb supporting role as Phil Knight, Nike’s creator and CEO. He is funny, sarcastic and realistic stealing a few scenes. One thing can be said here as well, Affleck completely knows how to cast himself. Throwing in Jason Bateman‘s comedic touch as Rob Strasser, is superb. No one plays the ordinary company man better and this maybe the best example how to use Jason Bateman in a movie. Chris Tucker may not have a big role in this movie, but every scene he is in, you’ll feel his magic. It’s like he was given a creative zone where he could do some “Chris Tucker” stuff without ruining the reality of the movie. Chris Messina as Jordan’s sport agent David Falk gives big “Arliss” vibes and perfectly so, as it’s a perfect portrayl of exactly what a sports agent does. His rants are profound and so full of humour. And lastly, you would be remiss not to mention Matthew Maher as Nike shoe designer extraordinaire Peter Moore, who gives the understated performance of his career – while having a almost perfect scene where he ‘names’ the Air Jordan.
⠀
To sum it up, “Air” is a sports movie without being a “sports” movie. it’s an emotional journey about chances of life & belief in greatness. With a bangin’ soundtrack that embodies the movie almost as a character, make this the feel good film of the year. Ben Affleck, you’ve done it again.

Grade: A

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Thursday, March 30, 2023 ~ Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

“AIR” FROM AMAZON STUDIOS IS OUT IN THEATER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023