Category Archives: Uncategorized

1980's, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “EDDIE THE EAGLE” (2016) ~ Post Q & A: Taron Egerton & Dir: Dexter Fletcher

02/20/2016 Peggy Marie 12 Comments

“Eddie the Eagle” is a story about an underdog in every sense of the word.
The story follows Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) from the time he’s a little kid with dreams of going to the Olympics, through his many assorted set-backs, and all the people around him who saw only failure in his future. It also shows the moments when he got helping hands when he most needed it. This movie is about his struggle and for all his sometimes annoying flaws, Eddie is a character that you just cannot dislike.

Edwards, while maybe a somewhat good downhill skier, narrowly missed the Great Britain team for that event for the 1984 Games. To improve his chances to qualify for Calgary in 1988, he moves to Lake Placid, NY to train and enter bigger races, but he quickly finds himself short on funds. To realize his Olympic dream, he decided to switch to ski jumping for reasons of cost and easier qualification as there were no other British ski jumpers with whom to compete for a place.

He was handicapped by his weight—at about 82 kg (181 lbs), more than 9 kg (20 lbs) heavier than the next heaviest competitor — and by his lack of financial support for training as he was totally self-funded. Another problem was that he was very longsighted, requiring him to wear thick eyeglasses at all times, which sometimes fogged to such an extent that he could not see. Maybe due to all this, Eddie seems a bit dim though his spirit of wanting to be in the Olympics never dies, even as his father tells him his only choice in life is to become a plasterer such as himself.

Taron Egerton does an excellent job here and really assumes the part of Eddie. Hugh Jackman as ex-downhill skier-turned-coach Bronson Peary puts in a good performance, and manages not to overpower Eddie’s character. Eddie’s parents are also well played, his mother Janette Edwards played by Jo Hartley, gives a particularly poignant portrayal of the never-ending support of a mother. Eddie’s father, played by Keith Allen, is a bit of a caricature, but well acted. Actually, a lot of the supporting cast of characters are caricatures, especially the other ski-jumpers/coaches and the British Olympians/Olympic Committee. But to an extent that serves to emphasize the struggle for Eddie. Also, for those intent on seeing this film for Christopher Walken as Warren Sharp, he has wonderful, albeit, very small role that has impact.

While the struggle of Eddie is emphasized throughout the film, there is also a good dose of comedy thrown into the mix as well. The tone is upbeat throughout, even when Eddie has setbacks. While some of the failures are played for laughs, it’s mostly Eddie’s perseverance that makes this film endearing. It also feels like we’re laughing with Eddie rather than at him, since it seems Eddie’s in on the joke.

There’s not much to dislike about the film. I absolutely loved the music choices including the score and some timely 80’s song choices. Sure, I think the stakes could have been raised a bit here or there to give an even bigger emotional moment, but I can’t say the film didn’t already bring me to teary eyes at some points. And that to me, is an experience at the movies.

Random tidbit that Taron told us all: Stay tuned for the song at the end credits as the overlying song playing is actually Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman singing together..yep..you read that right.. Taron & Hugh are singing the closing credits song. I wouldn’t have known it had he not said so.

Grade: B

@pegsatthemovies

POST Q & A WITH TARON EGERTON & DIR: DEXTER FLETCHER

Hugh Jackman was also supposed to be in attendance, but didn’t make it. Taron more than made up for it as he was nice, fun & entertaining as was Dexter Fletcher. This guy..being my breakout star of 2015.. is just as personable as I thought he would be when I first saw him in the fantastic “Kingsman:The Secret Service”.

Started off with the basics noting that since the project was greenlit till it’s release, it’s been a short 18mos. All a very fast shoot of 8 weeks in Germany at Garmisch-Partenkirchen – the same place where the real Eddie Edwards trained – also with some being done at Pinewood Studios.

Taron had a chance to meet with the real Eddie before & during filming and when he went to the very first screening of the finished film, he sat next to Eddie, which made him very nervous as it’s harder to portray someone who is still alive. At the end of the screening, Eddie was so moved by Taron’s performance and the film, he was actually crying. Taron noted what a fantastic feeling that was.

Dexter Fletcher is quite the character and entertained us thoroughly before & after the film with his banter with Taron. Both noting, as I did, that Hugh Jackman is really good in this role and a very big man! ha! Also, one-week into production they were told no actors could ski at all ~ so they got a bunch of crazy stunt guys – noting that downhill skiers really have to be a bit crazy to do this sport – who more than willing to do it. Except for Hugh, where at the end of his run, he is actually skiing. As Taron puts it “It’s sickening how good Hugh is at EVERYTHING!”

Fun note from Dexter – in real life, the Finnish skier, Matti Nykänen, actually became a male stripper, then a singer and sadly, turned to alcohol and is now known for some, shall we say, ‘colourful antics’.

Christopher Walken was cast because they had to get someone who coud make Hugh Jackman weak in the knees.. and clearly they did.

One theme that is repeated throughout the movie, is the quote from Pierre de Coubertin (father of the modern Olympics), “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” It’s just a little something we all could use as a reminder at times and maybe apply to our own everyday lives.
Cheers..

Review Screening: Thursday, January 28, 2016 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Nationwide release: Friday, February 26, 2016

1950's, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “HAIL, CAESAR!” (2016) – Universal Pictures

02/04/2016 Peggy Marie 9 Comments

All Hail Caesar!!!

This Coen Brothers satire of old school Hollywood is a perfectly done mix of what our imagination might conjure up of what the Aqua-musicals or dance sequence films from the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ could be if they were done today.

The film centers around physical production/studio head Eddie Mannix, played by Josh Brolin. Mannix is a fixer at the fictitious Capital Pictures in the 1950’s. This involves him dealing with numerous egos, including their box-office superstar Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) and Aqua~movie starlet, DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johannson). Not long after the film begins, Whitlock is kidnapped and Mannix begins his quest to get him back with some surprising help along the way from young western actor, Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich).

With a top notch billed cast, you do tend to notice that some of the names receiving top billing, are only in it for short pieces of time or literally there for only a ‘blink-and you missed it’ moment – as such is the case with Jonah Hill’s character Joseph Silverman. Besides that odd glitching, all the supporting cast as a whole are just plain good and you don’t get a bad performance from anyone as even the normally so wooden Scarlett Johannson plays her small part well and unannoying. Aside from the names mentioned, you’ll also see Ralph Fiennes being spot on as director Laurence Laurentz, Tilda Swinton doing hysterical double time as bickering twin gossip columnist sisters, Thora & Thessaly Thacker. Channing Tatum for whom I must say, I love where he is taking his career with roles like this, truly dazzles with his singing and dancing number that is so beautifully done it makes you not only yearn for those times of past, but want them back if he keeps doing this.

Brolin is fantastic in the lead role and turns what could be a very unlikable character into a very endearing and sympathetic one. The real find among the cast is Ehrenreich. The character of Hobie Doyle is simple enough but Ehrenreich manages to turn him into one of the more amusing and interesting characters you’ll find in this film.

All in all I truly enjoyed the film as a whole and I’m guessing all Coen Bros. fans will thoroughly enjoy it. However as a second note, my guest didn’t like it as much and he made a good point. That he didn’t ‘get’ all the innuendos of some of it and said the general public as a whole might not either as it might have that ‘going over their heads’ problem.

For me, I highly recommend this Golden-Age romp through the glory days of Hollywood..

Grade: B-

@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 ~ Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Nationwide release: Friday, February 5, 2016

Uncategorized

Bereavement Leave..

01/17/2016 Peggy Marie 20 Comments

Hello all. I will be taking a week or two off from reviewing and reading all of your wonderful reviews and posts that I always enjoy so much. I’ve tried to keep up but the last 4 1/2 mos. have been really rough for me with my wonderful, beautiful Momsy becoming ill and passing away this past Thursday. I feel honoured to have been able to have spent her last hours here on earth with her and I know that she is out of pain & can only hope she knew I was there with her. We all think our moms are the best in the world, and they all are..but mine really was and I miss my wonderful Momsy more than anything. She loved movies and though our tastes were so completely different (she loved romantic & sappy! 🙂 ) we always went to movies together and it was our tradition to do so every Christmas.

I will be back soon as she instilled in me these few months to continue to do what I love and not stop living life and loving movies and the beach. So with that..I will just say I love you Momsy and will miss you so so much…and I WILL be back soon with some more fun reviews! Peace.

Uncategorized

GOLDEN GLOBES: MY PICKS & THE WINNERS

01/10/2016 Peggy Marie 9 Comments

(Cue into me singing) “It’s the most wonderful time of the yyeeeaarrr…”
Yep..in case you haven’t guessed it already.. it’s Awards season. And the first big event is the Golden Globes this Sunday. It’s truly my favourite of all Awards shows with the best of both worlds, Film & TV, being there – and it’s a lot of categories so I just picked most of the major ones to choose from. I will just give a rundown of top categories – who I think the winner will be and what would be my pick – because they don’t always necessarily coincide with each other!! 😀

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Always a tough category – 2 films here that I am having trouble choosing over.. and what will actually win as last year they picked ‘Boyhood’ (ZZZzzzzzzz) so truly anything is possible.

Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road
Ohhh how I love this movie. It’s fast, entertaining, and just an all around thrill ride..

The Revenant ~ MY PICK
When I saw this film I was completely and utterly blown away as I didn’t think Inarritu could outdo ‘Birdman’.. he did.

Room
Why this movie is even here on not under a Law & Order:SVU episode on TV, just still boggles my mind.

Spotlight
Very good and VERY gutsy movie to bring this subject literally back into the spotlight. Just not a winner for me, but it could very well do so here.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

The Big Short ~ MY PICK
This film is dark comedy at it’s best. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry and the acting is just spectacular all the way around.

Joy
Great cast, though it’s basically a story about a mop.

The Martian ~ WINNER
Fun fun movie here.. Completely entertaining and definitely a good watch.

Spy
One of those comedies that you just don’t think can work, but it does and it was pretty funny.

Trainwreck – yes I did like this movie a lot and it made me laugh ..a lot..maybe because you see a bit of yourself in something, I’m not sure, but with just the right amount of funny & sappy, which is hard to do.. It was a hit for me.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
The fact that Charlize Theron isn’t nominated is a pisser for me – but I regress..into trying to pick a winner here.

Cate Blanchett, Carol ~ MY PICK
I liked her in ‘Truth’ and haven’t been able to catch this yet but the fact that she can give 2 really good performances like this a year.. enough said.

Brie Larson, Room ~ WINNER
Love Brie, don’t think this is anywhere close to being a performance or film that should be here..but hey..maybe she will share the award with Mariska Hargitay from L & O:SVU if she wins.

Rooney Mara, Carol

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
While the film might’ve had it’s cheesy moment factors, Saoirse was the standout. Definitely a likable performance.

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
The film was sweet, but very slow. Didn’t stop both lead performances from being very good.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant ~ MY PICK/WINNER
There is not even a question in my mind here that this is Leo’s year. Hands down the best performance out there.

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Fassbender’s performance saved this from being a very bland film, but that doesn’t make it a winner.

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Again, 2 great lead performances, but Eddie will not repeat this year.

Will Smith, Concussion

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Decent enough performance, but not enough to garner an award.

Melissa McCarthy, Spy
This is a comedy category, and she is one of the funniest out there. With a few misses under her belt, this was a fantastic reminder to us all how funny she really is.

Amy Schumer, Trainwreck ~ MY PICK
I loved this movie and her in it. She is after all, comedy’s ‘it girl’ right now.

Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Wasn’t able to catch this one as it was in and out of theatres in the blink of an eye.

Lily Tomlin, Grandma ~ WINNER
This was a very middle of the road, sweet film. Was it a fantastic performance that will go down in history..no, but it was fun enough for this.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Christian Bale, The Big Short ~ MY PICK
Absolutely Bale at his best. While it was a complete ensemble cast, he stood out and while he has competition, he should win this.

Steve Carell, The Big Short ~ WINNER
Because Carell has really stretched himself in his last few roles, I gotta give it to him, he was good here – and yes has a big chance at winning. I just give Bale the slightest edge in performances.

Matt Damon, The Martian
This was a highly entertaining film and Damon carries it well.

Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Clearly just filling in the blanks here of needing someone to fill out the category.

Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear
Same with this one.. ZZZzzzzzzz

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Jane Fonda, Youth

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
There were times I just thought ‘wow, JJL is knocking it out of the park here’ then there were more times when I thought ‘oh, no no she’s not, she’s kinda annoying me’ so this is a give & take for me.

Helen Mirren, Trumbo

Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Why everyone loves this ‘performance’ so much I do not know.. except that I have noticed it’s pretty much based on guys under the age of say 35 that make up the bulk of the crowd..It was a mostly CGI-based character who..well.. never mind.

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs ~ MY PICK/WINNER
Another great job by Kate, though I wasn’t to fond of her trying on the accent.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
This is by far the toughest category for me as truly every single one of these performances is worthy of the award.. Truly, they are.

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Being such a huge Beach Boys fan, and knowing that Brian Wilson is truly a musical genius of his time, I found Paul Dano to once again, just be extraordinary here.

Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Does it go without saying how fantastic Idris was playing such a horrible character.. if it doesn’t, he just was.

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
While I like the film, there was only one person that truly stood out for me performance-wise in it and that person was Mark Rylance. Many don’t know who he is as he’s mostly done a lot of theatre in England, but I’ve been lucky enough to have spied his talents before. He’s got a fantastic chance here.

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes ~ MY PICK
I was treated to a screening of this film where Michael Shannon did the Q & A afterwards. If I hadn’t loved him so much already, I might have just gone head over heels. At that moment, I thought he had it in the bag for sure.

Sylvester Stallone, Creed ~ WINNER
Oh Sly.. How I’ve pretty much seen all your stuff, whether good or bad. But I remember how no one thought you could act.. I kept telling them you could, and then came ‘Copland’ where you showed them that. Has there been more misses than hits…sure there has, but damn you were so good here. He could pull at everyone’s heartstrings like he did mine and take this.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Todd Haynes, Carol

Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant ~ MY PICK
What can I say here.. Did I think ‘Birdman’ could be outdone..no I didn’t think so. But yet here with The Revenant it was. Can Alejandro make it 2 in a row is yet to be seen. But it would be well deserved.

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Good movie, though not a winner for me.

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road ~ WINNER
Just truly an incredible film. We were brought back to a Mad Max of old, the kind where you really didn’t even have time to breathe for the first 15 minutes of the film. This film was just epic. It’s such a close one here for me.

Ridley Scott, The Martian
Again, really fun, entertaining picture – but not on the same level as Mad Max & The Revenant. It’s just not.

Best Television Series – Drama

Empire (Fox) ~ WINNER
While I get the appeal of this show to some, after about 5 episodes I was done.

Game of Thrones (HBO)
A not-so-great season of one of my favourite shows has me not picking it this year.

Mr. Robot (USA) ~ MY PICK
As I told everyone about this show, I realized something. Worse name for possibly one of the best new shows to come up on TV in the past year.

Narcos (Netflix)
Only was able to watch one episode and it was a fantastic one. But I can’t truly judge off of that.

Outlander (Starz)
I’ve only bee able to see a few episodes of this as I don’t have Starz. It’s appeal is clear to me though!

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
This category is simple for me.. I can’t pick one as I’ve only watched a few of them and the only one I truly liked is Mozart. ah well..

Casual (Hulu)

Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon) ~ WINNER

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Silicon Valley (HBO)

Transparent (Amazon)

Veep (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
While the show is odd, but oddly captivating, I still find that I can miss a few episodes here and there and not lose the storyline. I would’ve have probably picked Jean Smart’s performance for the show though.

Lady Gaga, America Horror Story: Hotel
Why she is nominated here I’m not quite sure..again category filler maybe because while I like Gaga a ton, she is just herself in this show, of which I could only handle a few eps.

Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone

Felicity Huffman, American Crime
I couldn’t get that into this show, but the acting was not the reason why.. Felicity was fantastic.

Queen Latifah, Bessie ~ WINNER
I will confess to having this on my DVR and having only watched 1/2 of it so far.. #badme but I’m loving what I’ve seen!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Is this a trick category/question of who should win??!! Hellloooooo

Idris Elba, Luther ~ WINNER/MY PICK

Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
Love Oscar Isaac, and while he was of course good here, the mini-series as a whole was sorely lacking.

David Oyelowo, Nightingale
I’m not Davie Oyelowo’s biggest fan, but this was definitely a pretty darn good creepy performance..but definitely not enough for a win.

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Mr. Rylance was really good in this, but again, sadly the series itself was soooo bloody slow – even with Damian Lewis added it, it was a slow watch.

Patrick Wilson, Fargo
This year’s Fargo, I loved the cast more than the first one (except for Allison Tolman whom I sorely missed), but there was definitely something amiss with the story itself.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Will just pick who I think will win here..I have no ‘My Pick’ in this category.

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander

Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
The show lives up to it’s name – and I’ve just not understood the ‘Eva Green good actress’ fascination.

Taraji P. Henson, Empire ~ WINNER
While I’ve loved Taraji in so many things, this just misses the mark for me somewhat. yeah..I know, she’s so over-the-top you’re supposed to love it. (shrugs)

Robin Wright, House of Cards
Having only seen 2 eps. of this show.. hard for me to judge this.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Jon Hamm, Mad Men ~ MY PICK/WINNER
Hands down – no questions asked.

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Love Rami Malek, and he truly encapsulated this role so well. If it wasn’t the year of Jon Hamm. I’ve a feeling we’ll be seeing Rami’s name in this category again.

Wagner Moura, Narcos
Good show, good performance of the little bit I’ve seen of it.

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
This is a definite no for me. While I loved the character on Breaking Bad, here he does nothing for me. Didn’t even care enough to finish out the 1st season..and I tried. I really tried.

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Liev is amazing in this show. Never had a character as messed up as this make me pretty much wanna cheer him and yes, even hang out with him for a bit. If only Jon Hamm wasn’t here..riiiggghtt!!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Again, will pick a winner, but no ‘My Pick’ as I just don’t watch enough of any of these shows.

Rachel Bloom, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie ~ WINNER

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Even though I also don’t watch all of these enough..I’m going to do picks without comment because of how funny I think Rob Lowe is in his new show.

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle

Rob Lowe, The Grinder ~ MY PICK

Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent ~ WINNER

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black

Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

Regina King, American Crime

Judith Light, Transparent

Maura Tierney, The Affair ~ MY PICK/WINNER
After the second episode of the new season, I said she deserved an award for where she took this character.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife ~ MY PICK

Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall ~ WINNER

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Tobias Menzies, Outlander

Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

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REVIEW: “THE REVENANT” ~ POST Q & A ~ LEONARDO DICAPRIO/DIR: ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU/PROD: STEVE GOLAN & MARY PARENT

01/08/2016 Peggy Marie 4 Comments

Even though it’s been 2 months since I’ve seen it ~ today is the official release date of this FANTASTIC film! Plus a Q & A w/Leo & Alejandro – well.. I just had to re-post! Happy 2016 movie viewing all! Cheers!

Peggy at the Movies

Since I was lucky enough to be part of the first ever audience to see this remarkable picture with Leonardo DiCaprio & Alejandro González Iñárritu doing the post Q & A along with producers Steve Golan & Mary Parent ~ I think I can safely tell you all…Prepare to be blown away as I’ve personally never seen a film of this magnitude in my life. And here I thought Alejandro couldn’t outdo last years epic ‘Birdman’, well I was wrong. He can and he did.

Along with the sure-fire Oscar gold performance of Leo DiCaprio here, ‘The Revenant’ follows the true story of the epic adventures of frontiersman Hugh Glass. It is also about someone trying to survive using the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of uncharted America back in the fur trading days, legendary explorer Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), is brutally mauled by…

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Biography, Comedy, Drama, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “JOY” (2015) 20th Century Fox

12/27/2015 Peggy Marie 20 Comments

With narration told by her grandmother Mimi (Diane Ladd), the only person who believes in and encourages young Joy’s as her story begins at Rudy’s Bus and Truck metal shop, where being an imaginative creative girl, she entertains herself through paper models of forests and castles.

Based on a true story, the film depicts the rise of female inventor and entrepreneur Joy (Jennifer Lawrence), who rises to fame by hawking her Miracle Mop on QVC. The story is much more than about business success, for Joy is a 1970’s housewife who supports four generations in her house, including her ex-husband, Tony (Edgar Ramirez) and father Rudy (Robert De Niro).

Director David O. Russell struggles here, a bit unsuccessfully I might add, to portray a harrowing the path to the mop. Joy deals with a houseful of kids, only a few of them children by actual age. The motley crew she calls family all crammed in her small house are not on Joy’s side. She is the breadwinner, the adult, the rock whose imagination is a liability to those overly dependent on her. Her mother Terry (Virginia Madsen) a soap-opera viewing addict, who watches made-for-this-film, unfunny soap opera segments that seem unmotivated with there being no implication as to why we are pointing to the off-TV characters. It’s goes on to become a paint-by-numbers affair from there – familial jealousy from sister Peggy (Elisabeth Rohm), dirty financial dealings, the nightmare of the age-old saying, “Do not do business with your family.”

After all, Joy manages to build a mop prototype. She brings it to QVC where the initial sale segment bombs. With Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper), the slick head honcho of newly formed shopping network QVC behind her, he takes a chance and allows Joy to showcase the mop herself. Bingo! The mop sells out. Success? Nope. The parts supplier is screwing Joy, every sale of the mop loses money, and the family wants their money back. Financial ruin follows. Then Grandma passes. But Joy decides she’s been walked all over enough and ‘womans up’ to settle all scores financial and emotional. You would think Hooray! right? If only the story wasn’t so average and been done so many times before would it be all that and more.

The acting is nothing notable as De Niro is no stranger to playing a conflicted father with a big heart, though there is something a bit off-kilter here even for him on this. We all know Lawrence & Cooper play well off each other and they do that again here. It’s Edgar Ramirez, who after falling so flat in Point Break, really stands up and dazzles amongst this all-star cast.

So let me just do a quick sum up for you in one sentence. ‘Down and out mother thinks up an invention, brings it to market, and becomes rich after some pitfalls that, in reality, is all fought and done with lawyers in the end’. In lieu of dramatizing a woman overcoming, Russell instead created a often unfunny comedy.

While the real life, inventive Joy deserves kudos, the bottom line is this is a feature film about the creator of a better mop and offers little on the path to an unsatisfying end where Joy makes it big and helps others succeed.
With all the heavy-hitters in film coming out these last 2 weeks of the year, it’s doubtful JOY will stand out amongst them.

Grade: C
@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Monday, December 21, 2015 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Studios
Nationwide release: Friday, December 25, 2015

Action, Action Adventure, Adventure, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, Movies, Sci Fi, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” (2015) Disney Pictures

12/20/2015 Peggy Marie 8 Comments

32 years after the original Star Wars exploded on our movie screens, the saga is set to continue here in The Force Awakens. Take note that this review is strictly a point of view and won’t contain to much storyline as you should see it for yourself, and definitely no spoilers. One thing before I continue on..Chewie..YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
As the opening log comes on the screen, we are immmediately taken back in time which has to be one of the happiest moments of the film. With that I will just spit it out that first and foremost, this is a good movie, though far far from a great one (It’s no Mad Max) And yes, I just said that.. So all the Star Wars fan-boys can step up now and sue me.. 😀

I’m as big a Star Wars fan as any though after Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace couldn’t even come close to comparing. Attack of the Clones was forgettable..Revenge of the Sith – didn’t even bother to see it at a theatre and actually waited for it to be on cable. And I won’t lie..I have a few issues with this film, though not all of them are bad.

The opening 30 minutes are less than satisfying and to be completely honest was quite ‘lulz’. Here we are introduced to some new main characters Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac – who is terribly underused here). Finn is actually a stormtrooper, but get this..a stormtrooper with feelings?? no ..stormtroopers are not allowed those. But hey they are taking a risk here by doing that right – which is okay by me. Then Poe, who is head of the resistance pilots, gets captured and Finn helps him escape for which when Poe asks why, gets the answer of “Because it’s the right thing to do” what?? that’s just weak.. sorry but it is. It doesn’t fit in a Star Wars film. So as predicted they crash and it seems only Finn survives. But you also know that there is no way Poe is dead & gone, but this goes unexplained for some time, until he magically shows up later with barely a plausable explantion.

While she is no Furiosa, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has somewhat the same inplausability factor when we meet as her as she & Finn are all about saving each other within minutes of meeting. But then again, I like the risk-taking factor of appointing a strong female lead.

Along with that part of the main cast, we are introduced to the mostly all Britsh/Irish (I guess a galaxy ‘far far away’ is now the U.K. ha!) cast of the Dark Side, notably General Hux (Domhnall Gleason), Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie – also terribly underused) to name just a few.

As expected, the robots especially BB8 (Bill Hader/Ben Schwartz – voice consultants), along with Chewbaca (Peter Mayhew) & Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) steal and deliver the best comedic one takes. While the new characters try, they fail quite miserably at trying to deliver cutesy one-liners that aren’t funny.

While I loved the flashbacks to the Star Wars of old, including the graveyard of old spaceships, Hans Solo getting back onboard with his old ship is nothing less than classic. And who doesn’t want to see Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Solo reunite after years of separation?!! All these scenes and storylines are simply wonderful.

Another big risk and a sad heartbreaking one at that, is saying good-bye to one of the most iconic characters ever concieved in this galaxy or any other for that matter. Did it have to be done? Maybe so because it seems J.J. Abrams had to basically make us try to forget those three intermediate bad storylines and get us back on track to what is important. Though I found Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) to be one of my least favourite characters (and actors) as it just seems to simple to say Skywalker was good out of Vader’s bad, but yet Ren is bad out of Solo & Leia’s good.

Last note: I’m not the biggest 3D fan, but this film is so enhanced by it, it’s worth it. The final scene of the movie is by far what makes it all worth-while to see this film – as it gives us something to look forward to in Episode VIII and it tells us it will be so much better.

Grade: B-
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Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “PEANUTS” (2015) 20th Century Fox

11/06/2015 Peggy Marie 7 Comments

I couldn’t be happier to be with the old Peanuts gang that I have loved my entire life and with a fantastic little opening of Schroeder on the piano, thankfully, it appears that the people behind “The Peanuts Movie” take the legacy of these characters very seriously. The result is a gentle, charming movie that seems far less frantic than much of what is created for young audiences these days.

Director Steve Martino, working from a script by Bryan Schulz, Craig Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano, the film hits the mark on many of the familiar jokes and scenes and set-ups we remember so well from the nasally ‘wrrahh wrrahh wrraahh of the teachers voices to a long list of references to the equally as long history of the characters.

Snoopy spends most of the movie working on a book on his newly-discovered typewriter, the story of a flying ace and his battle against the infamous Red Baron. Sally’s got her crush on her sweet baboo, Linus, who nurses his faith in the The Great Pumpkin. Lucy is still dishing out 5 cent advice at her sidewalk psychiatric stand while making passes as Schroeder every chance she gets. Peppermint Patty and her assistant Marcie both play their familiar roles as well, with Charlie Brown at the center of everything, constantly put upon, constantly taking one on the chin and yes, in love with the Little Red-Haired Girl/Freida who happens to move in across the street here. I mean if this is going to be true to the original strip that Schulz created, then Charlie Brown has got to be suffering, a kid who can’t catch a break with any numerous of things from not being able to pitch a baseball, to the Kite Eating Tree that swallows up any number of his kites he tries to fly.

As always with Peanuts, there is a message behind it all..for this movie it’s how Frieda/The Little Red-Haired Girl shares to everyone when Charlie Brown asks why she picked him, that it wasn’t his failures that got her attention, it was that he was Kind, Compassionate, Honest & Brave and never gave up. And while there is this message, it didn’t come in a forced – shove it down your throat manner, and it has a purpose in the story. There is also a sweet little side story where Snoopy embarks on his own adventure in a fantasy world. As a World War I flying ace, the lovable beagle pursues his nemesis, the Red Baron, while also trying to win the heart of a beautiful pilot named Fifi.

This film just made me smile and I’m guessing it will do so for most adults who relived their childhood somewhat like I did while watching. The humour and jokes were really sweet, funny and cute. They too, don’t come at a forced pace but if you are a fan or know anything about Peanuts you will love them and laugh with them as I did. Make no mistake about it, this is just plain fun for adults & kids alike.

Grade: B
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Screening: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Nationwide release: Friday, November 6, 2015

My own little personal collection of childhood Peanuts books that I found just recently.

Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “SPOTLIGHT” (2015) Q & A w/Producers (Open Road Pictures)

11/04/2015 Peggy Marie 6 Comments

“Spotlight” boldly brings back into the spotlight (pun intended) and tells the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking up not only us the public, but the entire Catholic Church to its core.
Michael Keaton plays Walter Robinson who leads the Globe’s investigative unit “Spotlight” along with Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James). At a time when the internet started undercutting actual newspapers & staffs of some of the biggest papers in town were being cut in half, the Globe brought in new editor, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber), and the team begins to unfold a horrific pattern of child sexual abuse by the church that was muted and covered up by high priced lawyers and payoffs to victim’s families. As Walter probes further and further into the events (the setting is just prior to, but mostly after the events of 9/11) the investigation reveals layers and layers of injustice of Catholic Priests that were aided by the highest powers of the church in an effort to keep the story muted.

It all starts with a featured column about Catholic priest John Geoghan who was accused of abusing over 100 boys. A civil suit is filed but the details of the abuse were ordered sealed by the courts. As newly installed editor and the first Jewish one at that, Baron puts the team of reporters on the case and within days the evil that lurked with the sacred rooms of local churches begins to reveal it’s despicable face.

The investigation goes on for months as the team hits roadblock upon roadblock taking one step forward for every two steps back. But the story eventually breaks and the emotionally exhausted team is eventually able to bring to light one of the more depressing and important stories to hit us in the new century.

The performances are mostly good. Schreiber as Baron, the first Jewish editor is quiet, yet speaks volumes. Ruffalo with some oddly thrown in facial & body tics/expressions that are reminiscent of a bad Jimmy Olsen type reporter is almost annoying to a point, McAdams is her usual bland generic self. Keaton & Tucci both are good, though for Keaton, it’s not Birdman type good. There are more roles to be recognized in Billy Cruddup, Jamey Sheridan & notable is John Slattery. It’s truly an ensemble film as there are no specific leads.
And of course nods to All the President’s Men will be inevitable. The film itself is fresh and invigorating in its painfully frustrating subject matter. It is at times painful to watch. Trusted bonds between people, children, parents and the institution that promotes the opposite to what it sometimes preaches are disgusting revelations that are brought to the screen with sizzling effect. You won’t forget this movie or what happened any time soon after you see it, and truthfully, we never should.

Grade: B-
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Screening: Monday, November 2, 2015 ~ Courtesy of the Producers Guild of America
Nationwide release: Friday, November 6, 2015

POST Q & A w/Producers: Michael Sugar, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin ~ It’s always nice when the Producers, Director and Cast take the time out to do a post-screening Q & A. They talk about their passion for the projects and usually give great insight to their films. That’s why it surprised me so much that there was a huge exodus of people after this film. Usually you always get a few, but I would say 1/2 the audience emptied out. Not sure why, maybe they were disturbed by it, maybe they were Catholics upset by the fact that it happened, and maybe some still just don’t want to believe it. I found it sad because as a film-goer, you should have the decency to show respect to the people that again, took the time to come talk to you about a project. Moving on… All producers listed took the time to speak about the films budget, which at 20 million, but they still got good stars to come aboard even though there was no specific lead role, as it was a complete ensemble type film. Mark Ruffalo was the first to come aboard and they appreciated that because it brought others to the table. They also had to clear schedules because they wanted to shoot in the specific time of year of late fall, early winter as that’s when it all actually happened. The Boston Globe also let them shoot in their actual offices where everything took place.
They also had to work closely to get all the legal aspects & clearances done correctly as you would be assuming correctly if you thought the Catholic Church was less than thrilled to be having this all brought up again in a film. The only reaction from the church has been the few apologies you’ve already seen.
Since the piece first ran in Jan 2002, over 600 more articles were published by the Boston Globe unearthing more and more atrocities. The most moving moment was when a survivor was in the audience and thanked the producers for making this film and making sure we never forget and hopefully work harder to prevent this from happening again, as it still is going on all over the world..and not just in the catholic religion to be sure.

Drama, Movie Reviews, Movies, Oscar Awards, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “99 HOMES” ~ POST Q & A ~ Michael Shannon

11/01/2015 Peggy Marie Leave a comment

For a movie with the very real backdrop of the US housing market crash, with such believable characters, 99 Homes gives us the story about one man’s struggle with the housing market catastrophe and is the subject of what Ramin Bahrani’s new film is all about. It is at once sad, heart-wrenching and at the same time, somewhat terrifying to watch.

As the movie opens, we see a real estate guy explaining to an Orlando cop how the owner of the house he came to foreclose on, ran inside and shot himself in the head. We then get to know Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield), a construction worker who gets laid off and before we know it, his family home gets foreclosed on, and Nash, along with his young son, Connor (Noah Lomax) and mom, Lynn (Laura Dern) end up moving into a motel. Desperate for money, Dennis turns to the real estate guy who foreclosed on him, Rick Carver (Michael Shannon), and actually starts working for him.
Let me be clear that I am appalled at what happened, that the banks made serious mistakes, and there hasn’t been nearly enough accountability for what caused the second biggest Recession in history. And while this film isn’t fool proof by any means, it does give you the feeling of being at least a somewhat accurate image of how different the concept of “money” is for everyone. Some people are set for life where others are living paycheck to paycheck. This film seems to know and show both sides of that so well.

99 Homes is a film that’s main topic is eviction and really this should have been dull ride. How this film is able make this topic interesting and thought-provoking is quite impressive. It’s also a complete character study that truly makes you think who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Michael Shannon’s performance is spellbinding and for me Oscar nomination worthy. Garfield is good, but again, it’s Shannon who really controls the screen when he’s on it he holds you in the palm of his hand for the entire time he is on the screen as he plays the villain well making you give thought if he really is just that or just a product of the environment that was created as he shows you both sides of the coin.

It is also societal story and commentary, and a story of determination all rolled into one. There are literally are 99 reasons to go see this movie.

Grade: B-
@pegsatthemovies

Screening: Monday, October 19, 2015 ~ Courtesy of Deadline Awardsline screening series

POST Q & A with actor Michael Shannon:

I just adore this man and have for so long now. I call him my go-to guy as I wish he could be in almost every movie. He’s a gem and simply a fantastic actor & I love his touch of sarcasm, witty, ‘no bullshit’ attitude that he even brought to this Q & A. He really went in depth about how he felt his character here was truly a guy you could hate, but yet explained it so well in that he never wanted to take people’s homes as he was a real estate agent and wanted to put people in homes, yet when everything crashed he could either do what he did, or be a victim also. He chose the road he did and Shannon hopes that he was able to give you the portrayal that showed this in his character and he might have actually been relieved at the end. Shannon, through his dry humour & wit, can make you laugh and then next minute be serious. He noted he truly doesn’t like discussing ‘acting’ per se’ and for those of you who loved him in “Boardwalk Empire” he noted while he loved doing it, he would probably never do TV again. My note to all: If you have the chance to see ‘Iceman’ – DO! Shannon’s performance is as good as it gets.

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