80s Movie Review - Sophie's Choice

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 142 minutes
Year: 1982
Starring: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNichol
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 21: A MOVIE RECOMMENDED YOUR MY MOTHER
 
Description: Sophie (Meryl Streep)is the survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who has found a reason to live with Nathan (Kevin Kline), a sparkling if unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust.

Review: Stingo is a young writer from the southern United States who movie to Brooklyn to begin writing his first novel. He rents a room in a big mansion, where he soon becomes friends with his upstairs neighbors Nathan and Sophie. Nathan is a biologist whose team is about to make a major discovery. Sophie is a Polish immigrant who survived the Nazi concentration camps. Nathan is a rather volatile person, who frequently argues and leaves home and sometimes stays away for nights. Sophie then seeks comfort from Stingo, who himself craves affection passionately and is only too happy to accommodate her. During such moments she tells him stories about her life and how she ended up in a concentration camp. Slowly, Stingo gains insight into Sophie’s life, which literally and figuratively contains a lot of scars.

“Sophie’s Choice” can rightfully be called an actor’s film. Visually, the films is also impressive, however, the most of the attention goes to the three lead actors Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Peter MacNichol. The film contains long dialogue scenes, sometimes minutes of two people sitting on a bench, but because of the wonderful acting it’s never boring. That is the strength of the film. Especially Meryl Streep, who won her second Academy Award for this role, is convincing as the Polish immigrant. She had to learn a Polish accent and had to speak both Polish and German for the role. And does this flawlessly. For Kevin Kline, “Sophie’s Choice” was his film debut. This is what gave him his Oscar-winning role in “A Fish Called Wanda”.

The story is compelling. We see it through the eyes of Stingo and this way we see the developments in the lives of Sophie and Nathan. The theme of the film is rather heavy, but it has a lot of light-hearted moments as well. But it’s mostly the acting that lifts the film to a higher level.

Rating: 4/ 5

Netflix Friday - Volume 108

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: 47 Ronin (2013)
A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.
 

Drama: A Beautiful Mind (2001)
After John Nash (Russell Crowe), a brilliant but asocial mathematician, accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.
 

Comedy: The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.
 

Animation: Whisper of the Heart (1995)
A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.
 

Romance: The Wedding Planner (2001)
Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) is San Francisco’s most successful supplier of romance and glamor. She knows all the tricks. She knows all the rules. But then she breaks the most important rule of all: she fall in love with the groom (Matthew McConaughey).
 

Horror: Christine (1983)
A nerdih boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
 

Science Fiction: Lucy (2014)
A woman (Scarlett Johansson), accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
 

Crime : Gold (2016)
Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey), a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on a journey to find gold in the uncharted ungle of Indonesia.
 

Thriller: The Bad Batch (2016)
In a desert dystopia, a young woman (Suki Waterhouse) is kidnapped by cannibals.
 

Documentary: The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe (2022)
Explores the mystery surrounding the death of movie icon Marilyn Monroe through previously unheard interview with her inner circle.
 

Family: Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.

Movie Review - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Director: Sam Raimi
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bruce Campbell, Patrick Stewart, Hayley Atwell, John Krasinski
 
Description: Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) teams up with a mysterious teenage girl (Xochitl Gomez) from his dreams who can travel across multiverses, to battle multiple threats, including other-universe versions of himself, which threaten to wipe out millions across the multiverse. They seek help from Wanda the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.

Review: With “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, a new era for the MCU has begin. The multiverse is open and that brings with it a whole host of expectations for the film. But does it live up to those expectations?

After the evens of “Spider-Man No Way Home”, it’s time to dive further into the multiverse with Doctor Strange. As the title reveals, the film is a little crazy, but that’s not a negative. For example, one of the bigger surprises is that this film is a lot darker and more focused on horror than previous Marvel films.

The shift in tone is largely due to director Sam Raimi, who we of course already know from the original Spider-Man trilogy with Tobey Maguire, a collection of solid horror films and true classics like the “Evil Dead” series (some might even recognize “Evil Dead”’s Bruce Campbell in a funny cameo). At first glance, the coice of Raimi seems very good, as a horror aspect lends itself very well to the characters of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, but there are a few problems.

Let’s start with what is rock solid in the film: the acting. In particular Elizabeth Olsen, who once again pays the role of Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch. She deserves a lot of credit for her performance and she even overshadows who is supposed to be the star in the film, Benedict Cumberbatch.

 Cumberbatch is strong as well, but where he is supposed to be the star, Olsen clearly takes the spotlight.
The fact that every actor and actress gives a fantastic performance is also due to the excellent writing of the film. It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into this film. And even though it’s over 2 hours long, you hardly notice it.  

With a grim tone and the new horror aspect, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” not only manages to surprise, but also manages to set a new standard for Marvel films. While the film is very good and takes two steps forward for Marvel, it unfortunately also takes a step backwards.
The horror genre has been plagued by terribly chewed out clichés and cheap jump scares for decades. Dramatic sound effects are added to those jump scares and various characters make stupid decisions. There is nothing worse for a film than overused clichés, and this is the biggest weakness for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”.

With a rock-solid story, exceptional acting and surprising new elements, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” manages to live up to most expectations. In fact, the film manages to exceed many of them. Besides all the spectacle, there are also more than enough easter eggs to be found and for Marvel fans it will again be an absolute delight to see Doctor Strange in action.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

Director: Michael Bay
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 144 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber, David Denman, Dominic Fumusa, Max Martini, Alexia Barlier

Description: During an attack on a U.S. compound in Libya, a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.

Review: Jack Silva arrives in Libya to join the security team of a secret CIA base in the city of Benghazi. His friend an colleague Tyrone also works there. This city is also home to the American consulate. The city is in turmoil and there is a threat from local insurgents because of an American anti-Islamic film. When U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens comes to the consulate, his security team turns out to consist of only a few people. However, the CIA boss refuses to send Jack and Tyrone’s team to the consulate, fearing that his base will then no longer be secret. The insurgent’s, however, manage to penetrate the consulate’s premises and the it’s all hands on deck for the security guards. But the CIA boss still refuses to send the team to the consulate. The chances of them saving the ambassador are dwindling by the minute.

Anyone who says September 11 quickly thinks of the 2001 attacks in America. Bu on September 11, 2012, the American consulate in Libya was also the target of an attack. It made the news, but never widely reported in the newspaper. And in the end, it turned out that there was much more at play than what was initially made public.

In terms of atmosphere and style, “13 Hours” is a bit reminiscent of “Black Hawk Down”. But where what is a film with some nuanced content, Michael Bay’s film is all about the hard action. Bay is not really known for his nuance anyway, and you don’t have to expect that in “13 Hours”. The characters are all very one-dimensional and highly unlikeable, with Jack Silva being the exception. He’s also the one big name in the film: John Krasinski. It is one of Bay’s better films though, even though it’s not a movie that I would remember for long. The movie was way too long and is very heave on the patriotism.  But the film is solid enough for me to give it a positive rating.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Austenland

Director: Jerusha Hess
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Bret McKenzie, Jennifer Coolidge, James Callis, Jane Seymour, Georgie King, Ruper Vansittart

Description: Obsessed with “Pride and Prejudice”, Jane (Keri Russell) travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman. 

 
Review: Jane Hayes is obsessed with Jane Austen’s books and lives her her head mostly in the Regency era. This seriously interferes with her love life. She therefore decides to use all her savings for a trip to Austenland, an English resort where lovers of Jane Austen are completely immersed in Regency-era life. Here she hopes to finally feel like the heroine of her own story and be able to take her life into her own hands. When she arrives, she meets the eccentric Elizabeth Charming and the perfect Lady Amelia Heartwright. Jane is also charmed by servant Martin and impressed by Henry Nobley. Austenand proves to be a tricky place to fall in love, however, because where does fantasy end and reality begin?
“Austenland” is a romantic comedy with over-the-top acting, sugar sweet romance and a wonderful, extravagant setting. The story only has little depth and you barely get to know the characters. It has some funny situations and it’s quite surprising who Jane eventually ends up with. But overall, “Austenland” is yet another romcom that didn’t manage to charm me enough.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Oldies Movie Review - Duel

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Actie/ Thriller
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 1971
Starring: Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, Gene Dynarski

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 20: A MOVIE FROM A DIRECTOR YOU LOVE
 
Description: A business commuter (Dennis Weaver) is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.

Review: “Duel” can actually be called director Steven Spielberg’s first major feature film. He was only 26 when he made this film and he made an intense, exciting and high-quality film.

The strength of the film lies in the simplicity of the story. David Mann leaves home and hits the road for an appointment and soon finds himself in trouble with a large, rusty truck that constantly chases him, cuts him off and tries to push him off the road.

The film has a simple premise, but it worked out so effectively. Actually, just like his more well-known and more successful film “Jaws”. The tension is systematically built and constantly you are on the edge of your seat.

“Duel” begins with a beautiful shot taken from the bumper of David’s car. The camera follows him through all the streets as he drives out of town and the radio can be heard in the background. Once outside the city, we see David sitting relaxed in his car. Even though you would have no idea what the film is about, you sense that something is about to happen. Then David encounters the truck and that is the beginning of an unnerving cat-and-mouse game, that gets more and more exciting throughout the film.

The music adds a real sense of suspense at just the right moment and the camera work is fantastic. Already then you could see that Steven Spielberg was a gifted filmmaker and it makes me wish he made more of those ‘Hitchockian’ thrillers. A movie most people haven’t seen by Spielberg, but everyone really should.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Netflix Friday - Volume 107

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.

Action: The Lost City of Z (2016)
British explorer Percival Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) disappeared whilst searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s.
 

Drama: Schindler’s List (1993)
In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
 

Comedy: Senior Year (2022)
A cheerleading stunt gone wrong landed Stephanie (Rebel Wilson) in a 20-year coma. Now she’s 37, newly awake and ready to live out her high school dream: becoming prom queen.
 

Animation: Apollo 10 ½
A coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in the summer of 1969, centered around the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
 

Romance: How Do You Know (2010)
After being cut from thd U.S.A. softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy (Paul Rudd) in crisis competes with her current, baseball playing beau (Owen Wilson).
 

Horror: Dark Shadows (2012)
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
 

Science Fiction: Mute (2018)
A mute bartender (Alexander Skarsgård) goes up against his city’s gangsters (Justin Theroux, Paul Rudd) to find out what happened to his missing partner
 

Crime : Papillon (2017)
Wrongfully convicted for murder, Henri Charriere (Charlie Hunnam) forms an unlikely relationship with fellow inmate and quirky convicted counterfeiter, Louis Dega (Rami Malek), in an attempt to escape from the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island.
 

Thriller: Taken (2008)
A retired CIA agent (Liam Neeson) travel across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter (Maggie Grace), who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.
 

Documentary: Our Father (2022)
After a woman’s at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, she discovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.
 

Family: The Karate Kid (2010)
Work causes a single mother (Taraji P. Henson) to move to China with her young son (Jaden Smith); in his new home the boy embraces kung fu, taught to him by a master (Jackie Chan).

Book Review - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Title: The Paris Apartment
Series: -
Author: Lucy Foley
 
Description: Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows us, to find a very nice apartment, Ben is not there. The longer ben stays missing, the more jess starts to dig into her brother’s situations, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
 
Review: In “The Paris Apartment” strange things happen, when Jess travels to Paris to visit her brother Ben. When she arrives at his beautiful apartment, Ben is nowhere to be found. And the neighbors, who aren’t very friendly, don’t seem very eager to help Jess.
 
Jess flees to Paris to escape her life in England and when she finds out that Ben is missing, it stays unclear what really happened to him until the very end. This keeps you on the edge of your seat. Like in “The Guest List”, each chapter is told from a different perspective. Jess of course, and several of Ben’s neighbors. Who all are very suspicious.
 
It’s the newest murder mystery by Lucy Foley, who previously wrote “The Guest List”. I loved that book and it was a real page turner. For “The Paris Apartment” I listened to the audiobook, which turned out to be a good choice, since there is an entire cast. Every character in the story has their own voice actor. This adds to the experience, because I don’t think if I had read the physical book, it would have been a page turner like “The Guest List”. The book wasn’t as exciting and the ending and final conclusion weren’t very surprising. I did have some hunches earlier on in the book, which turned out to be correct in the end. So a bit predictable.   
 
That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book, because I did enjoy reading it. I like Foley’s writing style and how the narration changes perspectives. That’s always a thing I love in stories like this. I do prefer “The Guest List” over “The Paris Apartment”, but I do want to keep reading more of Foley’s books.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Our Father

Director: Lucie Jourdan

Genre: Documentary

Runtime: 97 minutes

Year: 2022

Starring: Donald Cline, Jacoba Ballard, Debbie Pierce, Jan Shore, Robert Colver, Dianna Kiesler, Liz White, Angela Ganote, Julie Harmon, Matt White, Shereen Farber, Mark FarberHeather Woock, Liz Shepher-Stidman

Description: After a woman’s at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, she discovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.  

Review: “Our Father” is a horror story taken from real-life. At the center of the film is Donald Cline, a doctor who from 1979 runs a fertility clinic in the American city of Indianapolis.

Cline helped women to get pregnant, because their husbands are infertile and they have the wish to be come parents. But what those women didn’t know is that he used his own sperm and therefore impregnated many women in his clinic.

When one of the donor children, that was born because of Dr. Cline’s help, wants to know if she has any siblings, she takes an at-home DNA-test. She finds seven siblings online. With that already being a bit strange, since a sperm donor is only to be used for the max of three times. And it does not stop at seven. We here from donor children and their mothers, but also people who worked for or with Dr. Cline and sociologists.  

The whole clue of the documentary is pretty clear from the start, but along the way more and more is revealed about his practices. It’s a very disturbing story and I was really invested in it. “Our Father” could have zoomed in on the shady practices a bit more, on how it’s not been outlawed in all of the US yet. Because Dr. Cline was never prosecuted for his actions. There was a lawsuit, but he didn’t get the needed punishment.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Director: Morgan Neville

Genre: Documentary

Runtime: 95 minutes

Year: 2018

Starring: Fred Rogers, Joanne Rogers, John Rogers, Jim Rogers, Bill Isler, Hedda Sharapan, Junlei Li, Max King, François Scarborough Clemmons, Tom Junnod, Elizabeth Seamans

Description: An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children’s television host Fred Rogers.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 19: A DOCUMENTARY

Review: In America Fred Rogers was an icon. He had an impact on so many lives, due to his positive look on life and the way he thought things to children that they didn’t learn about in school. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is a documentary about this extraordinary man.

It’s not a film for cynics. This biographical documentary about American children’s television pioneer and ultimate goody-goody Fred Rogers. Or perhaps just for cynics, because Rogers’ tireless mission to foster love, understanding and honesty was not only very sweet but also deniably powerful. The fact that he must have been completely unique and authentic makes this appropriately calm mix of interviews and archive footage entirely credible.

Fred Rogers was such an inspiration to many and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is a beautiful and lovely documentary, also for those who don’t know Rogers that well.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Colombiana

Director: Olivier Megaton

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2011

Starring: Zoe Saldana, Cliff Curtis, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue, Jodri Mollà, Lennie James

Description: A young girl in Bogotá witnesses her parent’s murder and grows up to be a stone-cold assassin (Zoe Saldana).

Review: South America. With helicopter shots, we are led into the world of “Colombiana”. The camera skims over the ramshackle hovels of the slums and soon leads us to nine-year-old Cataleya. Her father has gotten himself into some shady business and has to leave the scene along with his wife. Cataleya sees her parents being murdered. As she grows up, she becomes a stone-cold assassin, looking for vengeance.

“Colombiana” is the not the most original film and it is filled with clichés. Thanks to Zoe Saldana, as Cataleya, it’s still an enjoyable movie and fun to watch. It has some cool action, fight and chase scenes. But don’t expect anything special or groundbreaking.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Netflix Friday - Volume 106

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Mandy (2018)
The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.
 

Drama: Ben is Back (2018)
A drug addicted teenage boy (Lucas Hedges) shows up unexpectedly at his family’s home on Christmas Eve.
 

Comedy: This is the End (2013)
Six Los Angeles celebrities are stuck in James Franco’s house after a series of devastating events just destroyed the city. Inside, the group not only have to face the apocalypse, but themselves.
 

Animation: Arriety (2010)
The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family’s residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter, Arriety, is discovered.
 

Romance: Austenland (2013)
Obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, a woman (Keri Russell) travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.
 

Horror: Halloween (2018)
Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) confronts her long-life foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
 

Science Fiction: The 5^th Wave (2016)
Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth in ruin. Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother.
 

Crime: I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
When a depressed woman (Melanie Lynskey) is burgled, she finds a new sense of purpose by tracking down the thieves alongside her obnoxious neighbor (Elijah Wood). But they soon find themselves dangerously out of the depth against a pack of degenerate criminals.
 

Thriller: I See You (2019)
Strange occurrences plague a small town detective (Jon Tenney) and his family as he investigates the disappearance of a young boy.
 

Documentary: Jackass Forever (2022)
After 11 years, the Jackass crew is back for another crusade.
 

Family: Mr. Bean’s Holliday (2007)
Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson_ wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love.

20s Movie Review - Jungle Cruise

Director: Jaume Collett-Serra

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Comedy

Runtime: 127 minutes

Year: 2021

Starring: Emily Blulnt, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti, Edgar Ramirez

Description: Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals, but with a supernatural element.

Review: The Amazon is no place for wimps. In “Jungle Cruise”, Dwayne Johnson plays Frank, a captain on an old steamship who rganizes dauly excursions through the jungle for tourists. In the process, Frank likes to scare people and also tries to make them laugh with his lame puns. The introduction of his characters is quite successful in itself.

“Jungle Cruise” is based on a Disney ride, just like “Pirates of the Caribbean” is. It forms the start of an enjoyable family adventure.

Frank meets Lily, a scientist played by Emily Blunt, who is looking for a magical tree that everyone says is just a myth. But she believes it. Of course the two bicker a lot at first, but eventually have to work together.

And that’s the driving force behind “Jungle Cruise”: leads Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Lily is a smart, decisive archeologist who has a say. And that of course results in quite a few clashes with Frank, who has a different world view. The chemistry between Johnson and Blunt is amazing, I love them together.

The supporting roles are also filled in well. Jack Whitehall plays Lily’s brother MacGregor, a well-dressed gentleman who seems quite out of place in the jungle. And Jesse Plemons is in great form as Prince Joachim, a German villain. His character could have gone way over the top, which it is sometimes, but he manages to not overdo it.

As an adventure movie, “Jungle Cruise” is the perfect film for a movie night. It has a good pace, has likeable characters, great visuals and fun action scenes combined with humor. I loved “Jungle Cruise”, such a fun and entertaining movie.

Rating: 4/ 5