Movie Review - Woman of the Hour

Director: Anna kendrick
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Pete Holmes, Autumn Best, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley Jake

Description: Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), a single woman looking for a suitor on a hit 1970s TV show, chooses charming bachelor Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), unaware that, behind the man's gentle facade, he hides a deadly secret.

Review: “Woman of the Hour” is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut. The film is based on a bizarre true story. Kendrick herself plays Cheryl Bradshaw, who moved to Hollywood to become an actress. After many failed auditions, she is giving up hope. The she takes a job on the 70s TV hit “The Dating Game” as a bachelor looking for a date. Among the 3 competing bachelors is Rodney Alcala. A charming young man with a deadly secret.

Anna Kendrick called “Woman of the Hour” the moment of her career she is most proud of. And she should be, because it’s a great directorial debut. In a film about a serial killer, as a first-time director, she cleverly weaves together different timelines. She chooses not to show the violence too explicitly; details and the aftermath of one of Alcala’s attacks tells you enough as a viewer. As do the photos he takes of his victims before they know what awaits them.

The film intentionally puts more focus on the victims. And Kendrick also wanted to prioritize how dangerous it can be when they and those around them are not believed. “Woman of the Hour” exposes the painful reality of women through a terrible story. It’s an exciting film, with a lot of tension and constant threat. Especially a scene in a parking lot makes your heart pound in your throat.  

 It’s definitely worth seeing and well done Anna Kendrick. In my opinion an impressive and excellent directorial debut.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - 50/ 50

Director: Jonathan Levine
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, Philip Baker Hall

Description: 27-year-old Adam (Joseph-Gordon Levitt) learns of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Review: Jonathan Levine directs the film, based on the script by Will Reiser. The story is about a young man who finds out he has cancer. Even though it’s about this heavy theme, the movie is very light and positive. There are clichés, but the good kind. The awkward relationship between Adam and his therapist Katherine, the infectious humor from his best friend Kyle and Adam’s overprotective mother. “50/ 50” show that clichés aren’t always a bad thing.
The way the story is told, very light, is extremely pleasant and there is a great soundtrack. And the cast convinces. Joseph Gordon-Levitt shows us that he is able to carry a movie and it’s an award worthy performance. Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are also very solid and fit their characters well.
Although “50/ 50” is about a terrible decease, it’s wonderful how they managed to make it into such a positive and likeable movie. It’s one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

TV Show Review - Down to Earth with Zac Efron

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Documentary
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Zac Efron, Darin Olien

Description: In this travel show, actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in search of healthy, sustainable ways to live.

Review: In the documentary series “Down to Earth with Zac Efron”, actor Zac Efron travels around the world to learn more about sustainability.
A few years ago Zac Efron met health guru Darin Olien. This elderly surfer dude told Zac all about sustainability and health food. Netflix saw a travel show in that. In “Down to Earth with Zac Efron” it becomes especially clear how little both men know about the world around them.
The journey starts in Iceland, with a tourist route along some attractions. Together with his friend Darin, Zac learns how energy is generated in a sustainable way and the men eat in an exclusive restaurant. In France they do exactly the same. They hang out with tourists and get information about the sustainable water supply in Paris.
In both episodes Zac doesn’t seem to understand much of it. He looks a bit surprised and reacts to all the information with ‘oh wow, my mind is blown’. Darin also adds no more than a few clichés about how important sustainability is and that we have to take good care of planet earth. When the men aren’t tourists, they go to visit Darin’s friends. In Costa Rica they ignore the locals and go directly to an ecological village in the jungle. There a friend of Darin has founded his own community that lives from nature. No matter how cool this idea is, it is totally inapplicable outside this specific location.
“Down to Earth with Zac Efron’ has sincerely good intentions. Zac and Darin care about nature and want to promote a sustainable way of life. They only combine that with some cool trips paid for by Netflix and sponsors. That’s why this travel program stays very much on the surface and you don’t really learn much from it. They also rarely give tips that can really help you and most of it, I believe, was already common knowledge. Zac Efron provides a smart and funny voice-over and he’s a joy to watch. But overall it’s very clear he’s out of his comfort zone and he doesn’t really captivate. And Darin doesn’t add much either. And during the episode in France, where they are shortly accompanied by actress Anna Kendrick, both men are overshadowed by this witty woman.
I also found that the series was oddly edited. Some images from behind-the-scenes have been left in. like an argument with an insulted doctor and a ‘depressed’ Zac Efron complaining about Hollywood. They didn’t seem to fit in with the rest and they might as well leave them out altogether.
If someone like Zac Efron wasn’t attached to a travel program like this, no one would be interested. He is a nice guy with good intentions and you get to know him a bit better through this show. But overall “Down to Earth with Zac Efron” isn’t a memorable series and especially didn’t reach the goals it was aiming for.

10s Movie Review - The Last Five Years

Director: Richard LaGravenese
Genre: Musical/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Jeremy Jordan

Description: Struggling actress Cathy (Anna Kendrick) and her novelist lover Jamie (Jeremy Jordan) each illustrate the struggle and deconstruction of their love affair.

Review: He is a young novelist, she dreams of an acting career. When they first meet, Jamie and Cathy immediately hit it off. But soon cracks appear in their dream marriage. For when the great success comes for Jamie, while Cathy has to make peace with supporting roles, things like temptation, jealousy and mutual misunderstanding start haunting their relationship.
“The Last Five Years” is a musical, where almost every spoken word is sung by the leading characters. As musicals being my guilty pleasure, I was kind of excited about this film. But in the end I was somewhat disappointed.
I didn’t feel for the characters, or at least not for Jamie. I disliked him from the start and didn’t understand why Cathy stayed with him for so long. Because she was clearly the better half of the couple and did more for him than he did for her. And with that, Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan didn’t really have chemistry.
Anna Kendrick is a very good singer and she is definitely the strongest element in this film. As well as het performance, I can’t say anything negative about it. And even while singing, she has a wide spectrum of emotions that she can show. And then there is Jeremy Jordan. A good singer, but not a very good actor. And he is constantly overshadowed by Kendrick.
Although the songs are beautiful and they tell the tale well, they never seem to stick with you. Maybe the opening song, “Still Hurting”, is the best one of the bunch. It immediately sets the tone for the film and warns you that you don’t have to expect a happy ending.
I don’t think it’s a bad movie or musical, but it’s simple the fact that Anna Kendrick is really great and her opponent just isn’t. And the two just don’t have any chemistry, which is extremely important for a movie like this.

Rating: 3 / 5

Movie Reviews - Noelle

Director: Marc Lawrence
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Hagerty, Billy Eichner, Michael Gross

Description: Santa’s daughter Noelle (Anna Kendrick) finds herself to take over the family business when her father dies and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the role of Santa, gets cold feet.

Review: The title figure is the daughter of Santa Claus, who died recently. Her brother Nick inherits the title of Santa Claus, as has been done in the Kringle family for generations. But, Nick isn't waiting for that at all.
The story of “Noelle” is wafer-thin. The given itself is quite original: that Santa's title has been in the same family for centuries and that the eldest son always inherits it. It's a little bit like royalty. Also nice is that the next one in the line of 'succession to the throne' isn't really waiting for that at all. But: it's a Christmas movie and it's a Disney movie so you can count on it that everything will be all right. The movie only lasts an hour and a half because there are no subplots or other interesting storylines. It's all about saving Christmas and Santa's title. And that's fine, because that's all you have to expect.
With a different cast, "Noelle" would have been a significantly lesser film. The casting is really very good. Anna Kendrick does what she's good at in the title role: playing a semi-unhanded but sweet person and of course her charisma is fantastic. She can even wear a predictable sweet movie well. Bill Hader is always good, whether he does soft SNL sketches or plays a more serious role like he did recently in "It: Chapter 2". He was really phenomenal in that. As Nick Kringle, he could have gotten a bit more screen time. And Shirley MacLaine is a living legend. Even though her role is really awful, not a bad word about this beautiful lady.
"Noelle" is a really sweet movie. Sugar sweet if I may say so. The only thing missing is the cast that spontaneously bursts into carols, but there is actually no singing in this movie. Furthermore, you can assume that everyone gets a 'they lived happily ever after', even the somewhat cranky cousin and the irritating owner of the mall. Can you feel where the story is going? Yeah, sure. Already in almost the first scene. Is that bad? Not like that. It's what you'd expect from a Disney Christmas movie. It doesn't make the message any less. But if you don't like predictable, sweet, sweet movies, you better skip "Noelle".
This is obviously really a family movie. There is no swearing in it ('oh my garland' is the strongest scream the Kringles use), there is no romance in it (no kiss on the cheek yet) and there are cute critters in it. Which is also a point of criticism because: the CGI in "Noelle" is just not good. The little white reindeer Snowcone looks like he belongs in another movie. The budget has clearly gone to the cast and not to the special effects. But for the kids the Snowcone cuddles will be hard to find.
All in all, “Noelle” is a great Christmas movie. You know what you're getting into and you won't get anything extra. This is sweet, predictable and sweet, but still it is a nice movie to watch in between.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Hollars

Director: John Krasinski
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: John Krasinski, Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Sharlto Copley, Richard Jenkins, Randall Park, Josh Groban, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Description: John (John Krasinski) returns to his small hometown after learning that his mother has fallen ill and is about to undergo surgery.

Review: In “The Hollars” we meet John Hollar, who returns to his family home after his mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His pregnant girlfriend stays ack in New York. When he comes home, he walks into his ex-girlfriend and has to face the trouble he has with his brother and father.
The film shows the life of an everyday family, each member with their own problems. Because the family isn’t extremely rich and maybe even closer to being poor, people can easily identify with them. The problems the Hollar family is dealing with, are ones that we can have and it makes the film realistic.
Although the film touches a very heavy theme, the humor is still there. Very dry humor, just how I like it. In the 80 minute runtime, we see a lot of different emotions. It’s not a lame comedy, it is in balance with the drama. But never gets to sobby (even though I cried).
The acting is great. John Krasinksi, who also directs this film, takes on the lead and does a wonderful job. I’ve always loved Krasinski and roles like this are perfect for him. The same goes for Anna Kendrick. Richard Jenkins and Sharlto Copley are fantastic as well, ad John father and brother. But it’s Margo Martindale that steals the show. She is so amazing. And with all this star power, I don’t understand why this film was so overlooked.
The story doesn’t follow the standard paths and it has some surprising moments. The storyline of John’s ex-girlfriend is added, but it could have been left out. At least the moments between John and her. The ones between John and Gwen’s new husband are fun.
This is the genre I love the most, a good mix of drama and comedy. And it was very well executed. I really loved “The Hollars”.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - A Simple Favor

Director: Paul Feig
Genre: Crime/ Comedy/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Rupert Friend, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini

Description: Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is a single mother with a parenting vlog who befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a secretive upper-class woman who has a child at the same elementary school. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate.

Review: Director Paul Feig is known for his comedies, like “Bridesmaids” and “Spy”, but also gave us the reboot of “Ghostbusters”. He decided to exchange the comedy for thriller. But he never manages to completely lose the comedy/ slap stick element, which changes the dynamic of this crime thriller.
Stephanie is a widow, taking care of het son Miles all by herself. To earn money, she makes ‘mommy vlogs’. When Miles wants to have a playdate with his school friend Nicky, Stephanie meets Emily. Emily is an upper-class woman with a sharp edge and a mysterious vibe. The two become friends. When one day, Emily asks Stephanie to pick her son from school, Emily disappears. Together with Emily’s husband Sean, Stephanie starts her own search for het new friend.
The best things about the film are actresses Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. They shine in their roles and are perfectly cast. And they work very well together and apart.
The sloppy script and strange directorial choices make you forget about all that, sadly. The film is set up as a crime film, about a missing friend. But in between it has some comical touches here and there. Towards the end, it feels strange, especially because there was a very serious plot twist before. I don’t think Feig really knew where he wanted to got with the tone of the film, he couldn’t find a balance. He tried to much at once. And because of that it sometimes feels like a parody on the thriller genre. But without convincing comedy. I actually feels more like a very long episode of “Desperate Housewives”, only less enjoyable.
The film had a great set-up and a good start. And two fantastic actresses filling in the main roles. But sadly that wasn’t enough to save the film.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Table 19

Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 84 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Anna Kendrick, June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson, Tony Revolori, Stephen Merchant, Wyatt Russell

Description: Eloise (Anna Kendrick), having been relieved of maid of honor duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text, decides to attend the wedding anyway, only to find herself seated with five fellow unwanted guests at the dreaded Table 19.

Review: Weddings aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s the most beautiful day of someone’s life, so when you are a part of it, you must be a special person. But not when you’re placed at the titular table 19.
“Table 19” deals with the social conventions of attending weddings. You can not NOT go, but you’d rather do a million other things.
Eloise McGarry is invited to the wedding of her oldest friend. She once was supposed to be the maid of honor at that wedding, but she broke up with the brides brother and now she has been placed at table 19. Which is far away from all the festivities. She is accompanied by random guests, who all don’t really understand why they are there.
Eloise is actually the only character we really get to know and she has depth. The rest stay rather flat and we don’t get to know much about them. But the cast is good and makes sure that it’s not a bad movie. It eventually is a mediocre drama/ comedy.
It’s an okay movie, but it will not be remembered long.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 88: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Director: Jake Szymanski
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root, Jake Johnson

Description: Two hard-partying brothers (Adam Devine, Zac Efron) place an online ad to find the perfect dates for their sister's Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves out-hustled by an uncontrollable duo (Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza).

Review: Mike and Dave are two brothers that always manage to make a party more fun. But not according to their family, because to them they ruin every party. Now their little sister is about to get married and Mike and Dave’s parents want them to bring proper dates to the wedding. Nice girls. They decide to put an add online. Alice and Tatiana see this add and can’t wait to take a free trip to Hawaii and become their wedding dates. But they aren’t nice girls. They party just as hard as Mike and Dave. They manage to fool the boys and they tag along with them to the wedding in Hawaii.
The plot is simple and anything but original. And the humor is juvenile and distasteful. The leading characters, Mike, Dave, Alice and Tatiana, are all just characters. They are to ridiculous to be believable as actual people. Maybe Dave a little bit, but the other three aren’t.
Zac Efron and Adam Devine do see like they had tons of fun making this movie, and that somewhat rubs off on the audience. And I did laugh on occasion. But overall, “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” is an average silly and predictable comedy.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 58: The Accountant

Director: Gavin O’Connor
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, John Lithgow, Jean Smart

Description: As a math savant (Ben Affleck) uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.

Review: Christian Wolff is a extraordinary accountant. He is a magician with numbers, but also autistic and socially a bit clumsy. He has several criminals as his clients and for that reason he thought himself some skills as well. When Wolff is hired by a new client, to discover if money is disappearing from his company, everything goes a little different as planned.
I’m not the world biggest Ben Affleck fan, he is sometimes even a reason NOT to watch a film. But he really surprised me and I found him somewhat brilliant as Christian Wolff. I also enjoyed Anna Kendrick and J.K. Simmons.
Director Gavin O’Connor, who also directed “Warrior”, made a very good and solid thriller. The film keeps your attention from beginning till end. There is a good combination between thriller, action and even a little humor.
“The Accountant” really surprised me, I didn’t expect much at first.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 120: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Director: Edgar Wright

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure/ Romance/ Fantasy

Runtime: 112 minutes

Year: 2010

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill, Jason Schwartzman, Ellen Wong, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman, Aubrey Plaza, Brie Larson

Description: Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) must defeat his new girlfriend's (mary Elizabeth Winstead) seven evil exes in order to win her heart.

Review: When you manage to debut with “Shaun of the Dead” and then come with “Hot Fuzz” as your follow up, the pressure is big for a third film. With “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” director Edgar Wright showed again his comedic talent, but this time combined with fantasy. The first time a big budget film and he succeeds.

It’s a setting where comic books, videogames and guitar music rule. It’s all very surrealistic and the playful setting are a real treat. It’s not your standard comic book adaptation.

Scott meets Ramona, a girl he saw in his dreams. He wants to win her over, but first has to beat her seven evil exes. They can literally appear everywhere and this gives us some real great action fighting scenes. All very original and a great style.

The movie is filled with references, to videogames, music, movies and television shows. It will especially speak to teenagers and twenty somethings. You sometimes do feel that towards the end it’s a bit rushed, because so much goes on in the film.

“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” is entertaining and it looks amazing. Edgar Wright succeeds in his first American production.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Favorites: 50/ 50

Synopsis: Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend (Seth Rogen), his mother (Angelica Huston), and a young therapist (Anna Kendrick) at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.

 

 

Unique Selling Point: It always amazed me how they could tell a story with such a heavy theme so light and with humor. It isn’t a sob story, it’s a movie with a lot of heart. And the cast is outstanding.

Most Valuable Player: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who else? Movies like this hardly ever get an Academy Award nomination, but they missed one here. It was an Oscar worthy performance, very sincere and he made Adam Lerner one of the most likeable characters in movie history.

Best Moment: Adam is about to go into surgery. His parents are there and Adam realizes this could be the last time he sees them. He’s scared. It’s really a heartbreaking moment, I just wanted to hug him.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 108: Drinking Buddies

Director: Joe Swanberg

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 87 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Jason Sudeikis

Description: Luke (Jake Johnson) and Kate (Olivia Wilde) are coworkers at a brewery who spend their nights drinking and flirting heavily. One weekend away together with their significant others proves who really belongs together and who doesn't.

Review: Ever heard of the term ‘mumblecore’? No? It’s a movie with a low budget, cheap montage, improvisation by the actors and focus on the dialogue. “Drinking Buddies” is a movie that falls in the subgenre of the Indie flick.

Director Joe Swanberg is one of the founders of mumblecore. His movies are about the reflection of life. No special effects, because life itself is spectacular enough. “Drinking Buddies” is a bit different, because he had more budget. So he could have actors like Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick star in it.

“Drinking Buddies” follows Kate and Luke. They are co-workers at a beer brewery and are perfect for each other. One problem: they are both in a relationship. Luke is about to marry his girlfriend Jill, with whom he has been with for six years, and Kate is dating music producer Chris.

Wilde shines in this film and shows us she is a very good actress. She is charming, witty and sharp. Kendrick doesn’t show that though, the way she did in movies like “Pitch Perfect” and “50/ 50”. In those movies she really showed what she was made of. Ron Livingston and Jake Johnson are both very solid and likeable. All the characters are realistic, sympathetic and there is always one you can identify with.

The movie is sometimes a bit slow, just like in real life. I think if the pace was higher, more people would have loved this movie. I didn’t mind that by the way, this is my sort of movie. I like this mumblecore genre.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 71: Pitch Perfect 2

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Katey Sagal, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Kelley Jakle, Ben Platt, C.J. Perry, Ester Dean, John Michael Higgins, Shelley Regner, Keegan-Michael Key

Description: After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

Review: “Pitch Perfect” was Jason Moore’s directorial debut in 2012. It was a huge success and actress Anna Kendrick scored a hit with her song “Cups”. And when a movie is successful, a sequel will happen.

“Pitch Perfect 2” follows again the a capella group the Bellas. After a humiliating performance, the Bellas enter an international a capella competition. And that’s a whole different world.

The sequel brings us a different director. Actress Elizabeth Banks, who also had a role in the first movie, takes on the challenge. “Pitch Perfect 2” has lots of jokes, but not a lot of character development. Less emotional moments, more Fat Amy (I still feel uncomfortable calling someone that). That’s fine, because the tempo is very high. Banks managed to picture the friendship between the Bellas very well.

The music is good, the movie has a great sound. Some popular hits and also classics modernized. I was confused by the serenade Fat Amy gave though, it was really unnecessary. Anna Kendrick was charming as ever and Rebel Wilson is sometimes overdoing it. Hailee Steinfeld was a nice addition to the cast and I really liked Keegan-Michael Key, who played Becca’s boss. He was actually the funniest part of the film.

If you’re a fan of the original, you will love this too. It’s much of the same, only bigger and bolder. Fun times!

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 19: Into the Woods

Director: Rob Marshall

Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Musical/ Fantasy

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Tracey Ullman, Lucy Punch, Christine Baranski, Tammy Blanchard, Daniel Huttlestone, Lilla Crawford, Simon Russell Beale, Joanna Riding, Billy Magnussen, Mackenzie Mauzy, Annette Brosbie, Richard Glover, Frances de la Tour

Description: A witch (Meryl Streep) tasks a childless baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.

Review: When you mix up the stories of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk' and ‘Rapunzel’, you get “Into the Woods”. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim did that already in 1986, not without success. And when you’re a big hit on West End, we off course need a movie version of it. Disney managed to get “Into the Woods” to the big screen. And Rob Marshall, who also directed “Chicago”, decided to direct.

“Into the Woods” is a mix of different fairytales by the brothers Grimm, with a little twist here and there and a lot darker. The story starts with a simple baker and his wife. The witch who lives next door has cast a spell on their house, a reason why the couple can’t have children. To lift that spell, the baker and his wife have to deliver a couple of items to the witch. In their search for those ingredients in the woods, the couple bumps into several interesting characters.

The fact that Disney produced this movie, doesn’t mean it has lost its dark edge. A true relief for Sondheim fans, because when the lines ‘and they lived happily ever after’ are spoken, the movie is only halfway. For people that get nervous when actors suddenly burst into song, don’t worry. It’s part of a musical, but the songs fit the story perfectly and form one. It’s not just a story build around the songs.

“Into the Woods” is a spectacle, with some dark tones and sometimes bombastic. The décor is stunning and the cast manages to win you over. Especially Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt shine. If you like musicals, you shouldn’t miss “Into the Woods”.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 138: Pitch Perfect

Director: Jason Moore

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Ben Platt, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins

Description: Beca (Anna Kendrick), a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

Review: “Pitch Perfect” usefully plays in on the success of the TV show “Glee”, that also centers around an a-capella groups of students. The popularity is thanks to the catchy songs and the ‘underdog’ characters. In “Pitch Perfect” the characters are a bit older, but the tenet is the same. Throw in a bunch a quirky characters, mix modern songs and a little bit of romance and everyone will be singing and swinging. The makers of the film never seem to know if they should parody or praise the a-capella groups though.

As a comedy the movie is pretty good. Rebel Wilson shows us that, in every scene she steals the thunder and I love her self-mockery. The movie is sometimes a bit predictable, but somehow it doesn’t bother me that much here. Even the cheesy boy-meets-girl storyline puts a smile on your face.

The lead role is played by Anna Kendrick, who we know from “Up in the Air”. The character of Beca fits her and she also has an incredible singing voice. I really liked her in “Pitch Perfect”. Together with the ever so charming Skylar Astin, she forms a great duo.

“Pitch Perfect” is a pleasant film, filled with catchy tunes. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson are the big plusses. If you like “Glee” you’re going to love “Pitch Perfect”. If you don’t, you better skip it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Quotables: "Up in the Air"

Although it’s not a very spectacular movie, I like “Up in the Air” somehow. It’s enjoyable, there is good acting and I just want to watch it whenever it’s on TV. Here are some memorable quotes from “Up in the Air”.

Ryan Bingham: How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV... the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home... I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office... and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks.

Natalie Keener: I thought I'd be engaged by now. I thought by 23, I'd be married, maybe have a kid, corner office by day, entertaining at night. I was supposed to be driving a Grand Cherokee by now.

 

Ryan Bingham: You know that moment when you look into somebody's eyes and you can feel them staring into your soul and the whole world goes quiet just for a second?

Natalie Keener: Yes.

Ryan Bingham: Right. Well, I don't.

Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.

Natalie Keener: That's racist.

Ryan Bingham: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster.

Ryan Bingham: The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.

Ryan Bingham: You know why kids love athletes?

Bob: Because they screw lingerie models.

Ryan Bingham: No, that's why we love athletes. Kids love them because they follow their dreams.

 

Natalie Keener: Can you stop condescending for one second or is that one of the principles of your bullshit philosophy?

Flight Attendant: Would you like the cancer?

Ryan Bingham: What?

Flight Attendant: Would you like the can, sir?

Ryan Bingham: Last year I spent 322 days on the road, which means I had to spend 43 miserable days at home.

Ryan Bingham: Are you angry at your computer?

Natalie Keener: I type with purpose.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # What to Expect When You're Expecting

Director: Kirk Jones
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Ben Falcone, Jennifer Lopez, Rodrigo Santoro, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid, Anna Kendrick, Chace Crawford, Chris Rock, Joe Manganiello

Description: A look at love through the eyes of five interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn't always deliver what's expected.

Review: The title tells you everything: all the ins and out about pregnancies and babies. The movie follows five different stories about this subject. First we have Jules, the presenter of a weight loss program, who is having a baby with her partner Evan. There is Gary and his wife Wendy who have been trying to get pregnant for two years. But when it finally happens, it’s not as fantastic as she always thought. Gary’s father Ramsey and his very young new wife Skyler are also expecting, and she does have the glow that Wendy was always hoping for. The young Rosie gets pregnant after a one-night-stand with Marco, the guy who left her on prom night. And finally Holly and Alex who are trying to adopt a child. Holly is ready, but Alex clearly isn’t.
It’s very clever to make an ensemble film out of this concept, multiple storylines work well very often. And various genres are mixed as well. This makes it to an unbalanced film. Over-the-top slapsticks switch to dramatic moments that don’t really fit in here.
Although I love Cameron Diaz, she isn’t the real star in this film. Elizabeth Banks and Ben Falcone, who play Wendy and Gary, and Anna Kendrick and Chace Crawford, as Rosie and Marco, have the most interesting storylines and are the most convincing. I especially think that the last two actors where underused.
It’s definitely an entertaining movie, but it never really hits the mark.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 25: End of Watch

Director: David Ayer
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, America Ferrara, Cody Horn

Description: In South Central Los Angeles, street cops Brian (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike (Michael Peña) are partners, patrolling the streets as Latino gangs are in a power struggle with Blacks.

Review: Two LAPD-agents film themselves while on duty. Their sergeant doesn’t like it, but a tough cop does what he wants. That’s how easy it is, to give a cop film a bit of an original twist.
The police duo Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala is proud of what they do for society. Even if it’s basically picking up the scum of the streets, but it makes the world a little better. With the cameras constantly running, it does make both cops a bit reckless. But that is what keeps you close to the characters. With this way of filming it increases the tension. It’s been a while since we got a chance to empathize so intensely with characters and to get a realistic look on the job.
Both Gyllenhaal and Peña deliver a nice piece of acting work and director David Ayer manages to avoid to put a patriotic feel in the film.
“End of Watch” surprised me pleasantly and I love the way this great concept was executed.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 18: ParaNorman

Director: Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Casey Affleck, Tucker Albrizzi, Jeff Garlin

Description: In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a boy who can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's estranged eccentric uncle (John Goodman) tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago.

Review: After “Coraline” in 2009, the same studio brings us “ParaNorman”. The style is the same, the so called stop-motion technique is used here.
The story of “ParaNorman” revolves around the young Norman who has the gift of seeing dead people and communicating with them. It’s actually more of a burden for Norman, because everyone thinks he’s a freak, even his family worries about him. His estranged uncle verifies Norman isn’t crazy, because he tells him about a witches curse. Norman is the one to stop that curse.
“ParaNorman” looks stunning. It’s a dark and raw animation, not suited for all viewers by the way. With the stop-motion technique it is definitely very unique, although the creepy setting reminds you a bit of “Coraline”.
The story lacks a bit of depth, because it’s all just a rescue mission where Norman goes from loser to hero. I love the inside jokes and references to classic horror movies, but I’m doubting if kids understand them. Overall “ParaNorman” is an entertaining and visually stunning animation.

Rating: 3/ 5