Movie Review - The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Director: Michael Showalter
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D’Onofrio, Mark Wystrach
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 13: A MOVIE WITH AN ACTRESS YOU LOVE
 
    
Description: An intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Baker (Jessica Chastain).

Review: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is based on the 2000 documentary of the same name. It’s the type of film you see at least one of every Oscar season: the true story of someone who climbs from a simple status to great success, after which the empire quickly collapses. Once again, the American Dream turns out to be a lot easier to realize than to maintain.
The fact that the broad outlines of this story are not particularly unique does not seem to have escaped the makers’ attention. By opening with news footage, it is immediately clear where this story will end: scandals, lawsuits and damaged reputations. It is actually quite refreshing that this information is not saved by shared immediately, if only because the viewer can then see clearly where exactly things went wrong in the otherwise almost chronological narrative.
Actually, right at the beginning, when the young Tammy Faye falls for the charms of fellow student Jim Baker. He preaches the Christian faith enthusiastically, but is a little too eager to let slip that living according to God’s law is perfectly compatible with living in luxury. It is typical of Jim’s talent for trying to put things right. A car that clearly does not fit the modest financial status situation of the young couple is not an unwise purchase, but simple a gift from God.
Tammy Faye and Jim soon fall madly in love and get right into the marriage business so they can consummate their marriage. The consequence is that they both have to drop out of college, because the university has a rule prohibiting students from marrying each other. It draw the boundless naiveté of the young couple, for whom religion may not be the best possible guide.
Their enthusiasm for their religion proves to be contagious and so the couple soon finds its way to television, where they can express their love of God in all his glory to an audience of millions, including songs and puppets shows for young viewers. This turns out to make a remarkably good living, as donations from the viewers are accepted as proof of their faith.
Thus, over the years, Tammy Faye’s outfits become more extravagant and the makeup more lavish. So much so that a makeup artist for a television interview would like to remove everything on her and apply something less ostentatious. But alas: the face appears to contain the necessary permanent make-up and he enormous eyelashes may bot be touched, because they are Tammy Faye’s trademark.  
At such time it becomes clear that she is first and foremost a television star and only then an evangelist. And can the television work of Tammy Faye and Jim actually be described as an expression of religion or is it just pure entertainment? The fact that at a certain point the couple opens a Christian theme park gives a nice indication in which corner we may look for it.
But all the makeup ultimately appears to conceal a woman who seems to have purely good intentions. Already at a young age Tammy Faye realizes that she is a lot more theatrical than most people, but pleasantly enough she is a lot more sincere in her beliefs than you would expect based on that.
Where Jerry Falwell openly uses his preaching on television to proclaim his arch-conservative agenda and Jim is only too happy to talk down such figures, Tammy Faye turns out to be remarkably faithful to her progressive views of the faith. This manifests itself in a great sense of charity even leading her to talk to AIDS patients on her television program.
The question is how this can be reconciled with her exorbitant lifestyle, which is paid for entirely by the voluntary donations of her viewers. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t really have an answer for that. Whereas Jim Baker shows himself soon enough to be a hypocrytical figure who values his status over what he preaches, Tammy Faye remains a bit too much of an enigma, especially when it comes to morality.
Quite striking, since “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is set up as the great Jessica Chastain show. In the title role, the actress pulls out all the stops and consistently manages to impress with acting that is naturally grand and theatrical, but also fragile. Andrew Garfield offer fine counterplay as Jim Baker.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is exactly the Oscar season film you can expect from it: the smoothly told story of the rise and fall of a striking person, which act as a showcase for the lead actress. Chastain deservedly won an Oscar for this performance.

Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Unforgivable

Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Vincent D’Onofrio, Viola Davis, Rob Morgan, Jon Bernthal, Richard Thomas, Linda Emond, Emma Nelson, Aisling Franciosi, Will Pullen, Tom Guiry

Description: A woman (Sandra Bullock) is released from prison after serving a sentence for a violent crime and re-enters a society that refuses to forgive her past

Review: “The Unforgivable” focuses on how difficult it if for convicts to reintegrate into society after their prison sentence.
Ruth Slater has served 20 years for the murder of a sheriff. She is, therefore, a cop killer. She is transferred to place in Chinatown where she shares a room with other women. From there she will have to start her life again. When she gets a job and shows up on her first day, she is already sent walking. The boss apparently found out about her past. So she has no choice but to accepts the offer of her coach Vincent Cross, to work in a fish market. Ruth wants to works as a carpenter and eventually gets a second job.
When Ruth was arrester, her sister Katie was 5 years old. However, the judge has imposed a restraining order on Ruth from contacting her sister who now lives with Michael and Rachel. Ruth also visits her old house, where she lived with Katie and where the sheriff was killed. John Ingram and his wife Liz now live there. John is a lawyer and wants to help Ruth.
“The Unforgivable” is a compelling drama with solid storytelling. There is a plot twist, that you will eventually see coming, right before it is revealed. Sandra Bullock is really strong. She plays a scarred character in a powerful way. The rest of the cast don’t have big enough roles to impress you as much as Bullock does, although Viola Davis does have one scene where she steals the show. But Bullock carries the movie, without her it would be a forgettable movie. Now it’s an above average film that you will remember.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Ed Wood

Director: Tim Burton
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker Patricia Arquette, Bill Murray, Jeffrey Jones, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lisa Marie

Description: Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. (Johnny Depp) tries his best to fulfill his dreams, despite his lack of talent.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 19: A MOVIE BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

Review: With the film “Ed Wood”, director Tim Burton pays a wonderful tribute to a colleague who went down in history as “the worst filmmaker of all time”.  Edward D. Wood Jr. owes his reputation to three B-movies he made in the 1950s. the director operated on the fringes of Hollywood, surrounded himself with a bizarre ensemble of actors and preferred to dress in pink angora sweaters.
At first glance it seems an odd combination: one of the most successful directors of the last decades, responsible for a bunch of fantastic movies, is making a film about the ultimate loser in Hollywood history. On closer inspection, however, the life and work of Tim Burton and Ed Wood appear to have striking similarities. For example, both grew up with a strong love for horror films and later both worked with the horror idols of their youth. Burton worked three times with the horror star Vincent Price, who died in 1993. Wood called on his childhood idol Bela Lugosi three times in the 1950s, the Hungarian actor who celebrated triumphs in Dracul in 1931, but never managed to pull off his mot famous role thanks in part to his Eastern European accents. Both directors became close friends with their elderly film stars, and the friendship between Ed Wood and Bela Lugosi occupies a central place in Burton’s film.  
Ed Wood had, besides his passion for film, a love for dressing up in woman’s clothes. In 1953, Wood had the opportunity to combine these two passions. That’s how the movie “Glen & Glenda” was born. His directorial debut was laughed at an not taken seriously at all. But he still manages to stay positive and makes the horror film “Bride of the Monster”, again with Bela Lugosi.
Thanks to Wood’s engaging personality and indestructible optimism, the incompetent director managed to scrape together money again and again. In addition, he worked like a magnet on all sorts of notable figures. His entourage included, in addition to Lugosi, the 100-pound Swedish wrestler Tor Johnson, TV-presenter Vampira and pseudo-psychic Criswell, the eccentric cousin Bunny Breckinridge and the color-blind cameraman Bill Thompson. The while bunch eventually starred in Ed Wood’s ‘masterpiece’ “Plan 9 from Outer Space”, the film Wood would eventually be remembered by.
Tim Burton shows himself to be a compassionate biographer with “Ed Wood”. He focuses on Wood’s boundless optimism, he ends his film with the premiere of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”. Through moody black-and-white photography, beautiful art direction and a few visual and verbal quotes, Burton manages to excellently capture the atmosphere of Wood’s heyday. As for the actors, there is a minor miracle: with Martin Landau leading the way, the company in “Ed Wood” seems straight out of Wood’s original film.
Landau’s performance as Bela Lugosi is truly amazing. And Johnny Depp, who plays the titular character, gives away a great performance as well. A small role for Vincent D’Onofrio as Orson Welles is really memorable and Bill Murray is fantastic as ever.
“Ed Wood” is a great film, in my opinion a very overlooked and underrated film by Tim Burton.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - Sinister

Director: Scott Derrickson
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Ethan Hawke, James Ransone, Vincent D’Onofrio, Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton, Danielle Kotch, Michael Hall D’Addario, Clare Foley, Rob Riley, Tavis Smiley, Janet Zappala, Victoria Leigh, Cameron Ocasio, Ethan Haberfield, Blake Mizrahi, Nicolas King

Description: Washed-up true crime writer Wllison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) finds a box of super 8 home movies in his new home that suggest the murder that he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose work dates back to the 1960s.  

Review: Few horror movies manage to make the audience feel uncomfortable within the first twenty seconds. “Sinister” does. The opening image is downright disturbing: a man, a woman and their children are each standing with a bag over their head and a noose around their neck, under a tree. Exasperatingly slowly a large branch is sawn off, which serves as a counterweight. The foursome struggle and their agony seems to last forever. But then the bodies hang lifeless from the tree. The ominous tone is set.
For crime novelist Ellison Oswalt this type of movies are interesting source material. His career as a writer has been on hold for a while, so he could use a good story. He decides to move with his family. Ellison assures his wife that this time they didn’t move close to a former crime scene. But in reality they are moving in to the house of the family from that snuff movie. In the attic, Ellison accidentally finds a box with a Super 8 camera and film rolls. It looks like family movies with titles such as Family BBQ and Sleepy Time. Ellison decides to watch them in his office and is shocked by what the films contain.
Ellison knows he has to let the dark past rest, yet he is curious and watches all the reels. Even when the projector starts spinning by itself, his son suffers from sleepwalking and his daughter makes macabre drawings, he continues the search. Who was responsible for these insane acts? Why was the family hanged? Why was everything recorded? One thing is clear: I know why the movie is called “Sinister”.
This is a horror movie that understands the formula. It masters the build-up of tension and suspense. Knowing something is not right. Ethan Hawke is an actor I always enjoy watching and I think he is kind of underrated and he doesn’t get enough praise. He is so good in “Sinister” and really carries this film.
“Sinister” gets under your skin and pulls the audience into the obsession of the main character. The film is scary because of its realistic and disturbing images and it has some very effective jump scares (that are not cheap). One of the ‘family films’ especially has a very shocking moment, which is considered one of the better jump scares in a horror movie.
I also want to give the movie bonus points for its ending. I won’t reveal anything, but it something that doesn’t happen enough in horror these days. Most of them play safe, but “Sinister” actually did a very unconventional and controversial thing.
“Sinister” really scared me, a movie best watched in dark room for maximum effect. My heart rate went way up while watching this film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 107: Escape Plan

Director: Mikael Håfström

Genre: Action/ Drama

Runtime: 116 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, Amy Ryan, Sam Neill, Vincent D’Onofrio, Vinnie Jones, Curtis Jackson

Description: When a structural-security authority (Sylvester Stallone) finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world's most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside.

Review: After “The Expendables” there is another movie starring two of the biggest action stars: Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It follows the story of Ray Breslin, who tests prisons on security. He gets locked up voluntarily and then tries to break out to show the prison’s weaknesses. When Ray gets the offer to test a new prison, he doesn’t doubt one second, but the minute they take him in he does start to doubt it. The warden says he doesn’t know him, Ray’s evacuation code doesn’t work and it seems impossible to escape without knowing the blue print of the prison or help from the outside.

“Escape Plan” starts like a typical prison break movie. Like the stereotypical prisoners: the man who can get things, the white Aryan, the sadistic guard. More important than the actions is the interaction between them and the ingenious way to escape. The movie has many imperfections and the solutions are sometimes so far-fetched, it doesn’t help its credibility. Besides, the most secure prison in the world looks very futuristic. It could have been a cinematographic good looking piece, with the feeling you’re always watched and more depth and perspective. The first 20 minutes weren’t all that great. Once Arnold Schwarzenegger enters the stage, it becomes fun. It’s just fun to see Schwarzenegger and Stallone together, because I grew up with those guys. The planning of the break out and the interaction between the two is entertaining as hell. The scenes in the prison were cool, as soon as they cut away from the prison I was bored.

You get what you expect from Stallone and Schwarzenegger, and I think that’s we love about them. Every movie fan is just thrilled about the idea of those two together, and so was I. I would pay money to see a movie with the dumbest plot ever if Stallone and Schwarzenegger star in it. Jim Caviezel, as the warden, was a pretty good bad guy by the way. That surprised me. Other characters and actors didn’t impress me very much.

I didn’t expect anything good and this movie isn’t very surprising. But it’s enjoyable to watch and it entertained me.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 78: Jurassic World

Director: Colin Treverrow

Genre: Action/ Adventure

Runtime: 124 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Irrfan Khan, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, BD Wong, Judy Greer, Jimmy Fallon

Description: Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

Review: It’s pretty hard to come with a new sequel, 22 years after the original masterpiece “Jurassic Park” by Steven Spielberg. The movie didn’t only have a perfect balance between tension, action, humor, with memorable characters and good actors. It also introduced the audience to impressive, realistic looking dinosaurs. The plot and the location of the original sort of reused for “Jurassic World”. It’s an enjoyable film filled with action, humor and great references to the original.

The movie opens with a hatching dino egg and the movie title. Next we meet two young boys, Zach and Gray, who are on their way to the park, where there aunt Claire works as an operations manager.

Director Colin Trevorrow is clearly a fan of the original and uses many subtle and less subtle references. Off course the base of the film is similar to “Jurassic Park: people create dinosaurs, dollar signs in their eyes, and learn a lesson that wild animals can’t be tamed. The theme music from the original is also present, which still gives you goosebumps. And the shots from the helicopter, with green mountains and waterfalls, is also nothing new. There is also a funny dialogue where a Jurassic World employee, Lowery, tells us he is a fan of the park. He even wears a Jurassic Park T-shirt. He thinks the new park is fake, because the original park had real dinosaurs, instead of mutated hybrids. It’s a good thing that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously on this point, and Jake Johnson is the perfect actor to set that tone.

With that mutated dinosaur he refers to the first genetically modified hybrid. Because dinosaurs are becoming ‘normal’ and not ‘wow’ enough. People want to see scary animals, with more teeth. We meet the Mososaurus, the first sea creature in the series, that is the star of a Sea World like show. But the movie is about the Indominus Rex, a mix of a T-Rex and… the rest is classified. There is also a big role for the velociraptors. In “Jurassic World” the raptors are trained by ex-marine Owen Grady, a role played by Chris Pratt. This whole concept sounds ridiculous, but surprisingly works.

The movie also has humor. The previous Jake Johnson, as Lowery, is the comic relief. But also Chris Pratt’s character is funny. He also has enough chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard, to keep it all interesting. Pratt doesn’t claim all the attention, but has so much charisma and is one of the biggest stars of the moment. He can easily carry a movie. Dallas Howard’s character starts out a bit stereotypical, but makes a good switch from cold businesswoman to full-on action heroine.

When you go see this movie, you shouldn’t expect to be wowed as much as “Jurassic Park”. It’s simply impossible to get that same feeling you got from the original. But even though “Jurassic World” looks like a ‘been there, done that” movie, it never bothers you. It’s a great dedication to the original, highly enjoyable and entertaining and it has some nice twists. “Jurassic World” is definitely a movie worth watching, if you’re a fan or not.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 46: Brooklyn's Finest

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 132 minutes

Year: 2009

Starring: Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Will Patton, Ellen Barkin, Jesse Williams, Logan Marshall-Green

Description: Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.

Review: Antoine Fuqua showed us the tough reality of cops and the street life in “Training Day”. Ethan Hawke, who was also in “Training Day”, stars in “Brooklyn’s Finest, together with Richard Gere and Don Cheadle. It’s a cop drama, but not standard: violent, without compromise and gritty as hell.

The effective intro sets the mood. The movie opens with criminal Carlo and cop Sal, in a parked car. The conversation isn’t important, but you can conclude that Sal needs money. He breaks the law for that. Then we meet cop Eddie, who wakes up and drinks a glass of whiskey right before he is about to start the last seven days of being a cop. Last we meet undercover cop Tango who, while driving a BMW, enters an apartment in the projects in Brooklyn with some gang members. It appears that a young dealer has just been shot by a cop.

This is the setup to the film and we shift between those three storylines. We follow them for a week and sometimes the stories intertwine. It gives you better insights in all the characters. For instance Sal, who needs to support his five children, and two on the way. Everyday there is the temptation of taking drug money that is found at the scene of the crime. Sal starts to take more risks. Ethan Hawke really impresses in his role. Eddie is set to pass on his experience to some new rookies. Richard Gere plays his role very subtle, he is a broken man. I liked seeing Gere in a role like this. Don Cheadle is undercover detective Tango and probably has the most interesting role. He managed to infiltrate and become friends with local drug lord Caz, played by Wesley Snipes. He is on the point of a break through and a promotion, so he can say goodbye to being an undercover agent. But his connection with Caz make the thin line between good and bad even thinner.

“Brooklyn’s Finest” is an above average cop drama, that doesn’t succeed because of its plot, but because of the strong cast and the anguished atmosphere. It’s an overlooked movie, that deserves more credit.

Rating: 3,5/ 5