Movie Review - Boston Strangler

Director: Matt Ruskin
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Keira Knightley, Chris Cooper, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, David Dastmalchian
 
Description: Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) challenged sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer.

Review: The ‘Boston Strangler” murders and leaves them all the same way, strangled and with a bow around their necks. Loretta McLaughlin sees the connection between the first three victims and wants to write a piece on the case at all costs. Being a woman, however, he boss says she is especially suited to write for the lifestyle section of Record America. When she picks up the article on her own time, the ball starts rolling. Because of her lack of experience with murder cases, Loretta must team up with Jean Cole, and the two dive deep into the case.

This true story of a journalistic quest is carried by Keira Knightley. “Boston Strangler” is as solid as you would expect when her name is attached to a project. Solid, but at the same time at no point exceptional. Knightley and Carrie Coon play their roles convincingly, the premise is gripping enough and the direction is fine. The color palette is a bit on the dark side to evoke extra tension. With all these elements, this film in particular feels like a somewhat bland rip-off of rock-solid thrillers like “Zodiac”.

Occasionally, the script shows potential. Unfortunately, those more unique angles are not fleshed out enough. The script is embellished with the struggles of women in the 1960s in the male dominated world of journalism, but at the same time it abandons that aspect relatively quickly. The effects the murders have on the women in Boston is also touched upon in a few short scenes.

Although “Boston Strangler” comes with a number of twists, its suspense is moderate. Some of the hints are very obvious and strongly indicate the direction Loretta eventually ends up going. It doesn’t bother too much, however, as Loretta is never portrayed as a brilliant journalist. She is persistent, but not without faults, which is particularly revealed in the way her relationship with Jean is outlined.

The chemistry between the two journalists is the heart of the movie. Jean is more experiences and teaches Loretta. Although Loretta sometimes tries to push her away, it is nice to see these two woman in a man’s world helping each other rather than fighting. The likeable main characters combined with an interesting serial killer plot, make “Boston Strangler” a fine film, but one that does not rise above the genre.

Rating: 3/ 5

90s Movie Review - A Time to Kill

Director: Joel Schumacher
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bulloc, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Oliver Platt, Ashley Judd, Kevin Spacey, Charles S. Dutton, Chris Cooper, Beth Grant

Description: In Clanton, Mississippi, a fearless young lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) defends a black man (Samuel L. Jackson) accused of murdering two white men who raped his ten-year-old daughter, inciting violent retribution and revenge from the Lu Klux Klan.

Review: When Carl Lee hailey’s 10-year-old daughter is brutally abused by two racist white men, something snaps inside him. The men will be tried in the usual way, but Carl Lee fears they will be released very soon. According to him, there is only one thing to do: take the law into his won hands. So he kills the two men and is arrested by the police. A trial will have to decide whether and how Carl Lee should be punished. As a lawyer, Carl Lee hires the inexperienced Jake Brigance. He must go up against top lawyer Rufus Buckley. Fortunately, Jake gets help from ambitious Ellen Roark. The trial is the subject of many demonstrations: the Ku Klux Klan calls for prosecution, while the black community pleads for release.

When it comes to courtroom thrillers, author John Grisham is one of the best-known writers. Over the years, numerous of Grisham’s books have been adapted for film.

The story is very clear in who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. The charismatic underdog against the cynical veteran: anyone who has every read anything by Grisham has a clue as to who will win. On thing is certain: because of the complicated issue is portrayed as black and white, it does make it all nice and easy to get along with. And it’s very easy to sympathize with the main character.

A good script is essential here, but a good cast is just as important to deliver it with credibility. Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey are all fantastic in their respective roles, as are Sandra Bullock, Kiefer Sutherland and Donald Sutherland in smaller roles. I believe that the final plead and that ending are a bit too dramatic for my taste, but work well as tear-jerking moments.

A film that doesn’t have a dull moment in it.

Rating: 4/ 5 

Movie Review - Little Women

Director: Greta Gerwig
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, James Norton, Louis Garrel

Description: Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters: four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.

Review: Louisa May Alcott’s novel “Little Women” has stimulated filmmaker’s fantasies for over a hundred years. The story, which revolves around four sister who tried to develop their artistic talent during the American Civil War, has been adapted for film several times. But never as good as now. After the highly praised “Lady Bird”, director Great Gerwig once again delivers a feminist tour de force, bubbling with life. “Little Women” is an anything but stiff and old-fashioned costume drama. See for example the smooth dialogue Gerwig has written for her female protagonists. The ladies don’t wait their turn before they are allowed to speak, but tumble verbally constantly. This gives the film a lot of dynamic.
Louisa May Alcott’s novel is divided into two separate periods, in which the youth and adulthood of the sisters Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg March are the focus. Gerwig remains faithful to the content of this story, but fortunately does not opt for the same, predictable structure of the book. She cuts up the two timelines and mixes them up, creating a story structure that is actually much more exciting. Because only gradually does it become clear how the past exactly influenced the present.
Although the story takes place in the nineteenth century, “Little Women” often feels surprisingly contemporary. This is mainly because the traditional division of roles between men and women is changing. Whereas the women with their fiery ambitions are the driving force behind this story, the men are merely on the sidelines as spectators or desperate love interests. And yet it is inevitable that even the sisters come up against certain limits set by sexism as they travel their ambitious life path.
Jo in particular is sick and tired of doing what is expected by society. She has no interest whatsoever in marrying a rich man, but above all she wants to be independent and publish her own novel. Even if this means ending up lonely and poor. Sister Amy, on the other hand, is much more willing to give up her dreams in exchange for security and prosperity. It is there kinds od contradictions from which the subtle drama in “Little Women” derives its power. Gradually, the bond between the sisters dissolves in the flow of time, after which each one chooses her own path and different destinies become visible.
Finally, it should be mentioned that Greta Gerwig has brought together a star cast for “Little Women”. Afterwards the performances by Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, both nominated for an Oscar, will remain in the memory. But the real star is Greta Gerwig herself, who, with her skillfully crafted costume drama, once again resounds a strong feminist sound in Hollywood. Sadly the Academy didn’t acknowledged her great direction for an award.
I can’t fault “Little Women”, it’s a movie I could watch over and over again.

Rating: 5 / 5

Movie Reviews - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Director: Marielle Heller
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Matthew Rhys, Tom Hanks, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson, Maryann Plunkett, Enrico Colantoni, Wendy Makkena, Tammy Blanchard, Noah Harpster

Description: Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) and journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys).

Review: A tough journalist opposite a gentle television icon: this true story is about a peaceful clash between two different worlds.
He sees himself as a competent investigative journalist, but Esquire reporter Lloyd Vogel is send on a smaller assignment by his boss. He has to interview Mister Rogers, a singing, puppet playing TV presenter that was cherished by kids for many years. The interview won’t stay with one meeting and Vogel becomes more and more intrigued by the calm, charismatic and kindhearted Mr. Rogers, who doesn’t only answer questions but also asked a lot himself.
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is not a biopic about Fred Rogers, even though it’s based on true events. Director Marielle Heller takes her time for personal development between Vogel and Rogers. It’s an intimate film. Matthew Rhys is really good as Vogel and Tom Hanks is fantastic in portraying the modest TV icon.
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” has a pretty standard story. If it weren’t for the character of Mr. Rogers, this film would be pretty forgettable. It’s his unique character that makes this film feel like a warm hug. Fred Rogers must have been one of the kindest, gentles and warmest people who ever lived. And Tom Hanks manages to translate this to film very well.
I really liked “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, especially because of Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers. He is the star and the reason this film is as good as it is.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 26: Adaptation

Director: Spike Jonze
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Brian Cox, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston, Judy Greer, Jim Beaver, Stephen Tobolowski

Description: A lovelorn screenwriter (Nicolas Cage) becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) for the screen.

Review: Charlie Kaufman is a screenwriter and is in the middle of a crisis. He doesn’t know what to base his next film on. He is a very shy man and thinks of themes that have depth, but can’t be made exciting. His twin brother Donald is exactly the opposite. He is a beginning screenwriter and thinks of horrible cliché scripts. He is not shy at all and very extravert.
Charlie reaches his absolute low point when Donald’s script is picked up and he has no inspiration himself. He is about to write a screenplay for a book written by Susan Orlean.
Nicolas Cage is really good in this film. He plays both Charlie and Donald and even though they look the same, it’s easy to keep them apart. That’s because of Cage’s performance. I love the dialogue that Charlie constantly has with himself.
I loved the first part of the film. The second part an particularly the ending didn’t really satisfy me. Overall the film is very original and is nothing like you expect when you read the plot. The ending I just didn’t like.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 91: Demolition

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper

Description: A successful investment banker (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. With the help of a customer service rep (Naomi Watts) and her young son, he starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.

Review: Davis Mitchell is in the car with his wife. They get into a crash and his wife doesn’t survive the accident. When he tries to get a bag of M&M’s from a vending machine, and the candy gets stuck, it’s the start of a chain of letters between him and a customer’s service rep.
Davis comepletely loses his way when he loses his wife. He realizes that his job, for his wife’s father, and their ultra modern house, doesn’t really fit him. They are all things that happened because of his relationship with Julia. Now she’s gone, Davis is trying to find a new identity.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor and he proves that again here. Both in the dramatic and comedic scenes. Especially that last surprised me. I also liked him together with Naomi Watts. Her character doesn’t have the depth I hoped for, but she is still strong. The movie is original, but at the more dramatic moments it can’t escape the clichés.
Overall I really liked “Demolition”, mostly because of Gyllenhaal and Watts.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

TV Review: 11.22.63

Genre: Drama/ Mystery
Year: 2016
Number of Episodes: 8
Starring: James Franco, Sarah Gadon, George MacKay, Chris Cooper, Cherry Jones, Daniel Webber, Lucy Fry. T.R. Knight, Josh Duhamel, Gil Bellows

Description: High school teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy - but his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber), falling in love, and the past itself, which doesn't want to be changed and shouldn't be changed.

Review: In “11.22.63” James Franco plays Jake Epping. He travels back in time to prevent the murder of John F. Kennedy.
When it comes to book adaptations, most actors decide not the read the book before starring in the movie or TV show based on it. Or they say it’s ‘a dream come true’. James Franco, a big Stephen King fan, asked author King himself for the film rights of “11.22.63”.
Franco eventually got the lead role. He plays teacher Jake Epping, recently divorced and no clear future plans. His friend Al Templeton, who owns a diner, shows Jake a mysterious closet. When you walk into it, you end up in Lisbon, Maine. In the year 1960. Always the same place, always the same time. When you return, only two minutes have past. And when you step into the closet again, everything that happened before is undone. Al tried to prevent the murder on John F. Kennedy (11.22.63), but hasn’t succeeded. Because he is very sick, Al asks Jake to try and do it for him.
“11.22.63” dives into the murder. Most conspiracies are left behind and there is a more close study of Lee Harvey Oswald. But the show is mostly about the sixtees. According to Franco it was Stephen King’s chance to enhance everything he loved about that time, but also everything he hated.
Stephen King’s books have been made into movies and series so often. Some were flops and some were a success. I’m glad to say that “11.22.63” is a good one. A great metaphore for reality. And James Franco, who is a favorite of mine, did a wonderful job. Even Stephen King was enthusiastic about his performance.
“11.22.63” is a good mini-series, that stays exciting. You really get lost in the sixtees, just like King’s books always get you lost in his worlds.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 109: The Town

Director: Ben Affleck

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 125 minutes

Year: 2010

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, John Hamm, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper

Description: As he plans his next job, a longtime thief (Ben Affleck) tries to balance his feelings for a bank manager (Rebecca Hall) connected to one of his earlier heists, as well as the FBI agent (John Hamm) looking to bring him and his crew down.

Review: Since his directorial debut “Gone Baby Gone” everyone agrees that Ben Affleck is a better director than actor. The crime thriller, based on a book by Dennis Lehane, showed us he had a sense of timing and he knew what he wanted his actors to do. Wisely he let other actors do the work on camera. For his second film “The Town” he decided to give himself the lead role. Again the movie is based on a crime thriller, this time written by Chuck Hogan. “The Town” is definitely a good story and film, but sadly there isn’t the depth that “Gone Baby Gone” did have.

The story is set in Charlestown, a neighborhood in Boston. It’s a criminal town. Doug MacRay leads a gang of masked robbers, who often strike in the better parts of the neighborhood. During a bank heist, Doug’s aggressive partner Jem decides to take the bank manager hostage. They find out that the woman, Claire, lives in their neighborhood and to make sure she doesn’t tell on them, Doug accidentally meets her in a laundromat. Claire obviously doesn’t know Doug and the two go out. Doug also starts doubting his life as a criminal.

With “The Town”, Ben Affleck proofs again he is an excellent director. It’s a good crime thriller and it’s definitely worth watching. But a deeper layer is missing. There are scenes with more depth, like when Doug visits his father in jail, the introduction of the drug lord, played by Pete Postlethwaite and the FBI agent played by Jon Hamm. Off course, people love seeing car chases and flying bullets, but the lack of depth makes this movie not as good as it could have been.

The acting is great. Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper only have small roles, but manage to impress in the few scenes they have. Jeremy Renner is the one to watch, because his character is very interesting and his performance strong. Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively are good as well. Jon Hamm’s character hardly has an interesting thing to do, he was underused. And Ben Affleck is overshadowed by most of the actors. His character is interesting, his acting mediocre.

“The Town” is a solid thriller, but don’t expect too much depth. Ben Affleck should keep on directing, but maybe with someone else in the lead. (In “Argo” it didn’t work that great either)

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Moments: "The Muppets"

If you don’t like the Muppets, you’re insane! How can you not like them? I just rewatched their latest film and I chose my favorite moments. Oh, and I can't wait to see the new movie that comes out next year!

Moment # 1: Life’s a happy song
Gary is about to leave for Los Angeles with his girlfriend Mary. He tells Walter he's coming too. They, and the whole population of Smalltown breaks into song.

Moment # 2: Walter overhears plan
When Walter visits Kermit’s office in the Muppet studios, he overhears a plan that Tex Richman has for the studios end theater. Walter starts screaming, all the way to the hotel.

Moment # 3: Electrical fence
When Gary, Mary and Walter find Kermit’s house, Walter wants to be thrown over the fence. Mary worries it might be an electrical fence, but Walter says it’s impossible because it’s Kermit the Frog. When Gary throws him over, Walter is electrocuted.

Moment # 4: Kermit the Frog
Kermit arrives and invites them into his home. Walter persuades Kermit into getting the old gang back together to put up a show.

Moment # 5: The Moopets
First they’re trying to find Fozzie Bear, who has his own show in a Reno casino called The Moopets. Which has some Muppets characters, but the ten times worse.

Moment # 6: Montage
Already they found Fozzie, Gonzo and Animal, the rest of the Muppets are in a montage.

Moment # 7: We build this city
Gary, Mary, Walter and all the Muppets fix up the old Muppet theater, while singing “We Build This City”.

Moment # 8: Me party
Mary is sightseeing Los Angeles by herself and she starts singing about it.

Moment # 9: New dance partner
Miss Piggy can’t do her duet with Kermit, because she has a new dance partner: Pepe the Prawn, who is supposed to catch her like in “Dirty Dancing”.

Moment # 10: Man or Muppet
Mary left L.A. with a question for Gary: are you a man or a muppet. Gary and Walter try to find out through a song.

Moment # 11: Barbershop
The Barbershop quartet give Jack Black a haircut while mee-meeing “Smell Like Teen Spirit”.

Moment # 12: Rainbow Connection
Kermit plays the banjo and sings “Rainbow Connection”, with Miss Piggy.


Favorite Moment: Moment # 1 : Life’s a happy song