Django Unchained

Movie: Django Unchained

Genre: western

Synopsis: Django (Jaimie Foxx) is a slave in the south of 1858.  His wife is Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) – and yes, there is a story behind her name.  As punishment for trying to run away, both of them are flogged and then sold to different plantation owners.  Django is rescued by a bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz).  In return for his help acquiring bounties, Schultz agrees to help Django find his wife – who is now owned by Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a sadistic plantation owner.

My two cents: A great movie.  Lots of blood and gore – but a great movie.  Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio all turn in top-notch performances.  But for me, the actor who stole the movie was Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen, the slave who runs Candie Plantation staff.  I have never seen Samuel L. Jackson funnier.  And this is a funny movie – but it is definitely a dark humor.  If hearing the “N” word offends you – prepare for a lot of offense.  I counted 75 times when the “N” word is uttered.  I would like to see at least two Oscar acting nominations for this movie: Waltz and Jackson.

[2]

The Guilt Trip

Movie: The Guilt Trip

Genre: comedy

Synopsis: Andrew Brewster (Seth Rogen) is a bio-chemist who has invented a new cleaning product.  The problem is that he cannot get anyone to market it.  He has a cross-country road trip planned to make one last stab at getting some store chain to market it.  Andrew lives in Los Angeles.  His widowed mother, Joyce (Barbra Streisand) lives in Brooklyn.  She is the stereo-typical over-protective Jewish mother.  Andrew asks her to accompany him on his road trip.  The trip – and their relationship – goes through a few ups and downs.

My two cents: This was a cute movie.  The road trip was pretty funny and their were some nice moments between the two.  There is a twist when they hit San Francisco that I did not see coming.  Barbara Streisand needs to do more movies.  She is hysterical as Joyce.  I had forgotten just how funny an actress Barbra Streisand is.  And I have to say that she is looking pretty damn good for a woman in her 70’s.

[1]

Jack Reacher

Movie: Jack Reacher

Genre: thriller

Synopsis: This is based on a series of novels by Lee Child.  Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is a retired Army officer who was a military investigator.  He retired after becoming disillusioned with the Army.  He now does his best to stay of the grid.  He has no bank accounts, no cell phone, no mailing address, no email address.  He receives his retirement by wire transfer.  He wanders around the country by hitchhiking or bus.  He has only the clothes that he wears.  When a trained sniper shoots and kills five people, an arrest is quickly made.  The suspect will not talk.  All he will do is write a note: “Get Jack Reacher”.  Oddly enough, Jack soon shows up.  He soon comes to the conclusion that the man is innocent.  Jack then starts helping the defense attorney (played by Rosamunde Pike) find who is behind the killings.   

My two cents:   I had misgivings about Tom Cruise in this role.  In the books, Jack Reacher is something like 6’5” and 250 pounds.  Tom is a bit smaller than that.  Not to worry – Tom Cruise does a bang-up job as Jack Reacher.  My favorite scene has five tough-guys hired to work him over.  He calmly faces them and says calmly that he will give them one more chance to change their minds.  I don’t want to give too much away – so I will just say that Jack prevails.  I hope that this is going to be another Tom Cruise franchise series of movies.

[134]

Les Misérables

Movie: Les Misérables

Genre: musical drama

Synopsis: A cinematic version of the Broadway musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo, set in Paris in 19^th century.  The movie opens with Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) gaining his parole after serving nineteen years of at hard labor – 5 for stealing bread (for his starving nephew) and 14 for trying to escape.  He is given his parole by the officer Javert (Russell Crowe).  The story follows Valjean as he makes a new life for himself under a new name – but is always haunted by Javert, who seems to surface every time he turns around.  Fantine (Anne Hathaway) works in a factory owned by Valjean. When her supervisor fires her, it results in her dying.  At her side when she dies, Valjean vows to take care of Fontain’s infant child, Cosette.  The story then skips ahead 15 years where Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) falls in love with Marius (Eddie Redmayne).  Things are complicated by Javert showing up, again, and Marius’ involvement in civil protests against the French government.  

My two cents: The movie was a bit long at 2hr 37 min.  I am a sucker for musicals and I loved this movie.  Russell Crowe is not much of a singer – but everyone else made up for it.  Hugh Jackman was great.  Anne Hathaway has my vote for an Oscar. She has at least two scenes that will absolutely rip your heart out.  Before her mother died, Cosette was watched by the Thenardiers -  who ran an inn.  The couple was played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.  I really do not like Sacha Baron Cohen and do my best to not see his movies.  However, I have to admit that he and Helena Bonham Carter were absolutely brilliant in this movie.  They stole every scene they were in. 

The two things I would change are (1) make it a little shorter and (2) speak the dialog and leave the singing for the songs.  This is one of those musicals where everything is done in song.

[133]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Genre: fantasy adventure

Synopsis: This is the first of a planned three movies based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novel.  Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is a well-to-do mild-mannered Hobbit. The wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) comes to Bilbo, along with a bunch of dwarves.  He asks Bilbo to accompany them all on an adventure to reclaim the Dwarf kingdom from the land’s last living dragon, Smaug.  Bilbo decides to go with them.  Along the way, he is separated from the others following a battle with Orcs.  Before he rejoins them he meets a strange little creature named Gollum, from whom he gets a gold ring.  This ring is the basis for the Lord of the Rings.

My two cents: At 2hr49min, I felt this was a bit too long.  All in all, I liked it.  The battle scenes are great.  It definitely left me anxious to get to the next in the series.

[132]