Seven Days in Utopia

Movie: Seven Days in Utopia

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Luke (Lucas Black), an up and coming professional golfer, is challenging for the lead in the final round of a golf tournament … until he shoots a 14 on the final hole.  After his meltdown, he drives off to be by himself.  He ends up in a town of 375 called Utopia.  In Utopia, Luke befriends Johnny Crawford (Robert Duval).  Johnny is a crusty old gentleman who turns out to be a former professional golver with his own golf course in Utopia.  Johnny promise Luke that if he gives Johnny a week to work with him, he will give Johnny the tools to turn his golf game around.  What follows is Johnny in the role of Mr. Miyagi and Luke in Ralph Macchio’s role.  By the end of the seven days, Luke has indeed learned what he needs to turn his life (and golf game) around.

My two cents: The movie had a lot of potential . . . but I was too distracted by the “Karate Kid” similarities.  I kept waiting for Johnny to tell Luke: “Wax on . . .wax off”.  I did like the performances: Robert Duval never seems to miss.  I especially liked seeing Deborah Ann Woll sans fangs (i.e. outside of True Blood).  The movie just got a little too preachy for me.

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Attack the Block

Movie: Attack the Block

Genre: horror

Synopsis: Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is on her way home located in a crime-ridden section of London when she is mugged by a gang of teenaged boys – who turn out to live in the same apartment building that she does.  After the mugging the gang investigates a strange explosion that occurred nearby.  It turns ouy to be some kind of alien creature that attacks them.  The rest of the movie follows the gang as they do battle with the dozens of other aliens that land and seem intent on killing them.

My two cents: A bit out of the ordinary.  The story line was a little thin.  The thing that stood out were the creatures.  They looked like short, hairy gorillas with fangs that glow in the dark.  In hindsight, I would have been happy to wait for it to come around on TV.

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The Whistleblower

Movie: The Whistleblower

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Kathy (Rachel Weisz) is a Nebraska police officer.  She is hired by a State Department contractor to be part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in post-war Bosnia.  While there, she discovers that there are very young girls being held in brothels as sex slaves.  As Kathy investigates, she finds the she has only scratched the surface, not only are the local police involved, but members of the U.N. peacekeeping force are actually helping smuggle the kidnapped girls into Bosnia.  Then, higher-ups decide to shutdown Kathy’s investigation, forcing her to take some extreme measures. Also stars Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn and Monica Bellucci.

My two cents: I had to keep reminding myself that the events in this movie really happened.  The things these poor girls are put through and forced to do are unimaginable.  And equally unimaginable is how anyone could allow things like this to occur and then protect to perpetrators, much less to actually participate.  Kathy put her own life in jeopardy to try and make the world aware of these atrocities.  This was a tough movie to watch . . . but one that needs to be seen.  Rachel Weisz turns in a great performance.

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The Names of Love

Movie: The Names of Love

Genre: comedy (French, with subtitles)

Synopsis: Baya (Sara Forestier) is a very liberal French woman who is a bit of a hippy.  Arthur Martin (Jaques Gamblin) is a very straight-laced government scientist –  he is an expert on avian-born diseases.  Her mother was raised in a wealthy family and rebelled by marrying an Algerian immigrant.  His parents both fled to France from Germany during World War II after their parents were killed by the Nazis. Baya has a mission in life – she sleeps with righ-wingers in the belief that her actions make them more liberal.  Although an unlikely couple, Baya and Arthur take a liking to each other.  The movie follows their relationship through its ups and downs.

My two cents: I liked this movie. . . it was definitely not your typical comedy.

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Higher Ground

Movie: Higher Ground

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Corrine (Vera Farmiga, who also directed) has had faith issues all her life.  As a young girl in a ‘Christian’ church, she goes through the motions of accepting Jesus into her life – but did not really mean it.  The movie follows her through her life as she lives an extremely religious life, only to end up still having doubts.

My two cents: An interesting movie.  I am always fascinated by – as well as a bit frightened by – the religious types who feel it is appropriate to pray for everything under the sun – who absolutely believe that everything that happens is God’s will and should be accepted as such.  A woman has a brain tumor that leaves her a vegetable, and her husband says they must accept it as God’s will.  While that type of faith is not my cup of tea.  I enjoyed the movie and thought that Vera Farmiga gave a great performance.  It was very thought provoking to watch her character’s struggle with faith and belief. . . . but this movie will not be everyone’s cup of tea.

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The Guard

Movie: The Guard

Genre: crime thriller / comedy

Synopsis: Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is a rather unconventional detective in a small Irish town.  Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) is an FBI agent in Ireland on the trail of drug dealers.  Boyle and Everett form an uneasy partnership to bring down the drug dealers.

My two cents: This was a pretty good movie.  Brendan Gleeson was great at playing a seemingly bumbling detective.  To paraphrase Don Cheadle’s character:  You don’t know if Boyle is really really stupid or really really smart.  This movie is definitely worth watching.

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Conan the Barbarian

Movie: Conan the Barbarian

Genre: adventure

Synopsis: This is a not a remake of Arnold’s classic Conan movies.  It is a fresh treatment of Conan.  The movie opens with a young Conan (Leo Howard), son of his clan’s chief (Ron Perlman).  When an army overruns his village, Conan manages to escape.  Fast forward to an adult Conan (Jason Momoa) who is determined to avenge the death of his father.  The head of the bad guys is Khalar Zym (Stephen Land) who has a really nasty witch-daughter Marique (Rose McGowan). They in turn are trying to capture Tamara (Rachel Nichols), the last of a royal line.  They want to use her blood in a ritual to give Khalar the power to rule the world . . .  but only if Conan does not stop them.

My two cents: I’m a big Conan fan, having read about 20 of the books.  I was not a huge fan of the two Conan movies from the 80’s.   I thought this more than those films.  The scene where the young Conan takes on five enemies at once was great fun – kudos to the actor (Leo Howard) playing him.  Ron Perlman was at the top of his game as Conan’s grizzled warrior of a father.  Rachel Nichols also excelled.  She initially looked like a defenseless princess  . .  . but turned out to be ready to fight whenever necessary.  The makeup on Rose McGowan was amazing.  I knew it was Rose McGowan, but only once in the entire movie was there a scene where I could see the Rose McGowan I know from “Charmed”.  And her character was over-the-top (but in a good way) evil.
I give this movie a big thumbs up.

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