Whatever Wednesday - The Devil Wears Prada 2

Heck yeah - I took myself to the movies on Friday May 8th.  I did my homework first and watched the original  Devil Wears Prada.  I had actually seen it several times with  my father during his last year. He knew the plot, could follow along, and he enjoyed Meryl.  So it was also imperative, a bit of a salute to him (gone two years as of 5/9), that I see The Devil Wears Prada 2 immediately.  

Of course there's some apprehension. Will it be silly? Will it be lousy? What story line and how have they handled aging characters? 

No worries. We launch back into the world of fashion, journalism, and the hustle bustle of NYC with aplomb. The story handles the onslaught of mergers, artificial intelligence, aging, and the money/power combo. I'm not going into the minutiae, just trust me it all works. 

Our stars, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci,  plus a bonus appearance by Lucy Liu, are all fabulous. They look great, and are so good in their various roles - working together or scheming.  Special shout outs to Meryl and Stanley - it's a master class. Just a smirk, an eye role,  a pause. Their timing is impeccable. 

And another character itself is  New York City  - the  glam, the money side, the hustle bustle, and the  "little apartments" (HA!)  I love it and soak it in. 

So - big thumbs up from  me.  If you liked the original, you'll be very happy.

As Miranda (Meryl) says...."That's all."

"Go"

 

Monday Moments - The Fall Guy Movie

 What can't Ryan Gosling do?  He is perfect (again) for The Fall Guy, in theaters now. 

So, we see Colt Seavers (Gosling) on set as the best stuntman. He's flirting with his camera operator, Jody Moreno (delightful Emily Blunt). Ready for his big stunt take for leading man, Tom Ryder ( Aaron Taylor-Johnson).  Ready - set- oh no!

Eighteen months later,  Colt is ready to get back in the game. He's flown in for Jody's debut  action  film.  But where's Tom?  Colt is asked to find him by producer, Gail Meyer (funny Hannah Waddingham). Caught up in a whole conspiracy, trying  to win back Jody, and risking  life and limb on set and in real life, Colt has to use all of his skills to live and save the  day.  

It's a fun, wacky romp/thriller. Plenty of laughs and great chemistry with our leading players. Very fun flick  to see on the big screen.  Ray and I both came out laughing. 

Movie Review Monday - Mary Poppins

Nothing can replace Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. That’s absolute movie law. However, Mary Poppins Returns, is a nice homage to the original with plenty of little reminders (including a scene with very old but spry Dick Van Dyke) of some tunes, frivolity, and instead of chimney sweeps we have lamplighters. All plucky dancers.  This is a movie with musical scenes – if you hate that, bow out now. This is a movie with incredibly wise, cute kids – if you hate that bow out now. But if you are ready for Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins – practically perfect in the right way – then you are in for a treat.

Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are grown up now and Michael has kids of his own. His wife passed. Life is in disarray on Cherry Street Lane, and they could lose the house. Time for a wind shift and the arrival of Mary Poppins, carpet bag and talking umbrella in hand. Spit spot – soon she has the kids clean and orderly and ready to be kids again. Each errand or outing is an adventure with a ride in an animated carriage, a swim under the ocean, or a dance with the lamplighters led by Jack (Lin Manuel-Miranda – sparkly eyes and cheeky grin). All in all, they must find bank shares to keep the house from foreclosure. Oh the mean banker (Colin Firth at his stuffiest). Can they beat out that stroke of midnight?

Pleasant tunes, jolly dancing, colorful film-making, and the calm control of Mary Poppins. You can’t lose. I enjoyed Mary Poppins Returns a lot. After a busy week and on a gray dreary Friday, this after work matinee replenished my soul and made me feel like a kid again. Cheers!

JUMP - movie review - A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place is truly a solid, brilliant, subtle horror flick. Directed by John Krasinski,  it stars him and his real life wife, Emily Blunt and they are SO good. She can say so much with her eyes and her face reflects so many feelings.  The first part of this movie is about family – albeit under crazy circumstances. Silence rules. The world appears to have ended. Creatures who attack,  based on sound,  rule. The key is quiet – barefoot, playing monopoly with cloth tokens, using sign language, and no sound.

The first glimpse of horror is with the “baby” boy – age 4-5. On a foray to a store, he wants a toy rocket. The dad says no – too noisy. The sister (brilliant young actress who is deaf – Millicent Simpson) grabs it for him, and he nabs the removed batteries). The family is walking home when suddenly there’s sound – the kid put in the batteries and is playing – oh the joy………..until a creature leaps from nowhere and wipes that kid away. Dang freakin’ scary. This was day 73.

Fast forward to day 473. Oh so much sadness and yet living. Mom is pregnant – now how can they bring a baby into this world?  The middle son is afraid of life. He doesn’t want to go out with Dad to learn how to survive – get fish, etc. His eyes show fear. Whereas his deaf sister wants to go, she’s resilient, but there’s a deeper issue. Do the parents blame her for the death of the youngest boy? Well, no, but she’s beat herself up about it.  This film is about family dynamics, love, and survival. It’s tight and in ninety minutes, it’s relentless. The creatures are fierce and it’s all about sound and frequency.  I will not give away more.

Hold your breath and appreciate A Quiet Place for great story telling and acting. And I dare you to sit, watch, and not JUMP!

Movie Review Madness - The Girl on the Train

I loved the book The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, and to me, the movie does an excellent job of bringing the book to life.  Emily Blunt is superb as Rachel, a boozy unreliable  narrator. She rides the train every day but is she really going to work. She can see out over her ex-house that her ex-husband (a creepy Justin Theroux) has with his new wife (Rebecca Ferguson – always good) and baby girl. Then there are the neighbors – the perfect couple that Rachel fantasize about.  Meagan (new hot It Girl Haley Bennett) ends up dead.  Say what?  How, why, and did Rachel see something?

It’s a convoluted puzzle with Allyson Janney as the detective who questions Rachel’s integrity, report, and reliability.  Throw in a therapist for Meagan – was she having an affair with him?  Cheating, hot babysitter, and so much more.  The book was intense and gave an added layer to the story. It could convey the confusion. The film does a very good job of giving us a back and forth thread – it bounces between characters and Rachel’s drunken interpretation of events.

All in all, Emily Blunt is the key to The Girl on the Train. She’s a fine actress who truly embodied the character and keeps us both hating and rooting for her. She adds a vulnerability to the written character.  I don’t think the switch from London to New York was necessary, but it worked okay. I liked this film and I do recommend reading the book too. Cover all bases

Movie Review Madness - Huntsman: Winter's War

The Huntsman: Winter’s War is entertaining, but could use editing to tighten the story.  This is a prequel to Snow White and the Huntsman and thankfully does not have Kristen Stewart in it.  Eric and Sara are raised in ice Queen Freya’s army. Eric evolves into Chris Hemsworth (oh, he is mighty and beautiful),  and Sara is played by Jessica Chastain (lovely  and fearless). Queen Freya (Emily Blunt) is heartbroken from the death of her child and is frozen in hatred for the concept of love. She rules the north. Her evil sister, Ravenna (the gorgeous Charlize Theron) is trapped in the magic mirror.

Eric and Sara try to hide their growing love, but Queen Freya, aware of their plot to flee her kingdom manages to stop them and both think each other died. They then move, unaware, in fighting circles drawing ever closer to a huge battle between Freya and Ravenna. When they do encounter each other and join forces to nab the mirror from the ogres, there is still a lot of mistrust – abandonment issues. The final epic battle between fire and ice has some excellent special effects. This movie is full of eye candy and well done scenic richness.

The cast seems like they worked well together and enjoyed their roles. I think the writers could have upped the humor quotient a tad, but the drama overflowed. The Huntsman: Winter’s War is a good Saturday rental. Order your pizza, settle into your comfy lounge chair, and place your bets on Freya or Ravenna – ice or fire, or….?

Movie Review Madness: Into the Woods

It had been a long time since I saw the stage musical “Into the Woods”, but I have fond memories of its magic. Now the movie directed by Rob Marshall is on screen and it’s a lush production. Into the Woods has  a great cast and is faithful to the story as  a childless couple seek to end a witch’s curse.  However, it seemed really long despite just two hour running time. And Stephen Sondheim music is tricky – it’s not hummable, but it does tell the tale. If sing-talk annoys you, then stop reading now.  

Emily Blunt (baker’s wife) has a lovely voice. I liked her best. James Corden (baker) is pleasant. Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf is amusing. The young lady playing Red Riding Hood has a nice set of pipes, and the boy Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk) took his part well.  Anna Kendrick (Cinderella) is decent but a tad shrieky on high notes. Chris Pine (the Prince) is dashing and he says, “I was raised to be charming, not sincere.” He appeared to have fun in his role and could sing just fine. The star is the witch and Meryl Streep can certainly act -  but to me, she is only an adequate singer. Critics are suggesting Oscar nomination – I say no.  

All of these characters converge in the woods and all seek different things. The Bakers want a child and must gather four items – a red hood, a white cow, golden hair, and a gold slipper – by the blue moon so the witch can create her potion and lift a curse upon them. Thus encounters with Red Riding Hood, Cinderella escaping the ball, Jack taking his family cow to market, and Rapunzel stuck in a tower are crucial to the success of the Bakers. All must conquer fears, and learn about risks. There are lessons in the songs and the famous song “Children Will Listen” is important.  

All in all, I liked the film okayish (C+, B-) for my $4.50. It kept me warm on a cold day for two hours. However, unlike some musicals (like Rob Marshall’s Chicago) this did not generate audience energy. You did not want to burst into song or tap dance or do jazz hands. However, it makes you think as you go “into the woods”  (i.e. enter your own life challenges) and come out on the other side.