Whatever Wednesday - Song Sung Blue

 Christmas afternoon I caught up with my pickleball gals and we enjoyed the film, Song Sung Blue. 

Based on a true story, Mike (Hugh Jackman) is a barely eking by singer. At a gig, he meets Claire (Kate Hudson) and they just  mesh. She's a single mom and also trying to get by in life. They connect with song and pull together as a Neil Diamond cover band..."an experience".

Slowly, they gain a following. They sound great and hey, you can't  go wrong with Sweet Caroline...so good, so good. 

Mike and  Claire marry. The kids get along. They get better gigs and even open for Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder is a fan.  But this is a real life story and unfortunately, there's a huge set-back. (I'm not going to say what, but it's a shocker).  The movie takes quite the  dramatic turn. They are living some song sung blues. 

I'll stop there. Just have a tissue handy. Hugh Jackman is  great as Mike Sardina.  Kate Hudson just glows as Claire. They have chemistry and  their voices are awesome together.  Neil Diamond's songs are fabulous.  The story might sound like a soap opera, but it's movie type true. Thumbs up per me and my friends. 

Monday Moments - Deadpool and Wolverine

As part of Ray's birthday celebration on August 1st, we caught a matinee of Deadpool and Wolverine. 

What a hoot. From the opener on, we chuckled, snickered, and laughed out loud. Deadpool ( Ryan Reynolds) is the king of snark. Just a continuous patter of current and past references. Hilarious. 

Meanwhile, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) tries to contain himself as he puts up with this guy. Big sigh. He's gruff, quick to temper and bare those claws. He's just so cool. 

The duo have to work through the time continuum thing to stop the end of all lives. The problem was started by Matthew MacFadyen's Mobius, and Emma Corrin's Cassandra (stuck in the Void).  

Whatever - the "plot" (we'll call it that loosely) is ridiculous. The key to the film is the Reynolds/Jackman chemistry - total bro connection and that makes the film very fun on the big screen. 

I will probably watch it again  when it comes to the Marvel row on Disney, just to listen for more funny references in all of the patter. 
 

Movie Review Madness - Reminiscence

 Watched Reminiscence on HBO Max, not in a theater.  I paused it maybe three times to get a snack, take a break, check on Ray.  Home movie watching is silly - I am easily distracted.  If I had paid money and seen it in the theater I would have watched and enjoyed without getting up and wandering around.  And that's my plug for in-theater viewing. 

Anyway - I enjoyed this movie. It was clever enough and actually did keep my interest in the plot. 

It's Miami in the future and it's under water.  Daytime is too hot to do anything. Folks sleep, etc. Night is when folks come alive and the whole underbelly of life emerges.  Hugh Jackman (Nick) runs a business involving memories - you submerge in a water tank and a disc is played that relives your best moments in your memory.  That's what people are into now while their lives are moments of desperation. 

Hugh is also a detective along with Thandie Newton (great actress). They are trying  to solve a missing girl's case, a mobster involved situation, and Hugh's obsessed with Mae (Rebecca Ferguson). 

Lots of intrigue, mixed up crap, and I can't give more detail. Reminiscence was a good flick, thanks to Hugh and cast. It had me guessing and was interesting future concept.  Thumbs up with a B+. 

Movie Review Madness - Greatest Showman

The Greatest Showman refers to P.T. Barnum, but it could also refer to Hugh Jackman, who portrays him in this musical. What can’t Hugh do? He sings, dances, and charms on screen. This is an excellent movie for his talents, and a fun two hours to watch.  Born incredibly poor and unloved, P.T. Barnum vows he’ll be a success someday. His father is a tailor and does work at a fancy estate. That’s where PT falls in love and vows to marry the daughter. He’ll show the father that he can provide. She (Michelle Williams) falls in love with P.T. for his energy, enthusiasm, and his dream. She slogs through as he loses job after job. The family is happy.

Then he buys a museum of oddities. He sees potential. It’s the early 1800s and folks do seek entertainment. The museum builds, of course, into a circus and it’s fun to see the permutations arise. P.T. Barnum likes to make a buck, is willing to take chances, and he respects but will use society outcasts – tiny Tom Thumb, a giant, bearded lady, dog boy, and more. Ultimately he seeks some acknowledgment, for the sake of his daughters. By wrangling a rich dandy (Zac Efron) into joining the business, Barnum hopes for legitimacy. He also branches out with Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) – vowing to make her famous in America. But she has eyes for him, wants to compromise him, and again he steps too close to fire.

The Greatest Showman is a spectacular film – colorful, full of pleasant tunes, an American rags to riches tale with a sideshow of memorable characters. And Zendaya flies overhead on her trapeze. Step right up folks and buy your ticket. Let Hugh entertain you in his top hat and red coat. Fill up on the cotton candy dream.

P.S. Barnum & Bailey Circus closed for good in 2017.  Just see the story on the big screen

Movie Review Madness: X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past is an excellent summer blockbuster movie. As bad as Godzilla was, this X-Men is that good and more. It has a smart story and ties in time travel with thought process. The world is bleak for mutants and humans and something has to be done. It’s determined that Wolverine/Logan (Hugh Jackman) needs to go back to the 1970s to bring Patrick Stewart’s Xavier (young James McAvoy) and Ian McKellen’s Magneto (young Michael Fassbender) together to stop Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing a professor. It sounds convoluted but it works.  

Very humorous when Logan wakes up on a waterbed and realizes the time travel worked. It’s smart and funny and it’s all in sync. The biggest kick to the movie is using Quicksilver (Evan Peters) to help stop time. There is an awesome kitchen scene where he rearranges some people and when the scene turns to action, the final shots and escape are brilliant.  

As per EW’s review, “just because a movie is huge doesn’t mean  you have to ham it up – that it’s possible to make a superhero flick feel as intimate as a piece of theater.” Thanks to superb acting, clever filmmaking, and a real story, X-Men: Days of Future Past is satisfying and entertaining. It’s fresh and resonates in our own world where folks are different and yet seeking the same truths in life.  We are all mutants in our own way. We are all human. Can’t we just get along?

 

Movie Review Madness: Prisoners

I haven't posted my movie viewing in order, but that doesn't mean this is not worthy. Indeed, fall movie season has begun and it is worth heading to the theater once again. Prisoners offers a stellar cast and an intense experience. Everyone in the theater collectively held his or her breath until the end. Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello have two kids and live in a normal suburban home in PA. He works construction and times are a bit tough. They head over to the neighbors up the street (Terence Howard and Viola Davis and their two kids) for Thanksgiving. The day is good - food, family, and friends. Then the two young girls (approximately age seven or so) ask to go back to Hannah's room to look for a toy. The parents agree thinking the older kids will go with them. Oops. Miscommunication leads to missing girls.

Earlier, when the kids went for a walk, there had been a camper parked on the street. The girls wanted to climb the ladder on it, but the elder brother said no. It had a creepy vibe. A description of the girls and the vehicle are given to the police, and the camper is found at the edge of the woods. As police approach, the driver suddenly guns it and crashes into a tree. No sign of the girls, and the guy played by Paul Dano is confused. He's twenty something with the mind of a ten year old who lives with his aunt (Melissa Leo).

Lack of clues but suspicion about this lone suspect lead to frustration. Hugh is certain that the detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) is not doing his job, and he takes matters into his own hands. He holds Dano captive and tortures him for a confession. Terence Howard reluctantly goes along. Life stops for these families and they are prisoners in their worry and fear. Layers of new clues slowly emerge, and the clock ticks. Who's right? Who's wrong? Where are the girls? I will not give away anymore. Plenty of twists and turns keep us guessing. Each performance is great, and you'll be on the edge of your seat. This is a solid R for violence. Hugh Jackman is coiled as only a desperate father can be. Prisoners holds you captive.

Movie Review: Les Miserables

Les Miserables is based on the classic by Victor Hugo and transformed into a British Musical which moved to a Broadway show in the 1980s. It's now getting it's due on the silver screen and is worthy of the theater experience. Directed by Tom Hooper, he actually had the actors sing their parts. No special dubbing later. Thus, many of the numbers are extra impressive for that effort. The movie is all music. Let me repeat - it is a musical with very very minimal talking. Now, if you are still with me - here's the scoop.

The story takes place in mid-1800 France - a time of huge contrast between the rich and poor. We meet Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who's been in prison for years due to stealing a loaf of bread. Once out he has to evade the evil Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe) and try to transform himself. Once a thief always a thief, and yet a crucial church encounter changes his soul. He manages to become the major of a small town and a factory owner. Unfortunately there's an incident and one of his young workers is kicked to the streets. Fantine (Anne Hathaway) is forced into prostitution and she tries to send money to her daughter.

Lives intertwine and Valjean ultimately eases Fantine's death by vowing to care for her girl, Cosette. Years march on and at different times, Valjean must flee with Cosette because Javert shows up. Finally, we get to the French Revolution. Cosette falls for a young rich fellow (Marius) who is fighting on the poor people's side. Marius and brawny young men build a barricade and face the French troops head on. Once again, Valjean and Javert butt heads. Valjean and Marius (Eddie Redmayne) are pulled together, war and possible death lurks, and love wins.

I just condensed a huge book, a three hour show, and an almost three hour movie into two paragraphs. Whew! So, here are some salient points. The movie is a tad too long. That's only one complaint - some editing needed. The other is that Russell Crowe was miscast as Javert - his voice is one tone and he stays too stoic. He needed to emote a bit more.

Now for the goodies - Hugh Jackman is in the role of his lifetime. He sings, he acts, and we root for him and his soul. The song "Bring Him Home" is chilling. Anne Hathaway as Fantine is excellent. She's not in the film for long, but her tremulous "I Dreamed a Dream" song will bring tears. Wow! And finally, the young men at the barricades - I loved their numbers. Eddie Redmayne was a standout and his songs of yearning and sadness, etc were solid. There's some comic relief courtesy of Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the innkeeper and wife - they are nuts.

All in all, life in mid-1800 France looked darn miserable, but the human spirit prevails. Les Miserables, the movie, shall be rich in Oscar nominations. If you like musical drama, bring a hankie and hunker behind a barricade of popcorn. Vive la revolution!