2010 * TV-14 * 1h 34m For some reason, I've been seeing a lot of excellent teen movies lately. Maybe the algorithms have been pointing me in that direction. Anyway, this is one of those "Rebel with a Cause" type films. It was somewhat predictable, but I thought the acting and writing was above average. Very entertaining little flick.
Eddie "Gonzo" Gilman Ezra Miller) is a smart young upstart. He works on the school paper which is run by the super jock Gavin (Jesse McCartney). Gavin doesn't like to make waves and runs boring articles. When Gonzo has finally had enough, he starts his own radical paper. And what a stir he makes. He teams up with Evie (Zoe Kravitz) and runs the paper with a bunch of misfits, who are totally into bucking the system. They run articles about the school and its bullies that soon get the attention of the principal. As you'd expect, it gets Gonzo suspended. Then he takes it a little too far and he manages to make enemies of every single classmate.
Does he end up learning a lesson? You'll just have to give it a watch and see for yourself!
If you're looking for a fun movie with a bunch of young stars on their way to making it big, check out "Beware of the Gonzo."
Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card), Tubi, and Freevee. Also on Plex, Peacock, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.
2018 * Not Rated * 1h 45mOne of my favorite movie genres is science fiction. I’ve been a science nerd since I was a kid. So when I first saw the movie“2001: A Space Odyssey,” when I was a teenager, it blew me away. To this day it’s my favorite movie of all time. I’ve probably seen it at least a dozen times. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed numerous other sci-fi flicks like “Contact,” “Arrival,” and “Interstellar” to name but a few. What they all have in common is they’re intelligent movies that are totally believable, they’re well crafted, and they feature great performances.
I recently stumbled upon the film “Clara.” When I saw it described as a romantic science fiction movie I was a bit skeptical, to say the east. After all, romance and science are somewhat opposite notions. But that’s one of the main themes in this remarkable movie. It’s the sophomore effort of director Akash Sherman and what an impressive outing it is. “Clara” is a gently paced movie where the story slowly unfolds. You won’t find a lot of action but that’s its strength. What you will find is a beautiful story, sensational acting, and an ending that I can assure you, will take you by surprise.
We first meet Dr. Isaac Bruno (Patrick J. Adams), a professor of astrophysics giving a lecture. The good doctor is not exactly a people person, to say the least. In fact, he’s downright rude and condescending to his students. It’s this attitude that not only gets him in trouble, it gets him fired. At first he’s shocked, but he soon realizes that it’s a blessing in disguise. Bruno has long been obsessed with searching for intelligent life out in the universe, and this newly found free time could prove to be beneficial to his quest.
One day he spots a young woman in the atrium painting a mural of a colorful galaxy and he makes a mental note of her. Bruno is excited about a couple of recent events related to space exploration. One is the launch of the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) Space Telescope, which is an upgrade of the Kepler, which discovered a huge number of planets. The second event is the future launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will significantly enhance the search for new planets.
The race in on for scientists to discover potentially habitable planets using data gathered by TESS. The winner will be the first one to engage the use of the Webb Telescope. Isaac decides to hire an assistant and is a bit miffed when only one person responds to his flyers—Clara (Troian Bellisario), the muralist he noticed earlier. She turns out to be a bit of a mystery. When he interviews her he discovers she has no scientific training, and in fact, she hasn’t taken any college classes at all. She’s spent the past several years vagabonding around the world. Clara’s been living on the streets with her stray dog, and since no one else applied for the position, he hires her.
Clara turns out to be exactly what Isaac needs. She’s a hard worker, and brings a sense of passion and creativity to their work. While Isaac is the quintessential scientist, Clara is a freethinking, romantic soul. The scientific methodology for their search is explained in layperson’s terms, and it’s easy to understand. It adds credibility to the story and makes the film even more engaging. Isaac also relies on assistance from his colleague Dr. Charles Durant (Ennis Esmer) and his ex-wife Dr. Rebecca Jenkins (Kristen Hager). The pace of the film picks up as it heads to a conclusion that caught me totally off guard.
I really enjoyed the seamless blending of the romantic and scientific sides of the story—neither one overwhelmed the narrative. I thought the cinematography was decent as well. You might be surprised when I tell you the soundtrack included a mix of early Bob Dylan and quiet electronics from composer Jonathan Kawchuk. But trust me, it really does work. It enhanced an already wonderful viewing experience.
5 out of 5 stars
Note to parents: The film is Not Rated and I thought it would probably garner a PG-13 rating.
Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy and Hoopla. Also on Plex, Crackle, and to rent on Prime Video.
2016 * PG-13 * 1h 42m If you're looking for a heartfelt, offbeat, powerful drama, be sure to check out this wonderful film. I don't know why it didn't receive more attention when it was released, but that's Hollywood for you. It features some outstanding performances, gorgeous settings, and a beautiful story.
Wes (Jacob Tremblay is an eccentric young boy. His parents, Alise (Vera Farmiga) and Connor (Marton Csokas) are having a difficult time moving on after the loss of a child. One day Wes decides he's actually a Mongolian goat herder. At first his parents humor him, but eventually they have to come to terms with the fact that he really believes it. Wes befriends Ismail (Sure Sharma), a twenty-something man who works at the local car wash. Ismail dreams of becoming a filmmaker, and begins documenting Wes's story.
After posting clips of Wes on social media, the young man becomes an international celebrity. Then, Wes is off to Mongolia with his mom to meet with his peeps. And of course, Ismail is along for the ride to document the journey.
This is one of those films that you can't help but fall in love with. It's an emotional, tear-jerker that'll have you puddling up.more than once. The actors all do a great job, especially Jacob Tremblay. I think we're going to see a lot more of this young lad. Bravo!
5 out of 5 stars
Streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com and on Tubi. Also on Prime Video,
2017 * Not Rated * 1h 25m Another one of those off-beat indie coming-of-age gems. Not sure how I found this one, but I'm glad I did. It features an interesting story, fine writing, and an unbeatable cast. Asa Butterfield, Ellen Burstyn, Nick Offerman, and a young actor I wasn't familiar with, Alex Wolf.
Sebastian (Butterfield) lives with his grandma Josephine (Burstyn) in a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller in rural Minnesota. One day Alan (Offerman) leads a tour group of young kids through the house. It's there his son Jared (Wolf) strikes up a friendship with Sebastian. He's lived a life of seclusion and has ben homeschooled by his idealistic grandma, who not only was a friend of Fuller's, but is an aging hippie to boot. Sebastian soon finds out how much he's missed out in life and becomes a rebel.
Jared has recently had a heart transplant, but he doesn't let that stop him from living life to its fullest. He takes Sebastian on as a sort of protege and introduces him to the world of punk rock. The two decide to form a punk band and it's great fun to see them interact. They certainly manage to get into their fair share of trouble.
While it's somewhat predictable, the fine acting elevate "The House of Tomorrow" to the next level. If you're looking for a fun little flick, you won't be disappointed.
4 out of 5 stars
Streaming for free on Tubi and Freevee. Also on Peacock, Plex, Shout! Factory TV, and The Roku Channel.
