2011 * PG-13 * 1h 51m I'll readily admit, I'm a big fan of Vince Vaughn. I love his early screwball comedies. Over the years, he's sure had provided his share of laugh out loud moments. But more recently, he's proven that he definitely has some significant acting chops as well. Take his most recent film "Nonnas" for example. What a great job he did. "The Dilemma" is an older film of his that could loosely be defined as a comedy. It's definitely a film that flew under the radar.
"The Dilemma" was directed by Ron Howard, who rarely disappoints. It's about Ronny (Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James), who have been best buds for ages. They're partners in an automotive supplier company and are trying to get Chrysler to buy into their shop. They're working on a way to give EVs a muscle car sound and feel. One day, Ronny catches Nick's wife Beth (Jennifer Connelly) having an affair with another man. Here's where the dilemma comes in. Just how does he break the news to his pal?
The story takes its share of twists and turns as it heads for a final resolution. Getting there is frustratingly comical. The film is categorized as a comedy. Well, maybe a dark comedy would be a better description. As an aside, I usually don't like Kevin James. I find him really irritating. But I enjoyed his performance here. If you're looking for a couple hours of first-rate entertainment, check this one out!
Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Youtube, Fandango, and other streaming services.
This is a sweet, coming of age film that tells the story of a young girl discovering herself and the beauty of the world around her. It’s also a landmark film, because it’s the first Australian film directed by an indigenous person. Jud Clerc directed and co-wrote it along with Steve Rodgers. Sweet As” is a semi-biographical movie based on Clerc’s participation in a photography camp when she was a teenager back in the 1980s. It proved to be a life-changing experience for her and ultimately led to her passion for the visual arts. This beautiful movie is an updated retelling of her fascinating story.
Murra, played by Shantae Barnes-Cowan (“The Redemption” “Wyrmwood Apocalypse”), is a young Aboriginal girl living with her single mother Grace (Ngaire Pigram). One evening Murra comes home to a wild, drug- and alcohol- fueled party. Things start to get out of hand when one of Grace’s friends chases after Murra and tries to break into her bedroom. She calls her uncle Ian (Mark Coles Smith), a policeman who breaks up the party and takes Murra home with him. She has a room at his house and it’s clear by the way it’s decorated, she’s stayed here before.
Ian does his best to look out for Murra. As an alternative to putting her in the Protective Services system, he signs Murra up for a photography camp. It’s an innovative program that gets at-risk kids out into the country and introduces them to the world of photography. A handful of teens have been chosen to venture into the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. It’s a wild and visually stunning part of the country. At first, Murra is reluctant to join the group, but she resigns herself to the fact that it beats the alternative.
The group is clearly in safe hands. The driver and leader of the expedition is steadfast and no-nonsense Mitch ((Tasma Walton). Like Murra, she’s also of Aboriginal descent. Nando (Carlos Sanson Jr.), a handsome, gentle Latin-American refugee is the photography expert, and he’s just bubbling with enthusiasm at the opportunity to introduce these teens to photography and share his knowledge with them.
Murra is introduced to the rest of the group. There’s the other girl Kylie (Mikayla Levy) who’s the free-spirited rebel of the pack. When the teens are forced to turn in their phones in exchange for a camera at the beginning of the trip, Kylie secretly hides a second phone so she can keep in constant contact with her much older and controlling boyfriend. Sean (Andrew Wallace) is an intelligent, quiet boy who’s there because of his numerous suicide attempts. Rounding out the group is Elvis (Pedrea Jackson), a super-friendly, likable sort who gets along with everyone. It isn’t till much later in the film when we learn his tragic background.As one would expect when throwing a bunch of disparate teens together, there’s a bit of friction at first between the kids. The tension is particularly strong between Murra and Kylie—they’re both headstrong and determined young women. Eventually they resolve their differences and become chums.
The adventure the group embarks on is truly eye-opening. They head into a desolate and stunning part of the country. It’s a region held sacred by the indigenous people who have great respect for the land, its flora and fauna, and especially its people. Nando teaches the teens the importance of really looking at the world and having the photographs they take speak from their hearts. A good deal of the story focuses on Murra and her interpretation of what she visualizes. Whenever she takes a photo, the frame freezes for a few seconds and the title she gives it appears on the screen. It’s a clever device that works well to explain how she views her surroundings.
In addition to the excellent acting, a couple of other factors help contribute to making this such a powerful film. I especially enjoyed the soundtrack. It’s a wide variety of indigenous music which ranges from upbeat reggae style tunes, to quiet, thoughtful folk numbers. I doubt it’s available to purchase, but I’d be the first in line to buy it if it was. Then there’s the brilliant camerawork of cinematographer Katie Milwright. She not only uses closeups of the kids to help convey what they’re experiencing, she paints a beautiful cinematic portrait of the landscape. It’s a part of the country that’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The rich, red ochre mountains almost look fake, they’re that colorful. We’re treated to one surprising scene after another.
This is one of those films where I can totally empathize with the main character. Sure, she’s an Aboriginal teenage girl living with an alcoholic, drug abusing mother in Western Australia, participating in a photography camp. And I’m, well...just about the opposite. When I was a freshman in high school, I was a bit of a drifter and struggled to fit in. Then I took a photography class with an inspiring teacher who not only taught me how to take photos and use the darkroom, he changed the way I looked at the world. He almost single-handedly turned my life around. A little bit like Murra’s story.I can’t recommend this movie highly enough. I’m not surprised it’s received numerous awards at various film festivals including TIFF and the Berlin International Film Festival. It’s one I think the whole family will enjoy.
Note to parents: The film is not rated but I’d probably rate it PG-13. There’s a little bit of swearing and some underage drinking. But I think overall, the subject matter is appropriate for teens.
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla with your library card. And to rent on Apple TV and Amazon.
2016 * TV-MA * 1h 41m I have mixed feelings about Ricky Gervais. I know a lot of people can't stand him. I enjoy his "Spinal Tap" type characters where he plays the clueless idiot. I also just loved him as the downtrodden, sensitive guy in the brilliant series "After Life." But I just hate his stand-up comedy. Actually, I've never made it through a stand-up performance of his and had to bail early, every time I've tried.
But if you enjoy his dumb characters, you'll love him in this hilarious movie. He plays off perfectly with the cool, level-headed Eric Bana. Bana is a seasoned radio correspondent and Gervais plays his dim-witted sound man. The two of them get a choice assignment covering a Latin American country in the midst of a revolution. They're all set to head out on the last plane into the country, when by a ridiculous mishap, they lose all their papers, visas, and passports. Rather than confess their idiocy, they hole up in an apartment near their radio station in New York City and fake their "live" coverage of the events as they unfold.
It's a ridiculous situation, and that's the brilliance of the movie. There's simply one coverup after another. The movie takes a couple unexpected turns that just add to the hilarity of the story. Both actors turn in brilliant performances. I should warn you, if you don't like the dumber side of Gervais, you might want to take a pass. I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny. But then again, I'm an idiot.
2020 * PG-13 * 1h 59m I call this a Pre-Apocalyptic movie. It's near what could turn out to be the end of life on earth as we know it. It's a nail-biting, action thriller, taken to the next level by fine performance by both Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin. The special effects are also worth mentioning. They're incredibly realistic and will scare the bejesus out of you!
John Garrity (Butler) designs skyscrapers for a living. He lives a comfortable life with his wife Allison (Baccarin) and their son Nathan (Roger Dan Floyd). A potential cataclysmic event is looming on the horizon. A huge comet is heading for the earth. It's going to break up and potentially destroy most of life on the planet. John has been chosen to be transported to Greenland to be a part of a team to rebuild earth. Only one problem: his son has diabetes and the government won't allow sick people to join the rebuilding folks.
So John and his family opt for "plan B" and are going to head for Canada and make their way to Greenland on their own. The clock is ticking and there's little time left until the major part of the comet is going to hit. Their journey is about an hour and a half of some of the most intense movie viewing I've seen in quite a while. If you like a good thriller, don't miss this one!
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on HBO/Max. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon, Fandango, and other services.
2015 * Not Rated * 1h 24m I'm a big fan of Cloris Leachman. I think she's one of the most underrated actors of all time. I've enjoyed everything I've seen her in, especially her role in the hilarious and off-beat comedy show, "Raising Hope." She an absolute riot in this funny movie. Actually, she outshines everyone else in it.
Phillip (James Wolk) and his sister Megan (Micky Sumner) are charged with driving their grandmother Estelle (Leachman) up to Seattle where they're going to put her in an assisted living facility. Well, Estelle wants nothing to do with traveling with her grandkids and hops in her car and takes off. Unbeknownst to her, Megan has stashed a bunch of drugs in the trunk of her car. So the siblings are soon in hot pursuit of their grandmother. But Estelle isn't traveling alone. She had her favorite pet dog stuffed after it died, and she keeps her beloved pet with her at all times!
The movie is filled with the usual road trip antics. And Ms. Leachman is a hoot, delivering her usual filthy and caustic comments. I thought the rest of the actors were passable, but Leachman certainly more than made up for the mediocre supporting actors. If you're looking for a funny road trip flick, give this one a try!
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla, Tubi Pluto, and Plex. And to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and other services.
