MONUMENTS MEN (2014) movie review

Learn your  A B C’s:the-monuments-men-uk-quad-posterA lways trust George Clooney.

B elieve in Bill Murray.

C ast Matt Damon in anything.

D on’t forget Cate Blanchett.

E njoy Bob Balaban as much in this as in Guffman or Moonrise Kingdom.

F eel the weight of loss when you realize that Hitler stole everything from people when he took their lives.

G reet Goodman, as ever, a force and a friend, like a grandfather you fear but can’t wait to see.

H ugh Bonneville, Downton’s Lord Grantham, stayed true to form in his stately address and attire.

I nnocuous as art may seem, when paired with the destruction of so much of Europe, its loss must have felt like insult to the injuries caused by war.

J oin ever sweet Jean Dujardin and the team in rescuing stolen art with their suave personalities and winning smiles.the-monuments-men_wide-5c74020332c43e14e25bfc06079da41ee6d50dc5-s6-c30

K eep
L ooking though you
M ay
N ever clear the
O bstacles
P ervading your
Q uest.
R emember that your
S oul is
T he art of the
U niverse’s Creator who
V alues you, knowing you are
W orth treasuring, as
eX tingushable as
Y ou may feel.

NaZ i soldiers obeyed orders, feeling they were right, but Clooney’s troop of Monuments Men sought to remind all why we fight.2013-mostanticipated-monumentsmen-full

BRICK MANSIONS (2014) movie review


640_Brick_Mansions_RelativiEach year around my birthday, a new Fast & Furious franchise film hits big screens to my deep joy. In no other films do lack of plot and surf culture dialogue marry special effects lighting on, in, and around fast cars…until now. Paul Walker’s last film, dedicated to his memory, is a screen gem to keep on the shelf next to his F&F series.

As an intentional movie viewer,  it’s refreshing at times to take off the hat of a serious critic and replace it with the cap of zero expectation.

Brick-Mansions-David-Belle1Brick Mansions features a parkour expert for the whole first hour, thrilling audiences with hurdles over unlocked doors. Doorknobs are for sissies who can’t handle the inner city life. His  indistinguishable French accent ceases to be a problem as soon as he teams up with Paul Walker, who refuses to explain that he’s an undercover cop working with not against the man they all call “Frenchie.” They fight it out like so many battling brothers only to treat the streets like Channing Tatum would, with choreographed Step Up-esque moves, heavy brick throwing, and jumping action. The team has to rescue the girl who wears her school-girl uniform to her waitress job. Turns out she has moves too, and can take out the brute squad cat fem fatale in mini leather shorts and uncomfortable looking bustier.
brick-mansions-image02 Brick-Mansions-Movie-Review-Image-2 brick-mansions-4The girl fight is far too weapon-enhanced and gruesome, but somehow they walk away unscathed. Herein lies the beauty of these game-to-life films: 9 lives, stolen rockets, briefcase bomb threats, and dirty politicians. But don’t worry, the ultimate bad guy drug lord eats his veggies and will run for Mayor in the end.brick-mansions-image06

Two words that this wonder film lacked: Vin Diesel. Guess we’ll have to wait for FF7.

Thank you, Paul Walker. These words are not enough for the yearly joy you brought into my life and to so many others. You, your work, and your philanthropy will not be forgotten.paul-walker_0

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER (2014) movie review

new-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-poster-lands-155226-a-1391176951-470-75This is NOT a film to take kids to.

Seizing : with purposeless violence. Sure the re-awakened Naziesque spy-game-death-threat works, but the tide rolls in and out. A long scene of heavy violence flows in followed by a casual sit down chat about what could be causing the violence. And over and over. What happened to “zero body-count” kind of films.Chris_Evans-Captain-America-Photo-1Tons of death makes this a frustrated jaw-clencher / forehead-furrower.  It has some very cool action sequences, don’t get me wrong. It passes my Dad’s BEAK test: Big Explosions and Kicking. Add bounding parkour and the cap playing skins vs. shirts, and I’m in. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by well-chorographed fight scenes. But I can’t help feeling like this film was more like gaming, earning credits for hits taken out, than an action film with character, quirk, and purpose.

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Gushing: with well-meant dialogue…”They call him the Winter Soldier.”

captain-america-winter-soldier-trailerThe so-called Winter Soldier… is in the film very little. Also, Captain America, in the title role, plays a definite backseat to Nick Fury as the driver and Black Widow sitting shotgun as navigator. Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johanssen get more screen time…if you don’t count the forty minutes (or so it felt) of the Cap walking despondently through his section of the museum or talking to his old lady first love with CG lips.

Chris-Evans-in-CAPTAIN-AMERICA-THE-WINTER-SOLDIER-e1396169452664Wishing: with all of my Marvel love that this film could get more than a C+, especially since it stars my first love (other than Ralph Macchio) Robert Redford, who at least can still claim to be charming. izrg

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014) movie review

Grand-Budapest-Hotel-The-posterA Line of Honest Verse
By: S.Platter

 

Disappointed my heart; expectations were buzzing

I thought well with casting, pastels, and odd cakes

Anderson

So vulgar it’s brazen, filthy constant bold cussing
Bloody digits now severed and prison shiv stabbings
Disgusting

the-grand-budapest-hotel-ralph-fiennesBeauty and gore, It’s a viewer’s discretion
Mustachioed, dainty, Finnes funny filanderings:
paradox.

A most twinkling star cast boasts of cameos aplenty:
Jude Law and Bill Murray, Brody and Finnes, and then
Swinton.

brilliant-new-poster-arrives-for-the-grand-budapest-hotel-151538-a-1387438468-470-75Amidst wonderful wishing lark leary retreats,
The Grand Budapest sits astride time zones
waiting

For narration illuminating two tragic stories.
A young tale like a love song with rough twists most
Barbarous.

revolori1Classic emotionless dialogue lilting
On breathtaking canvas like frosting
from Mendls

How is one film so two-toned with
Filth- lusty pageantry?
What romance. What grimace. No innocent
Moonrise.

531a1fc75209ba3172b111b5_7-the-grand-budapest-hotelWill the red Zissou beanie capped Anderson fans
Appreciate Monseniour Gustaf H and his
lobby boy?

Of the wild conversations ensuing from Budapest,
I have no doubt dinners will bubble
And coo.

All the beards and rimmed glasses, a flannel menagerie.
Seattlite audiences bursting
For joy

But I remain tossed over licenses taken,
Like a teaspoon of dung in a cake mix
Unnoticed?

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (2013) movie review

Ben Stiller in a still from The Secret Life of Walter MittyI held my breath so many times. When it was too beautiful or too shocking or when I was too worried for our hapless hero. Don’t miss this journey into adventure, into bravery and joy, into LIFE and living it.Ben-Stiller-Secret-Life-of-Walter-Mitty-Life-Magazine

the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-ben-stiller-behind-the-scenes-636-370Starring and directed by Ben Stiller, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an instant family classic reminding us to seize life and live it. It also shows the value in cherishing everyday moments that seem mundane, those unposted, ungrammed, forgettable day-to-day type events like work and meals. inspiring-full-trailer-for-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-4My friend Dan says, “No one posts pictures of themselves in their cubicles at work because they don’t seem glamorous enough for Facebook, but we all go to work and it’s okay.” Dan is wise. Flat, grey paper Mitty from side A of the film would not agree, but post-transformation Walter Mitty feels the valuable weight of each moment.

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film-walter-mitty
Don’t worry. It’s not a spoiler. Every character must undergo transformation. Dorothy must go over the rainbow but return to admit that “There’s no place like home.” The Grinch-heart must grow 3 sizes. The underdog must win. Even the bad guy must see his ills in a mirror and move to change and become likable.  Transformation.

WalterMitty4Life Magazine‘s humorous first motto was “While there’s Life, there’s hope.” Stiller offers another cinematic take which graffiti fonts the film and leads Mitty on his path to self-discovery. Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt, and other TV funny people walk alongside Stiller holding hands with greats like Sean Penn and Shirley MacLaine.  It’s a beautiful film. I went with my family after Christmas. We will most likely go again. Probably tomorrow.the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-3

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

SAVING MR. BANKS (2013) movie review


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saving-mr-banks-mary-poppins

Saving Mr. Banks is a beautiful film reawakening Mary Poppins as an eternal classic. Etched into the psyches of most adults who watched it as children, we all know, for instance, that a spoon full of sugar actually does make the medicine go down. For every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.  Children should play games, all sorts.  Height can be measured by one’s character and be “practically perfect in every way.” Birds are meant to be sung to and fed, tuppence-a-bag. Sister suffragettes have earned a glee-filled “well done!” Neighbors have their quirks and canons. Street art is best. Carousels are magical. Uncles often get lost in their own jokes and must be brought back down to earth. Chimney sweeps were the first dirty dancers. Mothers should all be allowed to hire governesses, cooks, and cleaners. Fathers must be forgiven for working hard and then we must teach them to fly kites.

Saving-Mr-Banks-TrailerEmma Thompson plays P L Travers, British author of the Mary Poppins books. Her character appears to be the quintessential British matron with grand expectations and low tolerance for superfluous nonsense. What a pairing with the original imaginarian, Tom Hanks as Walt Disney himself. This film peaks through the office doorway into the early glory years of Disney. mary-poppins3-560x457As an adult, I still believe that Disneyland is the best place, “happiest on earth” as it claims to be. I love it so much. It remains quaint but moves forward, new and inventive while reviving vaulted delights at will. Creativity personifies within those gates, often showing up as the Mouse.

Saving-Mr-Banks1

Tom Hanks in Saving Mr Banks

The brilliantly cast Colin Farrell is Mr. Banks, the one who must be saved. And Paul Giamatti delights with his quiet affirmations. He won me over as well.  Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak march in as the brilliant unsung jolly song writing duo who turned so many children’s books into a show giving characters musical life.

Saving-Mr-Banks-BJ-Novak-Jason-Schwartzman

What we don’t realize while watching Mary Poppins that it battles heart wrenching issues, offering hope to children when real life gets them down. Though slower-paced than Poppins, edgier and more emotional, Banks is all heart as it endears and renders fathers forgivable at long last.

movies-saving-mr-banks-colin-farrell

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2013) movie review

MuchAdoWhedon-thumb-630xauto-26520Straight Shakespeare, and all black and white, but half way through I forgot both. This is a modern drunken romp through an old story.

Title and meaning: Shakespeare knew that this was a play based on misunderstanding and people making much of nothings, of well-placed bywords and hearsay. It’s all the dramatic irony of friends preying upon each other’s longings and relationships. A timely compliment or critique allows for the two feistiest creatures to believe that the other loves him, loves her. Then all infatuations are tested when exclusivity comes into question. The whole things looks to turn tragedy until you recall that Shakespeare played either /or, the twain never to meet. So it is comedy and all set aright with a few twists of fate and three veiled faces testing the young man’s honor and metal. Public disgrace makes room for public joy and, of course, a dance of forgiveness.

joss-whedon-much-ado-about-nothing-2012

See this film if you love the play. It does cross more moral lines than the play, but it maintains the PG-13. It gives new faces to beloved characters, and the actors are true professionals and Joss Whedon own friends gathering for this revival play at his own home. The players ring true as best friends spending the summer together at a friend’s house filming for fun. So much so that it feels a bit peep-holeish at times.
movies-much-ado-about-nothing-tom-lenk_1

The favorite guest is Nathan Fillion as Dogberry, a role I happily admit to playing in college. The lines are still dear and so funny. Fillion is lovable in every role, especially as title character in his show “Castle.”

Whedon is proving Jack-of-all & master-of-all. It seems he is a Midas where film is concerned, directing and writing sci-fi, action, and now Shakespeare well. Should he take up knitting, he could easily pearl a city.

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RED 2 (2013) movie review

Red-2-2013-1

I can’t decide on a solid thumbs up or down on this one, so here is the good, bad, & ugly revealed:

The GOOD guys are still killers with blood lust. The one innocent character maintains an almost perverse fascination while holding to her “please don’t kill them” m.o..crop-RED2-004

Red-2-Can-you-shoot

The best of best actors converge here as quirky assassins offering and receiving relationship advice as they travel the world.bruce-willis-helen-mirren-red-2-teaser-trailer

The BAD: massive body count. Laughable to most audiences but unbelievable in sheer numbers. It’s almost all action and shooting. It of course has sweet moments, but mingled in murder. A scene that shows this most aptly is one in which Helen Mirren sits in evening gown, fur stole, and jewels offering tips over the phone on how to keep romance alive, all while she disposes of numerous bodies.red2_620_011813

The UGLY truth is that death is not well received in real life. One death in the family produces real and long lasting grief. What are we allowing with this senseless satisfaction in calling murder entertainment? Yes, I love a good crime drama. Hitchcock is a favorite, and he was quoted once saying, “I’ve brought murder back into the home where it belongs.” We often say we will protect children from watching too much violence and sex, but what about ourselves? Murder is wrong. We know this. But when do we begin to enjoy mayhem rather than protect our minds from the force of evil disguised as comedy?Anthony-Hopkins-Red-2-poster

 

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013) movie review

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We are here as witnesses to one another’s stories. Some stories I just wouldn’t want to miss. This film excavates human emotion while exploding (quite literally) on-screen. I love JJ Abrams. He understands my need to connect with the characters and my almost equal desire for on-screen action. He took the Trek dynasty to another level. My expectations, though very high, were more than met. I felt lucky to witness this.76251355166072-hh-27766r-2

Lessons in leadership: I swear it was like watching Twenty-seven Secrets of Highly Effective Leaders onscreen (…I made up that book title FYI). ie…Sometimes we must fight the instinct to go out guns blazing and instead trust the people around us to use their gifts to work together in order to win the day.

Favorite moments: The heartbreaking wordless scene near the beginning felt “Up“esque in its ability to tell a visual story. Beautiful. Brilliant.star_trek_into_darkness_2013-wide

Music in Film: I love Giacchino’s scores. I’m always listening for LOST moments in his sound.

“Stop with the metaphors, Bones!”:  What did they say in the special featurette of the first JJ Star Trek film (2009)? …something to the tune of “Star Trek has always been beautiful classical music. Star Wars is rock and roll. We wanted to combine the two.” That’s what they’ve done with the new Trek films. There are so many gorgeous nods to old Trek, aka Tribbles, Spock yelling “Kaaaaaahhhhhnnn!” Oh, and that Cumberbatch… I just love it all.stid-t2-06

Here is a link to my review of the 2009 Star Trek film: https://splatteronfilm.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/star-trek/

In this next chapter, Captain Kirk’s story needed an arch. He HAD to play the classic pompous pilot ignoring his mentor’s pleas for humility, fight an impossible battle, and sacrifice for the good of the many. What happens when we must bury our mentors? Perhaps the last lesson they taught becomes the loudest voice, the unsolved mystery, the final fight left unresolved. Frodo had to go on alone to deliver the ring. Superman had to find his birth father to fulfill his destiny. Skywalker had to become a Jedi against all odds. Each of us must listen to our mentors, make choices, and learn from our mistakes. Sometimes we must venture into the darkness of our own hearts to recognize that even heroes need saving.stid-spock

ROBOT & FRANK (2012) movie review

RobotAndFrankPosterIt’s sweet. I did see it right after dental surgery, so I was on some strong pain medication. Perhaps this changed my perceptions a bit, but I walked away wishing I had a robot friend like the character coyly but simply called “Robot.”
Out the door with Data from the Next Generation, with Johnny 5, with the Small Wonder. This little guy never made 3-PO quips or pulled the stunts and whistles of the little R2 unit. The voice of Peter Sarsgaard will not awaken AI to allow the machines to scorch the sky. It will not instigate the murder of the one who could destroy Skynet. It has no dream of humanity. It doesn’t dream.

So what does it do?

robot-and-frank-movie-image-frank-langella-02It listens. It cooks & cleans. It assesses quality of life, becomes a daily companion, and verbalizes only curiosity, encouragements, and suggestions to the one human to whom it is assigned.

Wow. Bianca from Lars and the Real Girl may have been upstaged by Robot in this little indie film. Newbies Jake Schreier and Christopher Ford wrote and filmed a version of this in college, then got the green light to make it with much bigger budget this last year.

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The acting cast is stellar. No complaints. I love Marsden, Tyler, Sarandon, and especially Frank Langella as the cantankerous retired cat burglar suffering from dementia.

Slower moving but not without its twist endings, Robot & Frank is worth a watch.