All posts by Kenna

“Wish Upon” Storyline

fantasy, horror, thriller, ,

Directed by John R. Leonetti, the Wish Upon arrives twelve years after discovering her mother’s suicide. The movie follows seventeen-year-old Clare Shannon, played by Joey King, is not only bullied in high school, embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father Jonathan, played by Ryan Phillippe, but ignored by her longtime crush.

Yet, all that changes when her father comes home with an old music box whose inscription promises to grant its owner seven wishes. While Clare is initially skeptical of this magic box, she can’t help but be seduced by its dark powers and is thrilled as her life radically improves with each wish.

But, finally, she has the life she’s always wanted, and everything seems perfect – until the people closest to her begin dying in violent and elaborate ways after each wish. Oh….now the plot thickens.

Clare realizes that she must get rid of the box but finds herself unable and unwilling to part with her new and improved life—leading her down a dark and dangerous path.

“Captain Underpants” Funny Movie for Kids

animation, based on a book, children movies, comedy, family movies, kid movies, , , , , ,

Get ready for an over-the-top, prank-filled superhero comedy that families will love.

Directed by David Soren, Captain Underpants is based on a popular book series and stars Kevin Hart and Ed Helms.

DreamWorks put the movie together, and the winded title is  Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. It’s a light and zippy movie, brimming with jokes, pratfalls, and action akin to a comic book. It’s aimed at kids who also like slightly gross humor and superhero parody.

This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters, George and Harold. They hypnotize their school principal, Mr. Drupp, into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero, Captain Underpants.

I thought all school principals thought they were superheroes.

“The Lovers” Themes of Marriage and Fidelity

comedy, drama, ,

Directed by Azazel Jacobs, The Lovers looks like a fun movie to watch as long as the funny moments are actually funny.

Performances by Debra Winger and Tracy Letts

The movie follows Michael, played by Tracy Letts, and Mary, played by Debra Winger, who are long past passion, never mind patience, after decades of turmoil and tedium in their marriage.

Each is now contentedly distracted by a lover on the side. And each fully intends to call it quits on the other after one last family get-together with their collegiate son, played by Tyler Ross.

So, we meet Michael’s fiery ballet teacher, played by Melora Walters, while Mary is holding her guy, a playful novelist played by Aidan Gillen.

A Marriage Rekindled

But when the dried-up spark between Michael and Mary unexpectedly, indeed feverishly, reignites, it sends their plans into chaos, forcing them to navigate the hilarious new complications of having to “cheat” on their respective lovers. It all sets the stage for a collision of betrayals and agendas that crescendos to a truly unforgettable ending.

Edgar Wright Directed “Baby Driver”

action, drama, romance, thriller, , , , , ,

Directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver follows a talented young getaway driver, played by Ansel Elgort, who I adored in The Fault in Our Stars, who relies on the beat of his soundtrack to be the best in the game.

The Soundtrack

When he meets the girl of his dreams, played by Lily James, Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss, played by Kevin Spacey, he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love, and freedom.

Themes and Tone

The film blends crime, romance, and high-speed action with a brilliant soundtrack. The story follows Baby’s struggle to escape his unlawful past, safeguard the people he loves, and find an everyday life with the woman he loves.

Here is another poster, and I like this one better because it shows the stellar cast, and the movie is available on Amazon. 

“Song to Song” Terrence Malick’s Romantic Drama

drama, music, romance, , , ,

Directed by Terrence Malick, who brought us The Thin Red Line and The Tree of Life, this modern love story is set against the Austin, Texas, music scene.

Plot, Cast, and Review

Song to Song romance drama follows two entangled couples—struggling songwriters Faye, played by Rooney Mara, and BV, played by Ryan Gosling, and music mogul Cook, played by Michael Fassbender, and the waitress whom he ensnares, played by Natalie Portman. They chase success through a rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.

I am curious how this will play out with Malick’s style of artful and non-sequitur cutaways he uses to tell a deep and meaningful life of his characters.

Dreamlike Story of Love and Music

The Andy Warhol-style poster is pretty cool and conveys a modern twist on Pop Art and its crazy, eschewed pop culture.

Charlize Theron in “Atomic Blonde”

action, based on a book, comedy, , , , , , ,

Directed by David Leitch and starring Oscar-winning Charlize Theron, Atomic Blonde appears to be a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution and double-crossing hives of traitors. But it is actually a hilarious movie. The trailer is such a wonkier.

Atomic Blonde Action Scenes

The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton, played by Theron, is equal parts spycraft, sensuality, and savagery, willing to deploy any skill to stay alive on her impossible mission.

Sent alone to Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival, played by James McAvoy, to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies. Does this make any sense? It’s hilarious.

Why Atomic Blonde Stands Out

The rest of the cast is just awesome. The movie also stars John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella and Toby Jones. The film is based on the graphic novel series The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and illustrator Sam Hart.

Atomic Blonde Cast and Characters

I saw two interviews with Charlize and Sofia. Both offered some insight into their lives. Charlize mentions Apartheid and Berlin during the Cold War. Sofia talks about how stunt work is quite different than dancing.

Johansson in “Rough Night”

comedy, drama, , , , ,

Directed by Lucia Aniello, Rough Night is an edgy R-rated comedy starring Scarlett Johansson.

The film follows five college friends (Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz) who reunite ten years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami.

Bachelorette Party Chaos

They get wild and dark while their hard partying takes a hilarious turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most.

Tone and Humor

The movie is hilarious to watch, thanks to these talented actresses. The story is awkward, yet you might enjoy this wild, rough night.

“Before I Fall” Delivers a Favorable Story

based on a book, drama, teenagers

Samantha Kingston is a young woman who has it all. She’s popular with drop-dead gorgeous looks. Based on the 2010 young adult novel by Lauren Oliver, the film follows the book fairly well. Like most movies, there are trims and changes relating to time and reducing characters and subplots.

Time Loop Premise

Plus, she has a crush-worthy boyfriend and amazing best friends. Something happens that creates a time loop.

Before I Fall begins on February 12. It’s like every other charmed day in Sam’s life until it turns out to be her last.

Stuck reliving her last day during one inexplicable week, Sam untangles the mystery surrounding her death and discovers the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Message of the Film

The film received favorable reviews, but its ending may disappoint. The themes are important as a coming-of-age drama. It reflects on regret, bullying, empathy, and redemption.

Broadbent Stars in “The Sense of an Ending”

based on a book, drama, mystery, romance, , , , ,

Directed by Ritesh Batra, The Sense of an Ending follows a man, played by Jim Broadbent, who becomes haunted by his past and is presented with a mysterious legacy that leads him to rethink his current situation. 

The movie also stars Charlotte Rampling, Mathew Goode, Michelle Dockery, and Emily Mortimer. The movie is based on the Booker Award-winning novel of the same name by Julian Barnes.

 

 

The movie received favorable reviews, with praise focused on Jim Broadbent. His performance and the overall atmosphere were positive. But those who compared the movie to the book found it less satisfying than the novel.

Acting received much praise for its high-quality, reflective tone, creating a deeper connection with the audience.

I love watching Broadbent because he is so good and says so much with his simple look and stance.

A Homecoming of Betrayal and Regret “Trainspotting 2” Trailer

action, drama, sequels, , , ,

Directed by Danny Boyle about 20 years ago, Trainspotting was a cult sensation that launched the careers of Ewan McGregor and Boyle. Boyle won an Oscar for directing Slumdog Millionaire.

Friendship, Revenge, and Old Wounds

Now, Boyle and McGregor have teamed up again with the sequel to Trainspotting. What you get to see is first, there was an opportunity……then there was a betrayal. Twenty years have passed. Much has changed, but just as much remains the same. One thing, there are social media and devices, but there are still enemies.

The movie is available on Amazon and other streaming platforms.

Mark Renton Returns to Edinburgh

Mark Renton, played by McGregor, returns to the only place he can ever call home. They are waiting for him. If you have seen the first movie, you know they are Spud (played by Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (played by Jonny Lee Miller), and Begbie (played by Robert Carlyle).

Other old friends are waiting too with emotions like sorrow, loss, joy, vengeance, hatred, friendship, love, longing, fear, regret, diamorphine (Heroin), self-destruction and mortal danger. They are all lined up to welcome him, ready to join the dance.