A Little Chaos

First Hit:  As with most period pieces it was slow in its development, yet it kept my interest to the expected conclusion.

Sabine De Barra (Kate Winslet) is a woman that has focused her single and alone life towards gardening. We learn later it wasn’t always that way, she wasn't always alone. Her work is noticed by Andre Le Norte (Matthias Schoenaerts) who is the King’s head garden designer.

King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman) decides to build the Palace of Versailles and wants the grounds to be exquisite. Andre is more conventional in his garden designs and likes organization. Sabine uses organization in a different way which includes natural flows (a little chaos). In those days, men had lovers and wives which, in this film, affects the King, Sabine and Andre in different ways.

The best scene in the film was when the King and Sabine are in an enclosed garden together and have an open peer to peer type conversation.

Winslet is great as the grieving and growing woman finding her place and love. Schoenaerts was a little too reserve for me, but that might have been the direction. Rickman is good and his natural tendency is reserved arrogance. As a King, it works. Jeremy Brock and Alison Deegan wrote this script. It’s a period piece so the dialogue is long winded, but the points they make about society in the time we’re well done. Rickman directed the film.

Overall:  I enjoyed moments of the film. Those times were when the King and Sabine were in conversation.

Aloha

First Hit:  At times the story was whimsical, then thoughtful, and generally improbable.

This film seemed like it didn’t know what it wanted to be. Was it a romance? Was it about how rich people and their companies try to influence and deceive the government for their own gain? Or was it about the culture and people of Hawaii and how they been treated by the government?

It probably was supposed to be all three and it failed because, in the end, the film didn’t work. I enjoyed the relationship between Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) and Allison Ng (Emma Stone). My heart was pulled by Gilcrest trying to put closure on his previous relationship with Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams).

The scenes between Brian and his friend John “Woody” Woodside (John Krasinski), Tracy’s current husband, were priceless.

The story about how the government is contracting satellite launches to private companies is real but the added piece that the contractor put a nuclear device on the satellite was improbable. This seemed to be part of the film so that there could be a hero. The part that would have made this story more interesting would have been to add scenes about native Hawaiians and how they viewed the land and the sky. Some of the more beautiful scenes were when Gilcrest and Ng were with the Hawaiians on their sacred land.

For the most part this film didn’t know what it wanted to be and the fault lies with the writer and director, Cameron Crowe.

Cooper was really good in moments in the film. When he’s working relationships, he’s superb, when it involves him working his job, his acting comes off as mixed and not embodied. Stone’s character was a little high strung for me and, I think, for her as well. It didn’t come off very well. When she settled down a little she created a wonderful character and it worked. Her chemistry with Cooper was great. John Krasinski was excellent as the silent quiet man who struggled with letting his feelings being shared. Bill Murray as the business man Carson Welch who was attempting to put the armed satellite into space was OK, but not really a great fit. Rachel McAdams, as Cooper’s old girlfriend and Krasinski’s wife, was good and her performance and believability was elevated when her daughter’s blood line was revealed. Best scene in the film? Probably when Gilcrest stands outside his daughter’s dance studio and they connect eye to eye. Cameron Crowe seem mixed in his ability to create and execute a cohesive story and film.

Overall:  Having the three stories in one film didn’t work and ended up creating a scattered, somewhat lifeless movie.

Far From The Madding Crowd

First Hit:  Strong acting on all fronts and with luscious photography this was a good film but its length took away from it being better.

This long famous Thomas Hardy novel has Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba Everdene;  a woman whose parents died while she was young.

She works on her Aunt’s farm, tills the soil and rides horses like a man; meaning in Victoria England women rode side saddle whereas Bathsheba rides straddling the horse. She is very strong, self assured, independent and wants to stay that way. Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), the sheep herder neighbor, is fully smitten by Bathsheba and after a few friendly visits, asks her for her and in marriage. She is shocked and says "no", explaining she doesn’t want to be married. She ends up inheriting a large home and land. After arriving she takes charge and immediately begins to make the land profitable.

Her wealthy neighbor William Boldwood (Michael Sheen) takes a liking to Bathsheba and also asks for her hand in marriage because he wants to take care of her (“provide safe harbor”). She turns him down as well. Then she becomes smitten by handsome and reckless soldier (Tom Sturridge) who touches her in more ways than one. She agrees to be married and soon regrets the decision. He fritters away her farm on gambling and eventually confides he loves another. This leaves Bathsheba to make some difficult decisions.

The movie is lusciously filmed and many details are exquisitely shared. The cast was well chosen, however the script is a little long winded in the way this story was shared.

Mulligan is very good. She definitely has grown as an actress and reverentially delivers this character role. Her semi-smile is her strong suit as it says so much. Schoenaerts is perfect as the noble, strong, silent, friend and suitor. Sheen is fantastic as the once spurned noble neighbor that sees and wants to have Bathsheba in his life. Sturridge is great as the charming, sexy soldier that has his way with Bathsheba. Jessica Barden is wonderful as Bathsheba’s assistant. Juno Temple as Fanny Robbin is great in the small and pivotal role as Sturridge’s true love. David Nicholls wrote an extended yet colorful screenplay. Thomas Vinterberg directed this well, just a little long.

Overall:  This was a film to just watch and luxuriate in its tone and tenure.

50 Shades of Grey

First Hit:  This film was 50 shades of boredom.

I didn’t read the books and I make it a point to not read books that may turn into a film. The experiences are very different and in the world of comparing things, it is generally a no win situation - either the book is better or the movie is better.

What was wrong with this film? No character development. The attempt to develop Christian Grey's (Jamie Dornan) character has him sitting on the edge of Anastasia Steele's (Dakota Johnson) bed and saying that he was raised by a crack head while Anastasia sleeps.

This is not character development. Anastasia saying she was a virgin and that she loved her stepfather is not history. Both of these items say something about the characters, but it isn’t enough to help the audience understand why they act and respond the way they do.

As the film progresses neither character evolves. Additionally, we know nothing as to how Grey makes his money. He seems to work very little because there are only a couple scenes where you think he’s suppose to be working. What you see is him telling someone on the other end of the line that what they are saying is unacceptable and to fix it. Was there chemistry between these lovers? I could sense Johnson doing a better job than Dornan in showing something, but Grey was virtually a desire-less slug.

The worst thing about this film, was that after about 45 minutes to an hour, I was looking around and away from the screen because I was bored stiff. I couldn’t wait until it ended.

Johnson was best in the first 30 minutes of the film, but she didn’t evolve very well. The only sign of growth was the scene of her sitting and negotiating the contact with Grey. Dornan was about as exciting as a doornail. He seemed stilted, out of place and without any depth whatsoever. There were other actors in this film but when the main characters are dull and lifeless, it takes someone doing something extraordinary to have me acknowledge it. Nothing in this film stood out. Kelly Marcel wrote a tired and lifeless screen play. The direction by Sam Taylor-Johnson was worse than the screenplay and acting because he got nothing out of any of those things.

Overall:  Its funny that the first week out this film did phenomenal business and when we were in a very large theater a week after the opening, there were maybe a dozen people. It is falling fast and justly so.

The Wedding Ringer

First Hit:  It was a very funny film – I enjoyed it.

The basic premise of the film is that if a guy needs a best man or groomsmen for a his wedding, he contacts Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) who will become your best man and best friend through the wedding for a price.

Callahan is quick to point out that as soon as his mission is filled, at the reception, he is to receive his final payment and then they are not friends any longer. It is just a business transaction. This film has set-up written all over it and it works. The groom in this case is Doug Harris (Josh Gad) who is marrying a women he never thought would look at him. Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) is beautiful and comes from a wealthy family.

Her father Ed (Ken Howard) is overbearing and nothing is good enough for his daughter. As the wedding day approaches, Doug is panicked about not having a best man and groomsmen. He finds Callahan who decides he’ll help Doug pull off the Golden Tux – Best man and 7 groomsmen. Funny bits include Doug’s choosing of the best man’s name (Bic Mitchum” – razor and deodorant) as was the introduction of Jimmy’s choices for best men.

The comedic chemistry between Hart and Gad as expressed through their two characters was fantastic. Their dance scenes together are wonderfully inventive and playfully skilled.

Hart was the best I’ve ever seen him. His rapid fire talking was more under control and here added to the role. Gad was revelation in that here he shined. He held the second lead character with surety. Cuoco-Sweeting was good and delivered what was needed in this supporting role. Howard was appropriately gruff and mean and it has been years since I’ve seen him in a role (remember "The White Shadow" on television). Mimi Rogers, another actor I’ve not seen in a very long time was good in a minor roles as Sweetling’s mother Lois. Jennifer Lewis as Doris Jenkins, Callahan’s assistant was great and stole the scenes she was in. Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender wrote this funny and strong script which Garelick did a great job of making it all work.

Overall:  A very entertaining film and one that you can escape and trust.