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Flash Movie Review: El Conde
I BELIEVE I AM LIKE MOST people, maybe a little more than average when it comes to having regrets. They used to weigh me down in the past, but I think that is because I worried and had so many of them. Or at least I thought I did. One regret was for all the unnecessary shopping or what I like to call it, therapy shopping, I used to do. Whenever I was down or upset, I would pull out my charge card and go to a store, usually only one because that was sufficient to get me out of my funk, at least for a brief period of time. My favorite places to go shopping were book and record stores. I could get lost in bookstore and before I realized it, I had a dozen books I wanted to purchase. My other favorite shopping haunts were this specific local department store and a nationally known discount store. The discount store was usually saved for deeper regrets because I could spend little money but get a couple of shopping bags worth of stuff. In my book, it was a win-win solution. However, as I got older and began to understand what I was really doing, I started to have regrets for the amount of money I had spent over the years that I could have really used when I was laid off from a previous job. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT AGING IS that one does not have the intensity or energy to keep mulling over past regrets. Sure, I can still think about them, but more in a passing type of way. Since I cannot change things from the past, then why am I devoting energy to it is my philosophy now. I wish a friend of mine would learn that philosophy. Though they have been out of school for many years, they still regret that they did not study in a different field of work. They had grand (their word) ideas of doing something special, but it never came to fruition. Instead, they focused more on being a part of a large company’s workforce, getting promotions to get them placed in a manager’s position. It worked out beautifully for them, but the monotony of the daily work tasks bored them greatly. They needed a challenge, according to them. I felt if the desire were strong enough then they would have made a change; however, the fact remains they are living a comfortable life, not extravagant but can pay their bills and still have a little leftover. I have told them repeatedly they can attend classes and get the degree they really wanted but would they be ready to start a new career just when they are about to retire. The answer was no. So, you see regrets can have a strong influence on a person; just see what it has done for the main character in this Oscar nominated historical comedic fantasy. HAVING LIVED FOR SUCH A LONG time, a former general who left in disgrace wants to die. It turns out so do his kids so they can get their inheritance. With Jaime Vadell (Spider, Coronacion) as El Conde, Gloria Munchameyer (Chips Libre-TV, Calzones Rotos) as Lucia, Alfredo Castro (The Club, From Afar) as Fyodor, Paula Luchsinger (Ema, La Jauria-TV) as Carmencita and Stella Gonet (Spencer, How I Live Now) as Margaret; this movie took me by surprise. First, the cinematography was exquisite, black and white with wonderful camera angles. The story was part satire, though I did not have a strong knowledge of Chilie’s history, it was a bit lost on me. However, it did not stop my enjoyment of the story, which was dubbed in English. The story was unique in its way of using politics with horror; I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, with all its side stories. It truly made this picture and story come across like none other. There were several bloody scenes.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Rustin
THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE HAD the good fortune and just plain good old luck to have met activists for various causes I believed in. One man was only a couple of years older than me, but his wisdom and foresight were way beyond his chronological age. I was an intense individual, but I was nothing close to the intensity that streamed out of him. There was something about the way he looked at you while talking that would be unnerving for many people. He would lock eyes with you, and they would stay on you without ever blinking while he was talking. The first time I experienced this, I did not know how to handle it; I thought it would be disrespectful if I broke my gaze with him. His words were measured but they flowed out, sometimes with a slight melonic tone, at other times in a rapid staccato. There was a newsclip I happened to see while watching the evening news, where he debated a politician who was trying to justify his argument with bible passages. This activist did not miss a beat, correcting the politician’s misuse of the passage, quoting the passage back to him and then explaining what it meant. The politician did not know the activist’s previous ‘life” was studying for the priesthood at a seminary. ANOTHER ACTIVIST I MET SEVERAL TIMES over the years, who came out of a seriously dysfunctional environment, took her energy, and focused it on creating safe environments for people to discover how to find healthy ways to express their feelings. Listening to her having a conversation, I was so impressed how she would call a person out for their ”BS.” Not in an antagonistic way, but in a calm way by asking the person to further explain the statement they made. I must tell you it was a revelation to experience that because seeing that event stuck with me and put me on the road to becoming a better communicator. With her and the other activists I have encountered in my life, one of the things that they all had in common was the ability to corral and focus all types of personalities into a unified force. The only way I can describe it would be to say they were like musical conductors. They could immediately tell upon talking to an individual what they were best suited for in helping the cause. Looking at the end goal and being able to navigate a monumental number of roadblocks, these activists never gave up. It was so inspirational to witness it and the feeling I had around them was like the feeling I had watching this biographical, historical drama. BELIEVING IN MARTIN LUTHER KING’S NONVIOLENT resistance philosophy, an activist and friend of his came up with an idea to show the country how it could work. However, to succeed he needed to get everything in place in a short amount of time while being met with resistance. With Colman Domingo (The Color Purple, Selma) as Bayard Rustin, Chris Rock (Amsterdam, Nobody’s Fool) as Roy Wilkins, Glynn Turman (Super 8, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) as A. Philip Randolph, Aml Ameen (The Maze Runner, Til Death) as Martin Luther King Jr and Gus Halper (Cold Pursuit, Holler) as Tom; this Oscar nominated film was a fascinating piece of history that I was never taught in school. Having recently seen Colman in The Color Purple and seeing him now in this picture made his acting ability stand out even more for me because of the huge contrast between the two roles. He was incredible, to the point I felt he was channeling Bayard. The story and script were overall wonderful, but I felt the story being rushed towards the end and some of the scenes seemed like a setup. Because of the historical value, I still loved watching this movie and am amazed at what Bayard, who might be unknown to many viewers, set out to do under tough complications.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: The Holdovers
ONE YEAR I WAS ENROLLED IN an overnight camp, and it turned out to be the only time I agreed to such a thing. It was fun to be with friends morning and night, though I was anxious about the bunkbeds. I was assigned to an upper bunk and desperately did not want it because of being overweight. Not that I was any type of extreme heaviness, but my little kid’s mind had blown it out of proportion. I remember slowly climbing the ladder one rung at a time, testing to make sure it would support me. The food served us was picked more for nourishment instead of taste, so I did not care for it. The thing that upset me the most were the organized activities like swimming and baseball. I knew how to play them, but I was never competitive; the counselors always turned them into a contest to see who was the “best.” I must tell you I was one of those “weird” kids who brought a book to read; there were not many others who did such a thing. Thinking about it and how today I live a very structured life; back then, it was the structure I was rebelling against. I did not like being told when I could eat or shower. By the end of the session, I could not wait to be back in my own home. OVERNIGHT/SUMMER CAMP WAS NOT THE only thing I disliked. I never cared for school field trips. It was not the destination so much, but the going and coming I truly could not stand. First, my good time was based on who was on my bus. If our bus had any troublemakers, then I knew for sure our ride to whatever place we were going would be hellish. It would always be worse if one of the troublemakers sat close to you because it was more than likely you would become one of their targets. Another reason I did not like the bus rides was because if someone happened, through the luck of the draw, to be sitting by themselves then the teacher or one of the chaperones would take up residency next to that lone student; or worse, have them join them at the front of the bus. It always stressed me out with kids shoving and pushing, singing ridiculous songs, the adults yelling and for what? Sometimes we did go to cool places but other times they were lame and boring. The way I feel about such things, if I found myself in a situation like the main characters in this comedic drama, I would have run away. STUCK WITH NOWHERE TO GO, A teacher, cook and student are stuck over the Christmas holiday break at their prep school. None of them want to be there. With Paul Giamatti (Jungle Cruise, Billions-TV) as Paul Hunham, Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Lost City, Rustin) as Mary Lamb, newcomer Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully, Carrie Preston (True Blood-TV, They/Them) as Miss Lydia Crane and Brady Hepner (The Black Phone, Resisting Roots) as Teddy Kountze; this film was a joy to watch. The acting was wonderful, and the script was intelligent with its mix of humor, sadness and drama that kept me engaged with the story early on. I also thought the characters were well developed. There were not necessarily laugh out loud moments, but there were humorous spots that were appropriate for the story. What really made this film stand out was its adult storytelling and script. It was refreshing to sit back and watch a good story unfold without the special effects or brand marketing. The other thing that set this film apart were its details. For example, there actually was one special effect, but a good many viewers may not even be aware of it taking place. This picture is an Oscar contender and rightfully so.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Maestro
I PROBABLY WAS HEARING MUSIC BEFORE I could even understand what sounds I was hearing. Music was always playing in our house and since I was the last one to be born, I had at birth a vast catalog of different sound genres. There were records, yes vinyl records, of classical, jazz, blues, opera, and Broadway shows to name a few. I did not know the difference between, for example, the romantic and baroque periods; I just knew there were these sounds filling up the house that had the ability to make me feel different emotions. Some music made me want to move, where I would stop whatever I was doing, to stand up and bounce up and down to the beat. Other kinds of music would lull me to sleep. I do not remember doing it, but there is a photograph of me standing on a chair, wearing a big hat, which caught me in the middle of bouncing. One of the first things I learned, when I was at the appropriate age, was how to handle a vinyl record. Pulling it out from its record cover, sliding it out of its paper sleeve, making sure to balance the edge of it on the palm of a cupped hand, with the longest finger holding it from the hole in the center, or at least on the paper label, was the correct way to do it. My favorite feature on the phonograph was the repeat button. Once I found something I liked, I would play it over and over. AT SOME POINT GROWING UP, WE started watching a television show called, “New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts. The conductor was Lenard Bernstein. It aired on Saturday afternoons, so I always made sure I was home by the time it came on. Mr. Bernstein was this animated character who sweated and laughed; he was enthusiastic about the things he was talking about. I loved it when he conducted the orchestra and sometimes, I would try to mimic his movements as if I were leading the orchestra. He explained what piece he was going to play, stopping at various times during it to explain what the notes they just played were telling the listener. After he explained the different sections, he would have the entire orchestra run through the piece. I learned about a variety of composers from him and would seek out their albums in our collection, after the shows ended. For decades, these shows have remained a fond memory for me, having contributed to my love for music. There was no way I was going to miss this film about such an extraordinary man, who had a prominent place in my early life. AS A LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT, A YOUNG conductor quickly makes a name for himself, catching the eye of many people along his journey to fame. With Carey Mulligan (The Dig, She Said) as Felicia Montealegre, Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born, Silver Linings Playbook) as Leonard Bernstein, Matt Bomer (Magic Mike franchise, In Time) as David Oppenheim, Vincenzo Amato (Unbroken, Golden Door) as Bruno Zirato and Greg Hildeth (Radium Girls, Dr. Death-TV) as Isaac; this biographical, history drama excelled because of Carey and Bradley. They were incredible both together and apart, to the point they were absolutely believable. I found the story fascinating and thought Bradley did an excellent job of directing. The pacing kept steady, with an even mix of music and drama. The one thing I was disappointed in was the stories to each character did not venture far from the surface. Granted, it is almost impossible to translate a lifetime of a person’s life into a 2-hour movie; however, I did not get to the point where I clearly understood each of the main character’s back stories. And on a personal note, I would have enjoyed hearing more music. Nonetheless, this easily could be an Oscar contender for the acting categories.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Golda
WHILE EATING BREAKFAST, I WAS LISTENING to the news about the recent passing of a celebrity actress. She starred in a television sitcom back in the 1970s. I knew of her, but never really followed her career. What surprised me about the news was the fact she was fired from the TV show because she demanded equal pay, to match the male star of the show. I was not surprised that she was being paid a lesser amount to her male counterpart; but I was surprised that she got fired because of the request. In this day of age, I could not imagine any company doing such a thing; but who knows, anything I guess is possible, no matter how wrong it may be. The reason I am bringing this up is because near the same time, the early 70s, there was a woman who was the leader of her country. I had to wonder if she was being paid less than any of the men who had been in that same role. If that was the case, then it really was a crime for the powers that be to do that to her, especially since she found herself fighting a war during her years of service. And not that I pay much attention to a person’s looks, but she did not look the part of a leader; she looked more like someone’s grandmother who is constantly trying to give you food whenever you are at her house. I HAVE TO ADMIT I HESITATED to write a review today of this movie because of the current state of world events. I wound up seeing this film the week before war broke out in the middle east. If I had reviewed this film sooner, then I would not have had to deal with the mixed feelings I have at present. But after much thought, I decided to go ahead because the two situations separated by decades seem to be in parallel. It is not my place to pass judgement or to spin my words to paint a better light on a political or religious event; all I wish to do is tell you what I thought about the movie. It is not my job to try and sway your thoughts and beliefs; I only want to provide you with my reaction to a picture without giving away any of the plot. My number one focus is whether the film entertained me. With that being said, let me tell you about this biographical drama. AT 71 YEARS OLD, MOST PEOPLE would be enjoying their retirement. However, for this woman she not only started a new career position, but she also had to do her job during a war. With Helen Mirren (The Duke, Shazam! Fury of the Gods) as Golda Meir, Zed Josef (Breaking Infinity, Milk and Honey: The Movie) as Adam Snir, Claudette Williams (The Colour of Spring, The Sons of Misteltoe) as Golda double, Henry Goldman (Taking Woodstock, The Damned United) as Chairman Agranat and Emma Davies (The People We Love to Hate at the Wedding, Holby City-TV) as Miss Epstein; this film’s top draw was Helen Mirren. I thought she was wonderful in the role. It was unfortunate the script did not support her. I thought it was skimpy on details that would have made this movie more entertaining. There were several good scenes, but I never felt connected to anyone in the cast. It almost seemed as if the writers wanted to give the viewers a quick overview without delving deep into the character and emotions of the individual. I found myself drifting at times as the scenes jumped from intense war strategies to chain smoking and baths. I am afraid this production did not do anything to match the amazing feat this woman endured during her lifetime.
2 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Descendant
I AM STARING AT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS and had no idea who the people were in them. The photos were quite old because the edges were frayed, and the black and white images were faded. The people were related to me, at least I thought so. I found the photos stuffed in an envelope as I was going through a “junk” drawer. From the scenery and clothing, I had a feeling these photos might have been taken in my ancestors’ country. I would love to know whether I was looking at a great, great, great uncle or maybe it was a great + grandfather or cousin; there was no way to find out. The oldest relative I asked recognized the child in one of the photos but did not know any of the other people. Encouraged by this found treasure, I searched through more drawers in the house and was successful in finding more photos. The thought occurred to me why someone did not put all of them in a photo album, instead of stuffing them in flimsy envelopes. On one of the photographs there was writing on the back, but it was a different language. This was my proof that some of the photos were taken in a different country. My mind reeled with the notion that in my hand I was holding something that had come from a different country, traveled here and then handed down from generation to generation. It was history, my history. IN THE HALLWAY, THERE IS A photo hanging of my great, great, great grandmother. She is the oldest relative that I have a photo of. I believe, she was alive when Napoleon invaded Russia. Though I have no other knowledge about her life or even her name; there is something about seeing her and knowing I am related to her that forms this ghostly connection. There is nothing about her facial features or surroundings that triggers a sense of familiarity; however, I do feel a sense of belonging and imagine how she would react to the world I grew up in compared to hers. Would she have a sense of belonging herself or a sense of pride, maybe? I imagine what life must have been for her. In the photo, she is sitting on a small wooden stool that is barely visible with the fullness of her long black skirt. There is a kerchief tied around her head, though she is sitting indoors. Behind her is a small 2 drawer, wooden chest; only one of the drawers has a handle. I wish I could fill in the gap between her and the generations of family that grew up with me; to learn more about our history and which relatives are here because of her. I can totally sympathize with the residents who live in their little community depicted in this documentary, in a land that their ancestors were forced to come live in. THE CITIZENS OF AFRICATOWN HAVE HAD their stories handed down through the generations. Many of them involve a boat that might have sunk off their coast. Written by newcomer Kern Jackson and written and directed by Margaret Brown (The Order of Myths, Be Here to Love Me), this story that was set in Alabama was fascinating to me. Being into family, I was intrigued by the variety of residents that were interviewed, listening to their family’s history. I thought the presentation of their story was especially poignant due to what we have been witnessing at present, regarding the banning of books and not teaching portions of history in the classroom. To see the life the people are living, despite the challenges both environmentally and financially, with the hope of finding proof to explain the evolution of their existence was touching and real for me. This movie was the perfect example of one component of our country’s history.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Trailer: Till
WHEN I WAS A SMALL BOY, I hated a bunch of things. Granted, most of them were food based. I hated tuna, broccoli, peas, grapefruit, and the school crossing guard who used to make fun of me. Back then the word “hate” was my go-to word; I did not fully comprehend how strong of a word was “hate.” It was nothing for two friends or neighborhood kids to tell the other they hated them for something they did or did not do. Whenever in a conversation with my friends about students in our classes or in school, it was not unusual for me to share my hatred of the students who wronged me in some way. My method of dealing with kids who I hated was to maintain my distance from them. I figured the less they saw of me the better off I would be. To be invisible, I had to make sure I never drew attention to myself; whether laughing or talking too loudly or spending too much time at my locker talking to a friend. The key was to keep moving with the flow of kids as much as possible. And the most important thing I had to make sure I was doing was to go right home from school, to never linger outside of the school’s exits in case a bully or antagonist was leaving the same time as me. THANKFULLY, THE SCHOOLS I ATTENDED DID an excellent job of teaching me all the aspects of “hate” and how strong of a word it could be. We saw and read examples of hatred, with the books we read, the movies we watched and the archived newspaper articles we viewed on microfilm. Seeing what humans did to other humans was frightening. Whether it was during a war or from a group or individual, I found all of it so disturbing and appalling that I realized I was using the word “hate” incorrectly. It became my goal to never or rarely use the word “hate” when I was saying or describing something to someone. To be honest with you, this promise was a challenge because I experienced forms of hatred early on in my schooling. Encountering people who hate you without even knowing or talking to you was so confusing to me. The trend continued when I finished school and found myself marching for causes that were important to me and witnessed hatred that was near flammable, it was so vile. Some of it was in the same vein as what was shown in this biographical crime drama. THOUGH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IS not that far from Chicago, Illinois; back in 1955 they were a world apart. Visiting his cousins in Mississippi required knowing how to act by Mississippi’s standards, something Emmett Till’s, played by Jalyn Hall (Bruiser, The App that Stole Christmas), mother knew all too well which explained her hesitation on letting him go. His trip would facilitate a change throughout the country. With Danielle Deadwyler (The Harder They Fall, The Devil to Pay) as Mamie Till-Mobley, Frankie Faison (Do the Right Thing, I’m Your Woman) as John Carthan, Haley Bennett (The Magnificent Seven, The Girl on the Train) as Carolyn Bryant and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act franchise, King of the Dancehall) as Alma Carthan; this film had a strong affect on me. Maybe because we are coming up to the anniversary date of Emmett’s date of death and the government just recently designating a national monument honoring him, I was glued to the story being depicted. Also, Danielle Deadwyler’s acting was outstanding and tragic at the same time, absolutely amazing. It was not easy watching several scenes in this movie; the amount of hate on display was startling and tragic. Everything came together, such as the sets, costumes, and direction to create a beautiful, sad movie about a mother’s worst nightmare.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Oppenheimer
I BARELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HER BOOK report was about, but I still enjoyed hearing her speak it. She was talking about cross-pollination and plants; I looked at the classmates within my field of vision to see if any of them looked like they understood what she was talking about. It was hard to tell. Some students were looking down at their desks, others were playing with their pens, twirling, or fidgeting with them. When she finished her report, the teacher commended her and said it was highly informative. I wondered, “For who?” I found it funny; because when talking to her, you would not necessarily know how smart she really was. I was friends with her and never felt like she was talking down to me or about topics and things that were complex and mystifying. She was like any of the other students in class. I knew she was a straight “A” student; I could not imagine her getting a lesser grade. Anytime we were together with our group of friends and there was a disagreement between a couple of them, she was the voice of reason. More times than not she was able to negotiate a compromise that both parties agreed to without feeling like they were getting cheated out of something. It was a skill I wished I could do. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I ENTERED the workforce that I discovered some super smart individuals were not nice people. At one of my first jobs, there was a man who claimed he was highly intelligent. I did not know, because he rarely talked to me; but I was able to hear him talking when he was near my area of the warehouse. To tell you the truth, I was glad he rarely spoke to me because he was arrogant with a mix of disdain. The way he would talk to employees was nauseating; talking to some like they were infants in this cloying, sadistic baby voice. If his claim of being so smart was true, then I could never understand why he wound up in sales. Not to say there was anything wrong with sales; but I would have thought he would have done something different for a profession. He may have been the first I encountered in my work history, but he was not the last. I met several people who possessed a high intellect. A few appeared to be on the spectrum; others had no sense of humor. There was a wide variety of individuals and characteristics. I appreciated the ones who could talk about something that I was not familiar with but said it in such a way that made it easier to comprehend. From watching this dramatic biography, I would have been fascinated to listen to what the main character had to say. And it turns out it was a good thing people listened. DURING WORLD WAR II AN AMERICAN scientist was drawn into a secret project that could change the world forever. It was a huge responsibility. With Cillian Murphy (The Delinquent Season, Peaky Blinders-TV) as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt (Jungle Cruise, Mary Poppins Returns) as Kitty Oppenheimer, Matt Damon (Air, Ford v Ferrari) as Leslie Groves, Robert Downey Jr. (Dolittle, Iron Man franchise) as Lewis Strauss and Aiden Ehrenreich (Cocaine Bear, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Senate Aide; this history driven film started out rough for me. Not being a fan of jumping back and forth in time, the first 30 minutes made me wonder what all the talk was about for this picture. But then, the script kicked into gear and the actors took their characters and soared with them. The acting, the filming, the direction and soundtrack were all outstanding. Knowing nothing about the story except for the main character’s name, I was fascinated with what was being depicted on the big screen. While I sat in the theater, the thought came across me that I was watching a great film. What a monumental moment in history and the director Christopher Nolan captured it perfectly.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Chevalier
ONE OF THE FITNESS CLASSES I taught had a weird dynamic. Well, at least it was weird to me. It was one of my larger classes where the members filled the entire studio. Things have changed but some time ago, aerobic classes were filled predominantly with women; most men felt self-conscious, based on my own personal survey. I would try to coax them in when I was working out on the fitness floor, but they had this unwarranted fear that they would look “stupid” and be looked down upon by the class. The reason why I said this class had a weird dynamic was because it had several men in it. One man was six feet five inches tall, with a massive build; there was no way he could blend into class. I remember the first time he walked into the classroom. Like I did with any new person, I went up to talk to him. The reason he came in was because his wife was a participant in my class and told him he would be surprised by it. What I noticed most when he found a place to stand in class was how the members around him were looking and making eyes at each other. I knew that look; it was because of his size. I was sure they assumed he would not be able to do any of the exercises or moves. Unbeknownst to any of us, his wife gave him some pointers and he did fantastic. At the end of class, drenched in sweat, he came up and thanked me. FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, I REMAINED ATTUNED to watching how participants reacted to new people in class. There was another man who started coming to the same class. From introducing myself to him, I discovered he purposely chose my class to attend because it incorporated more dance moves than other classes. Being thin and trim already, I soon realized some of the female members were always trying to stand close to him. It was amusing to me. His moves were smooth and always on the beat; I knew he had to have had some dance training, even if it was just going out to clubs at night. Where some of the members avoided the large man, others were striving to get close to this other man because of his looks. The reason I know this to be a fact is because he told me at some point a member was asking if he was single. This is the weird dynamic I was speaking of. Because I always focused on internal qualities like brains, humor, and empathy with dating prospects; I get fascinated when people express their desires for external things like height, hair and weight. Now here is the kicker; several months later this thin man disappeared from class and the fitness center. Then one day all the newspapers came out with a photograph of him on the front pages. He was arrested and charged with killing his roommate. One of my first thoughts was how ironic all of this became. As they say, “Never judge a book by its cover,” nor should one judge this historical drama by its cover. WITH HIS MOTHER TAKEN AWAY AND his father abandoning him, a young boy soon realizes he would need to be the best he can be if he wanted to survive in a world, he was not meant to be in. With Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Monsters and Men, It Comes at Night) as Joseph, Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Snake Eyes) as Marie-Josephine, Lucy Boynton (Murder on the Orient Express, Bohemian Rhapsody) as Marie Antoinette, Ronke Adekoluejo (Been So Long, Christopher Robin) as Nanon and Marton Csokas (The Last Dual, The Equalizer) as Marquis De Montalembert; this film based on a factual story intrigued me deeply. Having been raised early on with classical music, I was stunned to find out there was truth to this story. The acting was right in synch with the character representation, especially from Kelvin. I will say I enjoyed the first half of the film more than the last half, simply because towards the end the script started becoming a generic version of itself and turning predictable. The script could have used more punch to keep things exciting as they were in the beginning. This was such a fascinating story, and I appreciated the extra knowledge offered before the ending credits.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Flamin’ Hot
MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS THE GENTLEMAN sitting across from me was given something different to eat than me. The way he carried on with the potato chips, you would have thought they were the best thing the planet had ever seen. I thought he was nuts or had lost all sense of taste, because that was nowhere near my reaction to taste testing the chips. I was chosen for a study group that was doing a blind tasting of various potato chips. Truthfully, I would have rather been picked to taste test desserts, but I was grateful nonetheless because the stipend was a good amount of money, and I was eating a carbohydrate. There were twelve of us sitting around a conference table. Placed in front of each seat were three plastic containers that each contained potato chips. They looked the same to me, but I could tell there was a slight difference in color and texture between them. We were trying the second container and I thought they were horrible, having a medicinal processed taste. They also had a weak crunch which was a big minus for me. When we then had to go around and tell the group our reaction, the man across from me was raving about them. Honestly, they turned out to be the worst ones in my opinion. Many of the participants thought the same thing as I did. I WAS AWARE THAT PEOPLE’S TASTE buds were different. Each of us can taste bitter, sweet and sour; but the number of receptors we have is different. I remember New Coke debuted with big fanfare. I did not like it at all; and as it turned out, there were many other people who disliked it as well. Because of that misstep, I have become more curious about the reasoning behind the introduction of new flavors. The first thing that comes to mind is the explosion of pumpkin spice during the Halloween season. This flavor has been attached to so many different food items, that just sound ghastly to me. There is cereal, cookies, coffee, which I can wrap my head around. However, sauces, cheese or soft drinks sounds disgusting. I just want to know how that idea came out of a marketing group or department. It seems to me some food items are better left untouched. I do not want potato chips tasting like pizza or macaroni and cheese. Regarding the flavor being introduced in this biographical drama, I have a close friend who can live on them; I would have to be hospitalized, way too hot for me. A JANITOR AT A FRITO LAY plant in fear of layoffs, believes he found a way to save jobs and honor his Mexican heritage. However, none of the managers believed him because he was a janitor. With Jesse Garcia (Ambulance, The Starling) as Richard Montanez, Annie Gonzalez (East of the Mountains, The Edge of Her Mind Anthology) as Judy Montanez, Emilio Rivera (The Family Business-TV, Mayans M.C-TV) as Vacho Montanez, Vanessa Martinez (Go for Sisters, Dirty John-TV) as Concha Montanez and Dennis Haysbert (Far From Heaven, Playing with Fire) as Clarence C. Baker; this film based on a true story was simply a feel good movie. I do not know how much of the film was based on actual events; however, the direction was perfectly executed to provide doses of drama, humor and sadness. Because I know people who are addicted to this product, I felt more connected to the story. Easily, the script could have used more intensity and explained the depth of people’s motives more; however, the premise of the story was so charming and fascinating that I stayed fully engaged with it. And honestly, by the end of the movie I wanted to attempt to eat one Flamin’ Hot Cheeto.
2 ½ stars
moviejoltz 