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Flash Movie Review: Room

There is this saying that tells you if you get stuck with lemons then make lemonade. Sadly my lemonade tends to taste like apple cider vinegar, not all the time but enough where I tend to expect it. In my circle of friends we tend to say, “They were born with a lucky horseshoe up their rear end,” to describe someone who is charmed. I have one friend who on the average wins a prize 75% of the time for all the sweepstakes and raffles they have entered, it is uncanny. On the other hand I know I am more likely making a cash donation to the organization. For example there was one time I went to teach a yoga class and when I walked into the club, the front desk told me all classes were cancelled due to a power outage. I did wonder why no one bothered to call me to let me know; but there was no reason to point it out to my fellow employees. So I decided to use the restroom before making the trip back home. It could not have been more than a minute or two, but by the time I came back to the front lobby I was informed the tornado siren had gone off and no one was allowed to leave the building. We were all stuck in the building’s windowless hallway for 20-25 minutes. Gratefully it turned out to be a false alarm but there was no lemonade to be made that night by me. But do you know what, all of that along with any other similar situation I may have had did not matter after I saw what was taking place in this extraordinary drama.    FIVE year old Jack, played by Jacob Tremblay (Before I Wake, My Mother’s Future Husband-TV movie), was loved and nurtured by his Ma, played by Brie Larson (Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now). In their tiny space that Ma named Room, Jack had no idea there was a whole world outside of the windowless shed they were locked in all these years. Less than halfway through this film I already knew what rating this movie deserved and I meant deserved. Part thriller, part suspense, part horror, part intense drama; this was a movie watching experience that took me away. Brie and Jacob were so unbelievably real that I could not stop tearing up through sections of this picture. Even the supporting cast actors like Joan Allen (Death Race, The Contender) as Nancy and William H. Macy (The Sessions, Pleasantville) as Robert were important players in the story. Based on the bestselling book, I have nothing negative to say about this amazing film. The directing did such a beautiful job of taking the viewers through this hilly, rough terrain of a script. The bottom line about this movie is this: it will be a major Oscar contender. I hope everyone gets to see this film.

 

4 stars

 

 

 

Flash Movie Review: Bonneville

Those I call friend join me on a life long journey. We walk side by side down a long and winding road, where we discover amazing sights along the way. Sometimes they have to push me up a hill of doubt; other times, I have to pull them through a thicket of low self-esteem. Either way we take this journey together without any judgements, only unconditional love. Though every step is precious, there is an extra comfort when we share the high and the low points along our way. This comedic drama reinforced the deep affection I have for my friends. After recently reviewing special effect laden blockbusters, it was peaceful just to sit and focus on the art of acting. Recently widowed Arvilla Holden, played by Jessica Lange (The Vow, Big Fish), was distressed further when her stepdaughter demanded her father’s ashes be given to her, to be buried next to his first wife. Not wanting Arvilla to take the trip alone; her two friends Margene Cunningham and Carol Brimm, played by Kathy Bates (Titanic, Midnight in Paris) and Joan Allen (Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Death Race), decided to join her. The trip would take the three women to unexpected places. For me the story was a generic blueprint; it had no embellishments or surprises to set it apart from similar stories done before. I wished the writers would have done a stronger story line because it really was not fair to the actresses. The acting power of Jessica, Kathy, Joan and Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia, The Good Wife-TV), as the stepdaughter Francine Holden Packard, deserved a better script. There was sweet, gentle moments throughout the film, along with chuckles provided for the most part by Kathy Bates’ character. An added bonus for me was the beautiful scenery the trio stopped at during their journey. This was not a great movie by any means; however, I simply enjoyed the underlying theme of friends being there for each other.

 

2 1/4 stars — DVD

Flash Movie Review: Hachi: A Dog’s Tail

There is a special love between a pet and its owner. Crossing the threshold of one’s home with a bundle of unconditional love anxiously waiting to greet you, easily makes all of the previous hours melt at your feet. What has always fascinated me was the innate ability pets have in reading human emotions. Sadness would quickly leave me as I would look down to see these two unflinching eyes looking up at me. When feeling excited, I can remember gleefully dancing around the room holding this bundle of fur, my extended hand holding up their little paw. If you are not a pet person, particularly a dog lover, you may not be interested in seeing this movie. But I am afraid you would be missing out on the telling of a remarkable true story. Richard Gere (Arbitrage, Brooklyn’s Finest) played Professor Parker Wilson, who some say was found by an abandoned dog at the train station. When station agent Carl, played by Jason Alexander (Seinfeld-TV, Ira & Abby), refused to hold the puppy at the station overnight; Parker agreed to take the dog home for one night. Despite his wife Cate’s, played by Joan Allen (The Contender, The Notebook), resistance to keep the Akita more than one night, the bond between the professor and the dog was already forming to last beyond a lifetime. This movie went at a slow, even pace. There was a pure simpleness to the way the story was told. I thought Joan and Richard made a perfect couple and I liked the way the director made their differences apparent but not distracting. As for the dog named Hachi, I fell in love from the very beginning. I might as well tell you now, make sure you have some facial tissues handy because I cannot imagine anyone sitting through this dramatic film and not shedding a pail of tears.

 

3 stars — DVD