Move Reviews For November 6, 2015: SPECTRE and SUFFRAGETTE

SPECTRE
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Director: Sam Mendes
Stars: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes
Plot: James Bond must discover who is behind a secret terrorist organization with far-reaching capabilities
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

The 007 cast and crew has done it again. This is a smart, fast-paced, well-acted spy flick that will have you holding your breath and cheering out loud.

This will almost certainly be Daniel Craig's last go around as James Bond, and this movie is a perfect sendoff for him. The film does set up another Bond film, so fear not 007 fans, we will see more of everyone's favorite spy. (Will it be Idris Elba, or Benedict Cumberbatch, or Tom Hiddleston, or someone else?)

This film has several great moments that flash back to previous films, but the best by far is a re-introduction of one of Bond's greatest villains. If you aren't cheering at the reveal you either aren't a full Bond fan or you need to have your pulse checked.

While this movie isn't quite as good as SKYFALL, it is still outstanding and very much worth seeing in theaters.

Also, SPECTRE has, arguably, the best opening credit montage of all of the Bond films to this point.




SUFFRAGETTE
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: October 12, 2015 (Limited)
Director: Sarah Gavron
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne-Marie Duff
Plot: Women in the early 20th century organize and begin using civil disobedience to force the government to give them the right to vote
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This is the kind of movie that checks off almost all of the boxes for a solid Academy Award push. It's a period piece, it focuses on a social issue, and Meryl Streep is in it. Unfortunately, it fails to check off the most important box... it's simply not a very good movie.

SUFFRAGETTE could have been spectacular, but instead it is slow-moving to the point of being boring in some places, and the arc from point A to point B is riddled with dips and bumps. The ending is rushed and feels incomplete.

That said, Carey Mulligan is outstanding in her lead role and is worthy of being on the short list for awards nominations. It's just too bad that she didn't have a lot to work with in regards to script. Meryl Streep is in this movie for all of three minutes, if she gets an Oscar nomination for this role we all need to give up on Hollywood forever.

This is a movie that should make women feel empowered and proud, but the emotion isn't there.




THE PEANUTS MOVIE
Rated: G
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Director: Steve Martino
Stars: Noah Schnapp, Hadley Belle Miller, Bill Melendez
Plot: Charlie Brown and Snoopy both embark on great adventures
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This is a slightly modified version of the same old Peanuts gang that has been around forever. If you are a fan of the old comic strip and holiday specials you will most likely enjoy this film. If you find the themes to be slow and boring, this film will not change your mind.

Charlie Brown is still as melancholy as ever, Lucy is still a bully and Snoopy is still fighting The Red Baron with Woodstock by his side.

I was hoping that, with the animation update, we might see a newer, more relevant style. It's too bad that Peanuts hasn't kept up with the times. I would really like my young kids to enjoy Peanuts, but it doesn't fit in to their high-tech lifestyles.

I do like the nostalgia of it all, but nostalgia is lost on a five year old. I'm afraid this movie misses it's target.




ROOM
Rated: R
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Director: Lenny Abrahanson
Stars: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay
Plot: A kidnapped woman raises her son to believe that the small room they live in is the entire world
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now

This is easily one of the best films of the year. It will only be in limited release, but if you can find it at a theater near you, go see it now.

Brie Larson is amazing and Jacob Tremblay may win several awards this year. They are perfect together, and their portrayals will make you feel their hope, anger, despair and fear.

This is one of the best psychological films I have ever seen. The mental anguish is so real as is the dealing with the aftermath of their horrific situation.

I'm not spoiling anything that isn't already in the trailers, but I will say the escape scene lasts about five minutes and I'm pretty sure I held my breath the entire time. It was so powerful and intense you could almost see the tension filling up the theater.

Put this movie on your list now and be watching for it come awards season.

Movie Review For December 28, 2014

THE GAMBLER
Rated: R
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Brie Larson
Plot: A university professor with a gambling addiction has one week to pay back a quarter of a million dollars to loan sharks.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

THE GAMBLER is full of spectacular acting in a spectacularly bad flick. This is one of those films where I feel like I saw a completely different movie than most of the critics. I've seen many of them raving about this film, but I just don't get it.

When the film begins it dumps us in the middle of the story, which I am fine with and many time enjoy, but THE GAMBLER doesn't give us any flashbacks or back story to fill in the gaps. At no point are we shown why he has the addiction in the first place, nor do we ever see any motivation the main character has to do the things he does.

The romance feels weird and forced, John Goodman is a creeptastic, human version of Jabba The Hutt, and the editor must have been on vacation for most of the editing because there are many scenes that drag on endlessly for no reason.

This movie got so long, boring and annoying that near the end I was hoping the main character would get hit by a bus and the credits would roll. (You'll recognize the scene I'm referring to if you are unlucky enough to have to sit through this mess).

Wahlberg and Lange both give performances that are incredible to watch, unfortunately the story is total crap.



FOXCATCHER
Rated: R
Stars: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo
Plot: The story of John du Pont and his obsession with USA Wrestling.
Trailer

Clint Says: See this in theaters if you can find it

Steve Carell has already received several award nominations for his spot-on portrayal of John du Pont and I'm sure there are many more nominations to come. All of them are well-deserved. Steve Carell is not on the screen, it is John du Pont, and it's not just because of the makeup.

Tatum and Ruffalo also hold up their end of the film as well as evidenced by the award nominations they are both receiving .

This is one of the rare instances where I think it might be a better movie-going experience if you don't already know the story. The twists and turns are fascinating and intriguing, but for those that know the story you will notice the major plot changes and the film will feel slow.

FOXCATCHER is a disturbing and creepy film that is strangely gripping and mesmerizing. It is the kind of film that gets into your brain and will sit there for days.

Hopefully, this film will gain more attention and be released in more theaters as the bigger nominations come in, but as for now, you'll have to search it out to see it.