Category: Uncategorized

Wealth set against a background of poverty is an excellent canvas for a coming of age movie. Our protagonist, Jim, loses his parents, their money and his “way.” What follows from there is a magical journey of fighting, surviving, and ultimately surrendering. The transformation teaches us something about our own lives.

Empire of the Sun (1987)

Cast

Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

J.G. Ballard (novel), Tom Stoppard (screenplay)

Other Info

Drama, History, War
Rated PG
2h 33min

Spielberg made this film true to the time and to the international conflict of that time. Still, it’s a universal coming-of-age journey. Jim is the young English boy who is living in Shanghai, China in the lap of luxury. His parents pay a servant to look after him and feed him since they are often gone. We hear a little from the father about the situation and the mother is close-lipped. When WWII begins, tables are turned on Jim. The whites are being forced out of Shanghai after Pearl Harbor set the war in motion.

From there the movie starts speeding up. It becomes the journey of young Jim and there are many hurdles along the way. John Malkovich is a street savvy white man who sort of takes Jim in. This adds a compelling acting set to an already alluring introduction.

Jim is verifiably bratty. In the early scenes he bosses his nanny around and reminds here that she “must do what [he] says.” When the reversal of fortune occurs, he tries ordering her around again and she surprises him with an act of disrespect. He is blown away.

The separation from his parents and the complete lack of money brings Jim to his knees. With a sullen, oil stained face, we staggers around looking for his parents. HE reveals what a spoiled kid he is through these scenes. He even tries to surrender at one point but the soldiers just laugh at him.

My word to the wise: This film is about Jim’s journey. It’s an everyman journey to be sure. I feel Spielberg used his common approach which is using metaphor to illustrate the human journey we are all on. It could be a war zone in China or a backyard with an alien in it. There are always personal human conclusions to draw from his film. Yes, Jim is a brat, we are meant to hate him in the beginning. But is he so different from us? As you watch this movie, ask yourself if you could have been the same way without the same advantages we have. This is not a movie you merely watch, you feel it. Jim undergoes a telling transformation. In fact, there is a lot being taught to us my Steven Spielberg Because it’s an artful film that speaks eloquently to the human condition, I highly recommend it to you.

Atypical father/daughter adult relationship. Sure had me laughing. Here’s my written review of Toni Erdmann (2016) http://www.rileyonfilm.com/toni-erdmann-2016/

Atypical father/daughter adult relationship. Sure had me laughing. Here’s my written review of Toni Erdmann (2016) http://www.rileyonfilm.com/toni-erdmann-2016/

A handful of elements are here that I could mention to promote this film. It works well on so many levels. The only question I really had while watching was: “Is it too long?” After the energetic applause at the end in the sleepy town theater I watch movies in, I’d say they got this length just right.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Cast

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence

Directed by

Bryan Singer

Written by

Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg

Other Info

Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated PG-13
144 min

First, the Spolier Free Zone!
James McAvoy as Professor X (Charles Xavier) and Michael Fassenbender as Magneto are back in what is sure to be one of the most highly expensive and possibly the greatest earning film of the X-Men franchise yet. Of course, that’s an opinion which is fitting in an op/ed review by a largely unpaid blogger. It is however, my strong feeling.

These movies have so much going on. For the “X-Laymen” like myself, it can be difficult to follow all the little innuendos and stories going on simultaneously. I put that there as a disclaimer to assuage the more rabid fans of X-Men. I do my best here.

The story is about an early campus that looks more like a house where the X-Men mutants are in a school run by Charles Xavier. Now, speeding through time way back to the Egyptian pyramid times, we have the opening shot. Sabah Nur is a worshipped king (of sorts) who, through the help of a mutant, is able to become immortal.

He’s evil, never a question about it. Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year) plays this role in a quite hate-able manner which fits in well with other roles he’s played. To make a short summary stop here, he awakens in the time aforementioned and tries to take down the whole world with the help of the X-Men. Yep, that’s the bare bones of it. I could say so many good things about this movie. I loved the characters in this I haven’t seen before (or at least not much). Olivia Munn is one of Apocalypse’s “henchman.” She does a fantastic job and I really hope she turns good so we can see her in new movies. For effects and multiple characters doing exciting things onscreen, I highly recommend this film. It is a tad long at 2hr 24min so bring caffeine. Having said that, what a ride! I can’t wait to see it again.

Next, Spoilers may follow!
My word to the wise: Charles Xavier’s love affair with Moira McTaggert is hovered and hovered over until finally they delve into it fully. Because I am a romantic at heart, I loved this story. Some will find it overly sentimental. The evil folks make evil look really good in this film. They do a lot of destruction. There is a scene when a bomb hits the X-Men school that is a work to make Lucasfilm jealous.

The history of Magneto AKA Erik Lehnsheerr (Michael Fassenbender) is quite elaborately explained. I did wonder, because it was rather long) why they didn’t have an “Origins” film on him the way they did on Wolverine. Perhaps they don’t want us to get too close to him. Nightcrawler (Kodi Scott McPhee) is absolutely hilarious. He strikes me as a secondary character in a movie but I almost could see him having his own movie. He’s a lot funnier than Captain America ever was. So there you go!

Things to Ponder:
Does a franchise as successful as this merit ticket-buyers or does it have to earn people’s money again, every installment?

Why are we shown that “good” is better in this film. The evil mutants seem to be having a LOT of fun? How could they have shown that good is a better choice in this film?

Who is more fun to watch in film: Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) or Professor X (Patrick Stewart)

Feel free to leave a reaction to one or more of these questions, or about the film.

Imagine this: You’re 15 years old and your parents have announced they are separating (because divorce isn’t permitted in Ireland). You love a girl who has an older boyfriend. A bully gives you a black eye every day AND the other one is blackened by your school master. What do you do to thrive in this? How about write some songs with a loner friend and start a band! There you have this film’s basis, and what fun it is from there!

Sing Street (2016)

Cast

Fredia Walsh-Peelo as Conor “Cosmo”
Lucy Boynton as Raphona
Jack Reynor as Brendan

Directed by

John Carney

Written by

John Carney

Other Info

musical, comedy, drama
Rated PG
1h 45min

“Sing Street” is a movie made and produced in Ireland. It is the fictional story of a 15 year old in Dublin in the year 1984 who goes to a bad school where he is bullied and who can’t seem to get a break in his young life. He meets a girl who describes her occupation as “a model” and becomes infatuated with her. In hopes of wooing her, he starts a pop band of misfits as it were but the invention has legs and the band becomes a small town sensation. The main gist of the film is the singer, Cosmo, who does an excellent job of relating his life experiences into songwriting. All the elements one can imagine of adolescence and the recession on the early eighties are upon he and his family. Through music and songwriting, there is triumph. Apart from the virtual success, this film might as well have been the story of my life at 15. I was learning to write songs and perform in my band at that time. As a result, I completely identified with this amazing film.

I suppose in my case, the main difference is I never truly “got in the boat” leaving home to seek fame. My girl would come after I was a teacher for 3 years at age 33, not a rock star at 15. This film is delightful. I love the characters, they are all so well developed. My favorite one is Cosmo’s brother, Brendan, played by Jack Reynor. He is the “sage” hash smoking college dropout that helps Cosmo find the differences between musical styles the likes of “Hall and Oates” and “The Cure.” Other bands’ music is featured in the movie and the original music is stellar. I am already in search of the soundtrack. The song at the end which is something to the effect of, “If you don’t go now, you’ll never know” gave be goosebumps. I hope to recreate that experience once I find the song! Sing Street is one of my most favorite films I have seen in years. It portrays the angst of a teen with his world falling apart, He makes a way through it all and we love to watch it! I highly recommend this film to you. Unfortunately it is in limited release so you may have to wait for it to come out on DVD. It is playing at select theaters still here in Redlands California, USA.