MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

Manchester by the Sea examines what happens when persons suffer from a bad life experience and allow that experience to drive the rest of their life to the point where the heart does not open to embrace another person’s pain and try to heal it. The film’s modernity and coldness seem depressingly smothering and the audience is left with no forward movement in the end.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Lee is assigned the guardianship of Patrick, his brother’s son, and finds himself unsuited for the task.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Kenneth Lonergan for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Declan Baldwin, Josh Godfrey, John Krasinski, and Bill Migliore for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), Young Patrick (Ben O’Brien), Joe Chandler (Kyle Chandler), Mr. Martinez (Richard Donelly), Mrs. Groom (Virginia Loring Cooke), Marianne (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), Mrs. Olsen (Missy Yager), Mr. Emery (Stephen Henderson), Lenny (Ben Hanson), Sharon (Mary Mallen), First Businessman at Bar (Lewis D. Wheeler),  and Second Businessman at Bar (Anthony Estrella).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Casey Affleck is at the top of his class in this 2016 drama.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot—not for most adults, pushes the NC-17 rating for content—gives a realistic view into the life of a war correspondent. Tina Fey begins the story with a few quirky early scenes, delivers a scream that doesn’t quite hit the realistic bell, but after that she settles into her role and gets her points across.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Journalist Kim Baker decides to propel her career forward by taking a war correspondent position in Afghanistan and stays longer than expected.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Charlie Gogolak, Sam Grey, and Eric Gurian for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Kim Baker (Tina Fey), Tanya Vaderpoel (Margot Robbie), Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman), Ali Massoud Sadiq (Alfred Molina), Fahim Ahmadzai (Christopher Abbott), General Hollanek (Billy Bob Thornton), Tall Brian (Nicholas Braun), Nic (Stephen Peacocke), Shakira Khar (Sheila Vand), Specialist Coughlin (Evan Johnigkeit), Jaweed (Fahim Anwar), and Chris (Josh Charles).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie performs mostly as a ‘not most audience’s cup of tea’ film. It does not have wide audience range appeal.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LEAP! (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Leap!—with class and style—goes far beyond the ‘pump and trump’ of its trailer to deliver an animated feature that competes with some of Disney’s best animation classics. The characters are memorable and well developed. Elle Fanning and Dane DeHaan’s voices lend just the right mix to their characters. The music completely supports the scenes and makes them POP. The script, refreshingly and humanly sweet, tells an old story so that we don’t mind hearing it again: Wishes come true for those who dare to dream and back that dream with hard work and good attitude. Great work for all involved. The only small criticism is the music that supports the scene toward the end of the movie where Felicie dances on the orphanage rooftop. The music for this scene needs mellowing so that it is not quite so ‘bright’. Other than that, it’s GREAT work by all involved.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Orphan Felicie dreams she has the potential to be an outstanding ballerina.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Eric Summer for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Jean Aubert for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Felicie (voice of Elle Fanning), Victor (voice of Dane DeHaan), Odette (voice of Carly Rae Jepsen), Camille (voice of Maddie Ziegler), Mérante/Postman (voice of Terrence Scammell), Rudolph/Mathurin (voice of Tamir Kapelian), Regine (voice of Julie Khaner), Director of Opera (voice of Joe Sheridan), Dora/Rosita (voice of Elana Dunkelman), Nora (voice of Shoshana Sperling), Greasy Guard/Janitor (voice of Jamie Watson), and Mother Superior (voice of Bronwen Mantel).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This one’s a gotta-love-it winner that performs excellently for age 8 and up. BRAVO!

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GOLDENEYE (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

GoldenEye—probably one of the best Bond movies to date—casts Pierce Brosnan into a WOW movie that captures the 007 Bond persona perfectly. What a film! Bravo! It really works on every level. Judi Dench is one of the best M characterizations yet. Director Martin Campbell outdid himself. Director Roger Spottiswoode will have a difficult directing act to follow as he receives his assignment for the next Bond film: Tomorrow Never Dies.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bond’s new assignment becomes: keeping Britain’s financial institutions intact from attack.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Martin Campbell for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Tom Pevsner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker), M (Judi Dench), Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane), Dimitri Mishkin (Tchéky Karyo), Colonel Ourumov (Gottfried John), Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming), Q (Desmond Llewelyn), and Moneypenny (Samantha Bond).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. One of the best James Bond films to date. Wow! Can Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro) direct!

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

EVOLUTION (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Evolution relies on the terrific casting of David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Julianne Moore to create one of those ‘goofy’ comedy sci fi films that’s got spunk. It may well remind audiences of Mars Attack with Jack Nicholson and Pierce Brosnan. Plenty of chuckles and laughs found in Evolution.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Harry, Ira, and Wayne fight aliens both in and out of the laboratory.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ivan Reitman for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeff Apple, Tom Pollock, and David Rodgers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ira (David Duchovny), Allison (Julianne Moore), Harry (Orlando Jones), Wayne (Seann William Scott), General Woodman (Ted Levine), Deke (Ethan Suplee), Danny (Michael Bower), Officer Johnson (Pat Kilbane), Flemming (Ty Burrell), Governor Lewis (Dan Aykroyd), and Nadine (Katharine Towne).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie works for age 13+ and turns into a surprisingly good sci fi watch. Kudos to all involved in production.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE NUT JOB 2: NUTTY BY NATURE (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature—another one of those, I’ve seen this before animated features—offers a new title for a children’s watch and not much else. Listen for Jackie Chan and Will Arnett’s voices for two of the animated characters.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

When Mayor Muldoon decides Liberty Park needs to generate a profit, the animals oppose his ambition.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Cal Brunker for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers William Bindley, Hoe Jin Ha, Mike Karz, Hong Kim, Hyungkon Kim, Zhao Lan Wu, Gui Ping Zhang, and Daniel Woo for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Surly (voice of Will Arnett), Precious (voice of Maya Rudolph), Frankie (voice of Bobby Cannavale), Mayor Muldoon (voice of Bobby Moynihan), Heather (voice of Isabela Moner), Gunther (voice of Peter Stormare), Jimmy (voice of Gabriel Iglesias), Mole (voice of Jeff Dunham), Johnny (voice of Sebastian Maniscalco), Jamie/Additional Voices (voice of Kari Wahlgren), Mr. Feng (voice of Jackie Chan), and Andie (voice of Katherine Heigl).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. For children, there are laughs, action, and fun built into the story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MAGELLAN (Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival Boston, Massachusetts USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.8|5.0 Starsì

Magellan offers nothing new; it's completely predictable. The movie comes off as a school project production. It wants to be great, but it fails to deliver. Director Rob York shows potential for the future and deserves encouragement, but this film doesn’t actualize that potential.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

NASA astronaut Roger Nelson searches for the source of incoming outer space signals.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Rob York for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Kevin Carvell, Jason Faller, and Kynan Griffin for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Commander Roger Nelson (Brandon Ray Olive), Becker (K. Danor Gerald), Abigail Nelson (Whitney Palmer), A.I. Ferdinand (voice of Matthew Mercer), A.I. Neil (voice of Nicola Posener), Secretary Stewart (D.L. Walker), John (Demetrius Daniels), Navigation Engineer (voice of Jim Horning), and Matthew (Davey Morrison).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Try Arrival or Earth to Echo (for younger watchers) instead.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ERNEST RIDES AGAIN (Theatrical Release USA 1993)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.1|5.0 Starsììì

Ernest Rides Again—Jim Varney’s last theatrical release film—does not perform as well as Ernest Saves Christmas, but compares well to his Ernest Goes to School (a direct-to-video release) produced after this film. It’s funky and fun for kids, but doesn’t serve the adult audience as well as some Ernest P. Worrell movies. There is no lack of comical and it runs on a fair and predictable script typical of Jim Varney. Good work for all involved.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ernest (Jim Varney) shows a piece of metal to Professor Melon who thinks it comes from a Revolutionary War cannon named Goliath, in which Britain’s crown jewels are rumored to be hidden.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director John R. Cherry III for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Coke Sams for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Abner (Ron James), Dr. Glencliff (Tom Butler), Nan (Linda Kash), Frank (Duke Ernsberger), Joe (Jeffrey Pillars), Construction Worker 1 (Dave ‘Squatch’ Ward), Construction Worker 2 (Dee Jay Jackson), Chancellor (Charles Siegel), Surgeon (Alf Humphreys), Receptionist (Lillian Carlson), and Thug 1 (Mitchell Kosterman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It completely works for children. It’s clean, decent and doesn’t require adult supervision for the watch. Good work for all involved.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, like Avatar, makes it on the captivating, outstanding makeup department's efforts and the background scenery of their environment. It’s the best in the business. The movie tries to say a great deal; however, rather than casting humanoids, it seems casting another type of alien would have effectively propelled the story forward so the story could have reached the full potential that the script’s depth of writing offers. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne appear to be just repeating the dialogue without feeling the importance of their assigned lines. The white aliens understand their portion of the script and act it with good precision. The story, well written, has potential to be one of the better films on the market when it is remade with a few changes in casting. For now, Planet Mül can enthrall audiences. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne) become involved in an effort to restore the planet and civilization of Planet Mül.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Luc Besson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers JC Cheng, Mark Gao, and Gregory Ouanhon for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Commander Arun Filitt (Clive Owen), Bubble (Rihanna), Jolly the Pimp (Ethan Hawke), Defence Minister (Herbie Hancock), Sergeant Neza (Kris Wu), General Okto Bar (Sam Spruell), Bob the Pirate (Alain Chabat), President of the World State Federation (Rutger Hauer), Captain Crowford (Peter Hudson), and Captain Norton (Xavier Giannoli).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The makeup for the Planet Mül's inhabitants is inspired bits of heavenly spectacularisms. The script performs as one of the best pulled from the market and given life onscreen.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

xXx: STATE OF THE UNION (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

xXx: State of the Union lacks the ‘bang’ of xXx despite more than enough action and good acting. It may have been better to cast Terry Crews in this particular movie and move Ice Cube to a softer script. The same for Samuel L. Jackson…he’s outstanding in nearly anything, but this film seems to require a different choice for his role. Overall, the film is just a little plain without that over-the-top thrill that we’ve come to expect from movies within this genre.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

After a National Security Agency (NSA) bunker is attacked, NSA agents look for a good replacement for Agent Xander Cage and choose Navy Seals Lieutenant Darius Stone (Ice Cube).

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Lee Tamahori for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Rob Cohen, Derek Dauchy, and Todd Garner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: General George Decker (Willem Dafoe), XXX (Ice Cube), Agent Augustus Eugene Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson), Agent Kyle Christopher Steele (Scott Speedman), Zeke (Xzibit), President James Sanford (Peter Strauss), Agent Toby Lee Shavers (Michael Roof), Charlie Mayweather (Sunny Mabrey), Lola Jackson (Nona Gaye), Lieutenant Alabama Cobb (John Gleeson Connolly), Agent Meadows (Ramon De Ocampo), and Bull (Barry Sigismondi).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s one of those sequel films that didn’t live up to the parent film.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GLEASON (All Media Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Starsìììì

Gleason quickly becomes a model for what can happen when the focus is on life instead of death, on serving instead of lying down and helplessly accepting. It’s about turning irreversible, impossible circumstances into life’s possibilities as Steve Gleason fights for his life and continues the choice to live despite all odds. Great work for Director Clay Tweel as he captures the process of the fight for life. The film is well documented and perfectly portrays its heartfelt and moving story. Great work!!!

Film Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

New Orleans defensive back Steve Gleason contracts ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and documents the progression of the disease.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Clay Tweed for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Tom Lavia for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Himself (Steve Gleason), Himself (Mike Gleason), Himself (Scott Fujita), Himself (Mike McKenzie), Himself (Paul Varisco Jr.), Himself (Vinnie Varisco), Himself (Ryan Gootee), Himself (Paul Varisco Sr.), and Herself (Michel Varisco Gleason).

Himself (Brendan Weber), Himself (Kyle Gleason), Herself (Gail Gleason), and Herself (Michel Varisco Gleason).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This documentary is a ‘must see’ for anyone engaged in any kind of fight. The dedication to fight stamps itself across every scene to inspire and move forward no matter the circumstance.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BAD NEWS BEARS (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

Bad News Bears—remake of the 1976 Bad News Bears with Walter Matthau—has spunk and fun built into nearly every scene as Billy Bob Thornton once again shows us his view of the world with a cast of children following his lead. In that following, the movie is a success for the mature audience. The script is good and well directed by Richard Linklater.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Alcoholic Morris Buttermaker (Billy Bob Thornton), a former Seattle Mariners’ baseball pitcher, endeavors to be a better coach for the Bears, a children’s baseball team with poor game skills.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Richard Linklater for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Marcus Viscidi for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Morris Buttermaker (Billy Bob Thornton), Roy Bullock (Greg Kinnear), Liz Whitewood (Marcia Gay Harden), Amanda Whurlitzer (Sammi Kane Kraft), Toby Whitewood (Ridge Canipe), Mike Engelberg (Brandon Craggs), Kelly Leak (Jeffrey Davies), Tanner Boyle (Timmy Deters), Miguel Agilar (Carlos Estrada), Jose Agilar (Emmanuel Estrada), Matthew Hooper (Troy Gentile), and Ahmad Abdul Rahim (Kenneth Harris).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Billy Bob Thornton has his own onscreen charisma that is worth watching just for its own sake. He’s the backbone of this movie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER (Theatrical Release USA 1990)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

Quigley Down Under maximizes the Tom Selleck charisma to make one of the best western movies of the 1990s. It’s a rewatchable, classic western that has a bona fide villain (Alan Rickman), a perfect female romantic interest (Laura San Giacomo), a great hero (Tom Selleck), and a cast of Australian aborigines who desperately need rescue by a hero. The script is completely original and scales itself against scenery that is fresh and well-chosen. The movie quickly moves itself into the class of KUDOS! KUDOS! ENCORE! ENCORE! This is a best work for Director Simon Wincer.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

United States cowboy (Tom Selleck) takes a trip to Australia to try his hand at sharp shooting and finds his employer isn’t asking him to shoot kangaroos.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Simon Wincer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Stanley O’Toole and Alexandra Rose for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Matthew Quigley (Tom Selleck), Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo), Elliott Marston (Alan Rickman), Major Ashley-Pitt (Chris Haywood), Grimmelman (Ron Haddrick), Dobkin (Tony Bonner), Coogan (Jerome Ehlers), Hobb (Conor McDermottroe), Brophy (Roger Ward), O’Flynn (Ben Mendelsohn), and Kunkurra (Steve Dodd).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Quigley Down Under defines what we look for in a western, begs for a sequel, and whines for a weekly television series. Unfortunately, this is all there is to that story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

The Living Daylights introduces Timothy Dalton as the new James Bond. Despite Dalton’s lack of Sean Connery suavity and his interpretation of Bond as an adventurer/special agent of 'another kind’, Dalton has a certain sophistication that makes the movie work. Kudos for that effort.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Agent 007’s (Timothy Dalton) assignment to help General Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) defect to Britain becomes more complicated than planned.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director John Glen for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Albert R. Broccoli and Tom Pevsner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo), Brad Whitaker (Joe Don Baker), General Leonid Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies), Kamran Shah (Art Malik), Necros (Andreas Wisniewski), Saunders (Thomas Wheatley), Q (Desmond Llewelyn), M (Robert Brown), and Minister of Defence (Geoffrey Keen).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film provides all the expected James Bond perks. It is well-timed and well-sequenced.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE BREADWINNER (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

The Breadwinner—crosses cultural borders with ease—educates, inspires, and entertains. A GKids Production, that links the words intriguing and enjoyable to an animated product, appeals to an all-age audience group. This entertainment product, well-written, turns into a great advertisement for the directing skills of Director Nora Twomey. Breadwinner is ‘Value Complete’ for both time and monetary outlay. We’ve come a long way from one cartoon character beating another cartoon character over the head with a carrot. Breadwinner creates deep hope for development of humane futures due to increased understanding and knowledge facing children living in developing countries.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Parvana (voice of Saara Chaudry) lives in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. After her father, Nurullah (voice of Ali Badshah), becomes imprisoned, she needs to find a way to feed her family in his place.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nora Twomey for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Karim Amer, Mary Bredin, Risa Cohen, Frank Falcone, Mimi Polk Gitlin, Angelina Jolie, Jon Levin, Jehane Noujaim, Regina K. Scully, and Gerry Shirren for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Shauzia (voice of Soma Chhaya), Idrees/Sulayman (voice of Noorinn Gulamgaus), Fattema (voice of Laara Sadiq), Soraya (voice of Shaista Latif), Sorceress/Woman in Courtyard (voice of Kanza Feris), Razaq (voice of Kawa Ada), Kiln Owner (voice of Kane Mahon), and Darya/Fruit Juice Vendor/Jail W (Ali Kazmi).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This animated feature contains entertainment value while educating without preaching. Excellent family watch that provides good opportunity for multiple discussion areas after watching.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers