"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" Movie Review

My review of "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke.

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"

Posted on June 26, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

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Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (2014)

Greg (Thomas Mann) has mastered the art of surviving high school. He interacts with each group of students, whether it’s the jocks, the stoners, the weirdos or the drama club students, with just the right amount of interaction so that they think he is a part of their group, but really isn’t. He never lets anyone else (besides the target groups) see this interaction and avoids big gatherings like the lunch room. That way he doesn’t stand out from the crowd but also doesn’t appear to be a loner.

The only student that Greg interacts with on a daily basis is Earl (RJ Cyler) who he has known since they were little kids. Greg even keeps Earl at a distance. Instead of calling Earl his friend, he labels him his “coworker.” At lunch, they both escape to a teacher’s lounge where their favorite teacher, Mr. McCarthy (Jon Bernthal) lets them watch classic films on his computer as he dispenses vague advice on how to survive life.

The only things that Earl and Greg have in common are timeless foreign films that they watch together and the love of making crappy satirical films on their computers based on classic films with titles such as “Grumpy Cul-de-sacs”, “My Dinner with Andre the Giant”, “Rosemary Baby Carrots”, and “The 400 Bros.” Their films are made for their own amusement and not for the consumption of anyone else. If fact, they get quite defensive when someone like Greg’s father tries to watch them.

Greg’s parents are overly enthusiastic with being involved in Greg’s life. Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) has made it her mission to get Greg to apply for college, so much so she gives Greg a book of potential colleges that just might weigh 20 pounds. Greg’s father (Nick Offerman) is a sociology professor who seems to spend his whole time in a bathrobe at home. Greg’s father’s mission in life is to consume the world’s most bizarre foods and get Greg and Earl to eat them also.

Greg’s world is changed when his mother finds out that a classmate of his, a girl named Rachel (Olivia Cooke) has been diagnosed with Leukemia. After a round of badgering, Greg’s mother convinces Greg to call Rachel. When their very awkward phone call ends, Greg’s mother makes him go (resistance is futile when it comes to Greg’s mom) and actually visits her at her home. There he convinces Rachel that the only way they will both get through the visit is just to get it over with. At first, Rachel doesn’t want anything to do with Greg, but his rather strange sense of humor soon warms her to him, and so a friendship is born.

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and screenwriter Jesse Andrews have done what is increasingly hard to do nowadays, take a successful book aimed at teens and make it enjoyable for not only the target audience but also adults. This film is an incredibly entertaining to watch. The film uses highly creative stop-motion animation that tends to display Greg’s innermost thoughts, and the amusing narration that Greg gives is reflective and gratifying. It’s a rare teen coming of age film that can take all the stereotypical aspects of that genre and turn it on its ear. Andrews has written a script (based on his novel) that contains a real insight into how teens act and talk, taking what should be ordinary conversations and creating scenes that are filled with magic.

The film is brilliantly cast. Britton is wonderful as the “every mom,” who sees only the good in her son Greg and hopes the best for him. Offerman brings out the most in every scene that he is in; bringing that deadpan style of comedy he does so well to the screen. Molly Shannon is hilarious as the mother of Rachel, someone who seems to be dealing with her daughter’s cancer by having an ever-present glass of wine in her possession.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

The film works because of the three leads. RJ Cyler is wonderful as the stick to your guns and be candid about everything, Earl. He is given the difficult job of being the straight man to Mann’s Greg, something that he fully succeeds in doing. Thomas Mann has a great comedic touch, knowing when to overact a bit as teenagers seem to do while keeping his character real and grounded. His scenes with Cyler are incredibly important to the film, and their time on the screen is a blast to watch. He also works extremely well with Olivia Cooke, because without that attraction and chemistry, the film just wouldn’t work as well as it does.

It’s Olivia Cooke that makes this film succeed, hitting both the comedic elements and the heartstrings. Her performance is brilliant and touching without getting too mushy or maudlin. We instantly like her right from the start, with her interaction with Mann easy going and more importantly believable. It’s a moving performance that is full of heart.

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is a marvelous film that plays on the stereotypes of the teen dramas that have been so popular lately, taking a film genre and making its own with humor and insight. Like the quirky films that Greg and Earl make, you won’t forget this unique movie that packs such an emotional punch.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again 

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” Website

"The Wolfpack" Movie Review

My review of the documentary "The Wolfpack" 

"The Wolfpack"

Posted on Jun. 19, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

 

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

“The Wolfpack” (2014)

This documentary is one of the stranger stories you will see at the cinema. Six boys and one girl have grown up in a New York City four bedroom apartment sheltered from the outside world by their very strange and overly protective father and their rather submissive mother. The boys, all with long hair almost down to their knees, rarely venture outside of the apartment. When they do leave, it’s as a pack and just for short supervised trips. There have been instances when the boys have only left the apartment one time in a year. Their father has instilled in them that the outside world is a dangerous place, full of people wanting to ply them with drugs or worse yet, rob or kill them. The boys have all been given Sanskrit names (the father is a Hare Krishna), and they are to follow their father’s rules to a T.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

When the film opens up, we see the six boys recreating some famous movies; “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “The Dark Knight Rises” to name a few. They spend a great deal of time and effort on recreating the films, making elaborate costumes and props out of cereal boxes and old yoga mats. While the boys are home-schooled by their mother (who seems to be the family’s sole source of income), they spend a great deal of their time either watching movies or recreating them. Their productions are so elaborate that they type out the scripts on an old typewriter by watching the scenes of the film over and over on VHS and DVD players. We get to know the boys (the sister seems to be mentally impaired, rarely showing up in the film) through a number of short interviews. Some of the brothers are shyer to the cameras than others, with the two oldest boys the most vocal, especially about their father.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

We don’t see their father until about 30 minutes into the film. In fact, early on I thought their father might be dead or had moved away. We find out that he is alive and living in the apartment. He spends most of his time watching movies in his bedroom, rarely venturing out. The father does talk on camera, but it’s about forty minutes into the film and then his speeches to the camera are rants on how he has protected his children by sheltering them from the outside world. His wife appears on camera much more than he does. At first, she is tentative to say much of anything, not wanting to disagree with her husband’s philosophy on raising their children. As the film moves along, she comes out of her shell.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Director Crystal Moselie came across the six boys, who usually dress in dark suits and sunglasses (even at night), one day and started talking to them. Somehow she got their parents to agree to be filmed. I am curious on how much the lives of the boys were impacted by the making of this film. As the movie goes on, we see the boys venturing out more and more. They go to their first movie theatre, thrilled that they are spending money that their heroes might somehow benefit from. As the film goes along, the oldest boys start to rebel against their father, refusing to talk or acknowledge him and venturing out more and more into the world of New York City. We see them as they take their first subway ride and their first trip to Coney Island and its beach. As the film progresses, we also see their mother rebel against their father, going for a run or calling her estranged mother.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

I enjoyed the film, mostly because the boys are so outgoing, and their recreations of films are fascinating. I wanted more on their background, and while we do see quite a few home movies, I never felt that I got to know anyone depth in the family. The movie also never fully explores the darker side of the father and his hold on his family. There are hints that he bullies the boys and that he might have hit his wife, but these are never fully explored. Apparently the police have been called to the apartment also, but the film never really examines into why or what affect that had on the family. And while we do get to see the boys experiencing the outside world more and more, the film never truly explores the topic of how the boys will cope with strangers and co-workers as they get older. Even though we spend an hour and half with the family, I came away thinking that the boys were merely characters in their own film, instead of real kids trying to find their way in the big, wide world of New York City.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“The Wolfpack” is playing exclusively in Atlanta at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

“The Wolfpack” Website

"The Connection" Movie Review

My review of "The Connection" starring Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Céline Sallette.

"The Connection"

Posted on Jun. 19, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Drafthouse Films

“The Connection” (2014)

Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin) is a French police magistrate who works in the Juvenile division. When we first meet Pierre, he is working to reach a young girl hooked on heroin. He’s tough, but it is obvious that he cares about what is happening to the young people of Marseilles. He is determined to make a difference.

He is singled out for his outstanding work and is promoted to the organized-crime unit. He has been hand-picked to spearhead a new campaign to stop the rampant drug trafficking in the city. The organization behind most of it is a crime gang named The French. The French is run by Gaetan “Tany” Zampa (Gilles Lellouche), a stylish crime boss who owns a local night club, lives in a big mansion with his wife and kids and runs the gang with an iron first.

Pierre finds out that it’s not going to be an easy job. Zampa is a very slick operator, never leaving a paper trail and uses an elaborate distribution  system not only in the city but also to the United States. Zampa is so well organized that Pierre discovers the police have almost no information on The French and Zampa. If Pierre is going to succeed, he will have to outwork and out think Zampa.

“The Connection” is based on a true story and was the basis for the 1971 American crime drama “The French Connection.” While that film was about the delivery of drugs into New York City, this film concentrates on the French criminals and the magistrate who was trying to stop them.

Pierre and Zampa seem like opposites, but both love their families and are hard-working. Both men are not above breaking the rules. Pierre isn’t above working all night, sacrificing his time with his family to succeed. Either will kill anyone who gets in his way. As the film progresses, it becomes a cat and mouse game between the two men. Both men are desperate to succeed, and one may have to die for the feud to end.

Co-writer/director Cedric Jimenez keeps the story moving along. The film has a nice seventies feel to it, but other than the music, the time period doesn’t dominate the movie. The action sequences are fast-moving and exciting, making the film seem shorter than its two hour and 15-minute length.

The two leads are the reason to see this film. Oscar-winning Dujardin seems a bit of an odd pick for the role because at first he seems to cool and classy for the role. But as the film progresses, Dujardin allows his character to become more and more uncomfortable in his own skin, not happy with the way his life is turning. Dujardin becomes disheveled as the movie progresses as his character becomes obsessed with bringing down Zampa. Gilles Lellouche more than holds his own when he is on the screen with the magnetic Dujardin. Lellouche is so full of energy that at times it seems that he doesn’t just appear on scenes but bursts onto the screen instead . Lellouche does a remarkable job making us like him; even root for him a little, while he is doing even more despicable acts.

Unfortunately, “The Connection” is going to be compared to the 1971 film “The French Connection” even though they are two very different films. “The Connection” is an excellent addition to the crime drama genre with two outstanding performances by Dujardin and Lellouche.   My Rating: Full Price

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

The film is playing exclusively at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

If you want to see more of Mike’s reviews and interviews click here

“The Connection” Website

"Barely Lethal" Movie Review

My review of "Barely Lethal" starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jaime King, Samuel L. Jackson, Madeleine Stack.

"Barely Lethal"

Posted on June 5, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of A24

“Barely Lethal” (2015)

There is a secret organization run by a man named Hardman (Samuel L. Jackson) that trains young girls from an early age to become Prescott’s, cold-blooded assassins. Agent 83 (Hailee Steindfeld) has always been one of the best trainees. The only problem is that she doesn’t want to be there. She longs for something else. She wants to experience growing up as a normal teenager, concerned with dating and what movies to see, rather than her current choices of killing her target with a knife or a gun.

Agent 83 is sent out in the field to capture Victoria Knox (Jessica Alba), a notorious arms dealer whose repartition of being ruthless is well founded. Agent 83 finds her target and apprehends Knox but in the process, Agent 83 falls from the rescue plane and by all appearances, dies. Agent 82 successfully survives the fall and decides that this is her chance at a normal life, she can let Hardman think that she has died. A few weeks later, she poses as a foreign exchange student from Canada and finds a nice family to take her in. She now realizes her dream of becoming a normal teenager. But soon the former agent, now going by the name Megan, is going to discover that being a high-school student is just as dangerous as being an international assassin.

This movie is a mix mash of several different genres. It’s a teen film with its roots in films such as “Mean Girls” and “Clueless.” Several times movies like “The Breakfast Club” or “Mean Girls” are quoted in the film. It’s a fish out of water film, as Megan has always been home-schooled by Hardman and her only points of reference to being a teen are teen magazines and teen-oriented films and TV shows. It’s also an international spy movie with references to James Bond.

The film is part action film, part romantic comedy (teen edition), and it’s the comedic elements where the film doesn’t always work. There are a couple of very funny scenes; one where Megan explains to her possible love interest, Cash (Toby Sebastian), on how a real life hit is different than the video game he is playing. She goes into great detail on how she would proceed to enter the compound and confront the bad guys. The problem is that most of the attempts at humor are a little heavy-handed and don’t work. The film does a better job at the action sequences, and Steindfeld does a believable job at being a bad-ass agent who can take down a bad guy in just one move.

I liked Steindfeld in this film, as she has a commanding presence and makes the shift easily from the tough agent to the lost high school girl, at almost a moment’s notice. She has great chemistry with both Jackson and Alba, making their roles believable. I also liked Toby Sebastian as Cash, the most popular boy in school who shows an interest in Megan. Sebastian works well with Steindfeld, and he makes the cool guy seem interested in her quirky character. I did get tired of his signing (he is in a popular band in their high school). The actor who steals the movie is Thomas Mann, who plays the first guy who is nice to Megan. Mann is perfect as the nerdy A/V guy who is secretly in love with Megan and their scenes together as some of the best of the film.

While “Barely Lethal” is not a bad film, this movie could have been a game changer for the teen romance genre. Instead, it followed the same old plot lines of the films that Megan watched to learn how to be a teenager. It’s an opportunity lost, especially with the outstanding cast this film has.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee

My Ratings (From best to Worst): 1).  I Would Pay to See it Again 2).  Full Price 3).  Bargain Matinee  4).  Cable  5).  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“Barely Lethal” Website