"A Little Chaos"

My review of "A Little Chaos" starring Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci.

"A Little Chaos"

Posted on Jul, 3, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

“A Little Chaos” (2014)

 

Sabine De Barre (Kate Winslet) has been summoned by Andre Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts), the famous landscape architect to an interview. Le Notre has been commissioned by the French King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman) to make Versailles a one-of-a-kind testament to the beauty of France, and he is interviewing landscape artists to fulfill his vision.

Le Notre is in a bad mood, and it’s made worse when looking down on the grounds, he sees Sabine move one of his plants to a different position in a display. He almost instantly dismisses her, first grilling her about her ideas of landscaping, many of which seem to be in opposition to his vast body of work. She finds solace later working on a private garden in the country, making a beautiful display out of practically nothing. As she recovers that night from her hard work, she gets a late-night visitor, Le Notre. Le Notre has reconsidered her proposals and wants to know why she moved his plant in the garden. She soon realizes as their conversation goes on that he is there to hire her. They are about to embark on a magical journey of creativity and possibly love.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Alan Rickman, besides starring as the King, Louis XIV himself, directs this beautiful movie about the love a woman has for the land and the man who slowly falls in love with her. It’s not every day that the main character of a movie is a 16th-century widow who is trying to hold her own in what at the time was considered a man’s profession. Rickman gives us a film that makes this possibility believable due to Winslet and her portrayal of Sabine. Sabine has a secret, something that has happened in her past. We see glimpses of her past life in Sabine’s flashbacks and dreams, but even more revealing is that she hears a child’s voice out of nowhere or sees a small child quickly run by. This is all exposed slowly throughout the film, and creating the tension that we need for the story to work.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

The world that Rickman presents to us isn’t always beautiful. There are the numerous court scandals, as woman and men, try to position themselves as close to the king as possible. Court intrigue, sabotage and weather all create problems for Sabine and her vision to create an incredible part of the garden. It’s a fascinating look at life inside the court, as one man, the King, can make or break a person just because of a whim.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Rickman has assembled a stunning group of actors with Stanley Tucci headlining the supporting cast, playing the King’s brother, Philippe, Duc d”Orleans. Tucci commands the screen as he wears outlandish outfits and complains about everything, from the weather to the size of his hats. Alan Rickman plays the King with zeal, stealing several scenes from the rest of the cast with a performance fit for a king. Matthias Schoenaerts portrays Le Notre as a man who has a single-minded purpose, driven to create his masterpiece for his King. He has great chemistry with Kate Winslet, as their attraction grows throughout the film.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

It’s Winslet that makes this movie watchable. She portrays Sabine as a strong woman who isn’t afraid of hard work, but is afraid to confront her past or let love in again. It’s a remarkable performance and makes the script, which, now and then, gets a little too bogged down in the court intrigue, fascinating and at times, moving.

If you are a lover of costume dramas and court intrigue, this film is for you. It’s not your typical love story, but it is an enjoyable piece made better because of the performances of Tucci and Winslet.   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 in Atlanta at the Plaza Theatre

“A Little Chaos” Website

"In Stereo"

My review of "In Stereo" starring Beau Garrett, Maggie Geha, Aimee Mullins.

"In Stereo"

Posted on Jul. 3, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

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Photo courtesy of Circus Road Films

“In Stereo” (2015)

David (Micah Hauptmann) seems to have it all. He has a great apartment in NYC, he is an up and coming photographer, and he has a wonderful girlfriend in Brenda (Beau Garrett). His world changes when she wants to move in with him. Fast forward a year later and Brenda is not around. We learn this as David discusses his life with his therapist. He is living with Jennifer (Melissa Bolona), a young girl whom he catches looking at his cell phone. They get into a massive argument, and she leaves in a huff. David decides to follow her, as he believes that she just might be cheating on him. It seems that David is almost hoping that he will catch her with someone. His worst fears are realized when he follows her to his best friend’s apartment.

Compounding things is David’s latest photo project; he takes pictures of people at the height of aggravation, brought on by David’s attempt to get them mad. He gets punched out be a guy in a bar and gets arrested by a cop when he steals that police officer’s donut. Added to David’s misery, he has a chance encounter with Brenda, who very quickly cries on his shoulder, bring up feelings he thought he had buried.

The film, written and directed by Mel Rodriquez III, takes an interesting ploy as most of the first half of the movie is seen through the eyes of David. We follow him around town as he baits bar patrons to get a picture, gets into arguments with his girlfriend Jennifer, and has a beer or two with his best friend, Chris (Kieran Campion). Most of David’s section of the film are narrated by him as he tells of his latest triumphs (only a few) and failures (of which there are many) to his shrink (Sean Cullen). The second half of the film is kind of a split screen type of story as we see David and Brenda separately trying to survive their unhappiness. These are two very unhappy lives that they have created for themselves. The script has a Woody Allen vibe to it as its characters travel about the streets of New York City as each character moves in and out of conversations that are witty and fun to watch.

Photo courtesy of Circus Road Films

The supporting cast is excellent with standouts such as Kieran Campion playing Chris, the troubled rich kid who is double-crossing his best friend and Mario Cantone, who plays Brenda’s super smug agent, with which she has a love/hate relationship. Melissa Bolona is believable as the very immature and high-strung girlfriend of David. I especially enjoyed Sean Cullen as the world-weary psychiatrist who is trying to get David to accept his mistakes in life and find at least a little happiness. 

It’s to the credit of lead actors Beau Garrett and Micah Hauptman that I liked this film so much because both their characters aren’t exactly likable. Garrett perfectly plays Brenda as an actress who has some success (so that she is recognizable) but isn’t above auditioning for a commercial about STD’s. Garrett has an on-screen quality to her that causes us to believe that she will eventually figure out how to make it the entertainment world. Hauptman has the hard task of making David root-able because he is such a sad sack of a guy, someone who continually and purposely, shoots himself in the foot. While their time with each other is limited on the screen, there is great chemistry between the two principals, letting you see how easily their characters fit so well.

While “In Stereo” is not a perfect film, it is an enjoyable take on the genre of romantic comedy, and its two leads work skillfully together, so much so that it is worth your time.    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

“In Stereo” is playing in Atlanta exclusively at the Plaza Theatre

“In Stereo” Website

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"

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

Wayback Machine Archive Post

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"

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"

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"

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

"I'll See You in My Dreams"

My review of "I'll See You in My Dreams" starring Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott.

"I'll See You in My Dreams"

Posted on May, 29, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” (2015)

Carol (Blythe Danner) is a widow of over twenty years. She lives alone with her dog and has a daily routine that she sticks to without fail. She has friends with whom she plays bridge and golf with, but most of her days are quite predictable. She gets up at six, reads the paper with a cup of coffee, gardens during the day and ends her day with her dog at the foot of the bed while she drinks a glass of wine and watches a bit of TV. Her world is changed by two events: she has to put her beloved dog down, and she meets her new pool cleaner, a young man named Lloyd (Martin Starr).

Carol realizes in talking to Lloyd that she is in a bit of a rut. While happy in her life, she realizes that she just might want more and begins to try things out of her comfort zone. Even the disaster of a speed dating round at the local retirement community doesn’t deter her. She goes with Lloyd to a karaoke bar and discovers the world of bad singing and appletini’s. She then meets a man named Bill (Sam Elliott), someone who is going to push Carol to examine her life in a little more detail.

Photo courtesy of Bleeker Street

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” is that rare film, part romantic comedy, part drama, whose main character is over sixty and a woman. The film doesn’t always work, but it’s an earnest attempt at exploring the possibilities of life when older and alone.

The weakest points of this film are when it tries to do broad comedy. The disastrous speed dating sequence is played strictly for laughs, compete with a herpes joke. A highly predictable set of scenes where Carol and her three girlfriends get high and hit the grocery store for munchies just doesn’t fit the rest of film. It’s too over the top and encounter with a cop as they stumble back home from the store, goes on way too long.'

What makes this film click is the marvelous performances in the film, especially by Danner and Elliott. Elliott is perfect, displaying his usual manly, gruff exterior, but letting us see that his character has both a sense of humor and tenderness. Elliott can do more with just a smirk and a wink than many actors can do with whole scenes, and it’s obvious that he is having a blast making this film. His scenes with Danner are the best part of the film. Their chemistry is through the roof, and they play off each other with ease. They give the audience the idea that these two characters truly care about each other, and the sparks between them are there right from the start. Danner is phenomenal in the part of Carol, commanding the screen, even when she is on the screen with Elliott. Danner makes us fall in love with Carol, and we are rooting for her right from the start, hoping that she will find love again.

Martin Starr, as the thoughtful poet who is moonlighting as a pool guy, is equally compelling. He has some significant scenes with Danner, as their two characters become friends over the pool, some wine and a rat that keeps showing up in Carol’s house. Starr has a tendency to play very quirky, nerdy roles but in this film he is very restrained and gives a delightful performance of a man who is trying to find his way in the world, something that Lloyd and Carol bond over. The supporting cast of Rhea Perlman, June Squibb and the captivating Mary Kay Place, who play Carol’s band of friends, is equally strong. I especially like the scenes between Place and Danner, displaying a warm and true friendship.

Director Brett Haley directs the rather large cast with a steady hand. It’s obvious that he cares about the characters, especially Carol and propels the story along with a sense of purpose and affection. While the movie has its cliché’s and a couple of cheap laughs, it still treats its subject matter with a gentle touch, making us appreciate Carol’s journey of self-discovery and search for maybe even love.    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