"My Blind Brother"

My SXSW Movie Review of "My Blind Brother"

"My Blind Brother"

Posted on 3/25/2016 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Orion Pictures

“My Blind Brother “ (2016)

Film is reviewed from the 2016 SXSW Film Festival screening.

When we first meet Bill (Nick Kroll), he is running in a marathon. He is struggling a bit, unlike his blind brother Robbie (Adam Scott), who Bill is tethered to. Robbie makes everything look easy, having an almost rock star feel about him as he deals easily with family, friends, fans and the media. Robbie is somewhat a media star, competing in athletic events to raise money for his foundation, never missing an opportunity to be interviewed by the local TV stations. Bill, on the other hand, finds himself always in the background, never getting the attention or acknowledgment, even though he is right there by his brother’s side. It seems that Bill is responsible for Robbie’s blindness, having tricked his brother into diving into the shallow end of the pool.

Bill decides to head to the local bar to forget how much a loser he is compared to his brother, and there he meets Rose (Jenny Slate), a young woman who has just lost her boyfriend to an accident and is participating in his wake at the bar. Jenny confides in Bill that she is responsible for her boyfriend’s death, as she had just broken up with him, upsetting him, and, therefore, he didn’t pay attention to where he was going and was hit by a bus. Rose mentions that she should be doing something selfless, like working with the less fortunate, if just for karma’s sake. Commiserating in their sad lives, they hit it off and eventually end up sleeping together. The next morning, Rose is hit with guilt over her dead boyfriend and makes a hasty exit from Bill’s apartment. Bill, not knowing much about Rose, thinks he will never see her again.

Bill meets up with Robbie, all set to start training for a swim across a local lake when Robbie tells Bill that he doesn’t have to train with him anymore. Robbie announces he has a new guide, a volunteer. His new guide just happens to be Rose.  Now will Bill stand idly by as Robbie works his charms on Rose or will he fight back against his brother and not let his guilt take over?

I loved this film, mostly due to the witty writing and the winning performances of Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate. The humor in this movie can be a little cutting, mostly at the expense of Robbie, but that’s OK because he is a selfish jerk who steps all over his brother, especially if it means that he can be in the spotlight. Sophie Goodhart, who wrote and directed “My Blind Brother” has a real feel for dialogue and the banter back and forth between Bill and Rose seems real and is hilarious. Some of the funniest scenes are between Rose and Bill, with Robbie in their presence, oblivious to what is going on.

The cast is brilliant in this film. Adam Scott is perfect in the role of Robbie, who never met a microphone he didn’t like, lapping up all the attention of his fans and family. Scott plays Robbie as if he is entitled to every perk because he feels he deserves it because he is blind. Zoe Kazan, as the hapless friend of Rose, who is there for support and sometimes bad advice, is terrific and plays off of Slate’s Rose nicely. Nick Kroll is a counterbalance to Adam Scott’s Robbie. Kroll plays Bill as a sad sack kind of person who lets his brother walk all over him, even if it means that his brother gets the girl he is in love with. Kroll has excellent comic timing and meshes fully with both Scott and Slate. He has great chemistry with Slate, making their attraction seem genuine. Jenny Slate is the real star of this film, and she plays the kooky, messed up girl with a sweetness that will make you just fall in love with her from the start.

“My Blind Brother” is a fun ride that will have you laughing from the start and maybe squirming in your seat a few times. It’s not your ordinary romantic comedy, with real characters and a sense of humor that is a little biting. It’s a world you would love to be a part of; we just hope that somehow, someway Rose and Bill will figure out a way that they can end up together.   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

"Operator"

My SXSW Movie Review of "Operator"

"Operator"

Posted on March 23,2016 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of The Orchard

Film is reviewed from the 2016 SXSW Film Festival screening.

'Operator'  (2016)

Joe (Martin Starr) and Emily (Mae Whitman) are two very different people who balance each other in their marriage. Joe is an engineer for a software company and sees things very black or white. His world is very analytically and data filled; he makes decisions based solely on the cold, hard facts. Joe is also all about regimen and keeping schedules and routines. He takes a 37-minute run every day, always turning around at the halfway point, a jetty that looks out over the water.

Emily is more a people person. In fact, she is amazing in her job as a hotel concierge. She can instantly put a customer at ease with her ability to find the problem and solve it as quickly as possible. She is also able to get the customer to instantly know that she is on their side and will do everything that she can to make it right. Where Joe has problems relating to people, Emily is someone who enjoys interacting with people. Emily doesn’t want to be a concierge for long, as she has just joined a comedy troupe who perform 30 plays in 60 minutes. Somehow they make their marriage work, each playing off the other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Joe works for a company that is developing software/apps for a healthcare system called Welltrix. The product testing of the app is not going well, as callers are getting mad at the app’s personality, making them feel that the company doesn’t care about their well-being. Joe is given a week to come up with a better app, one that reflects the personality of someone who cares. Joe recalls how skillfully Emily does with frustrated customers and volunteers his wife to be voice and personality of the newly designed app. Emily agrees to it when Joe tells her if the app gets the go ahead, she will be compensated, well enough that she could quit her day job at the hotel. It’s a decision that they will soon regret as their marriage will be tested.

“Operator” is a film about trying to keep a relationship going strong in this day and age of electronic devices dominating our attention, multiple jobs and two very distinct personalities who don’t always mesh. This is a story about two people who are very different in their views of the world, but somehow find the time and the patience to listen and understand each other.

The on-screen chemistry between the two leads makes this film work so well. Mae Whitman gives an outstanding performance as the young woman who wants more than anything to be a performer. When her character is performing on stage with her comedy troupe, we see just how gifted she is as a comedic actress, but she is equally brilliant in her most vulnerable and tender scenes with Martin Starr, showing us how complicated her character is.

Martin Starr holds his own with Whitman, though because of his character’s personality, his performance is much more restrained. Starr has always specialized in playing strange characters in films, but this performance is probably one of his best, bringing depth and emotion to a character that has trouble letting his emotions get to the surface. We see the love and determination in his face as his character has to overcome his own shortcomings in order to keep his marriage going.

Nat Faxon as the needy boss of Joe, Christine Lahti, as Joe’s mom, and Cameron Esposito, as a pushy, opinionated cast member in Emily’s comedy troupe, all contribute significantly to the story line, making the film feel rich in character development and give it a great back story.

Sharon Greene and Logan Kibens (who also directed the film) have written a script that is highly inventive and a joy to watch, giving us real characters to follow and explore. The writers make us care about Emily and Joe, giving us a reason to root so hard for their success.

“Operator” is a film that has a lot to say about relationships and how technology can get in the way of two people trying to connect. It’s a movie that will make you put down that smart phone and spend some time with Joe and Emily as they find their way together in this busy and distracting world.     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

"I Am a Hero"

My SXSW movie review of "I Am A Hero"

"I Am a Hero"

Posted on March 18, 2016 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Toho Studios

“I Am a Hero” (2015)

Hideo (Yô Ôizumi) is an artist who works on Japanese-style comic books called Manga. He once had a promising future, with a girlfriend and an award for “newcomer of the year” from his employer. While others have gotten promotions or their own series, Hideo is toiling on inking other people’s work and wishing for some sort of break. He dreams of being a big artist with his own series, but everything he pitches gets rejected by his boss. His co-workers don’t like him, and he has a tendency to stare off into space, fantasizing about making it big. His home life isn’t much better than his work. His girlfriend has been waiting for 15 years for Hideo to make something of his life and has become more and more frustrated with him, even to the point of blaming him for wasting her youth. She finally hits a breaking point, throws out his prized skeet shotgun and tells him that they are over. All Hideo can do is apologize for his failings and leave with his tail between his legs.

After spending a night on the streets, having been locked out of his apartment by his girlfriend, he heads for the office. Upon his arrival, the office is a mess. A TV blares a report about a virus that is spreading throughout the population, along with multiple acts of violence that are breaking out all over the country. He finds one of his fellow workers covered in blood, and there are bodies with bashed in heads all over the place. His co-worker informs Hideo that he had to kill the other workers because they got sick and attacked him. Just then, their boss stumbles in, looking horrible and muttering about a deadline. Suddenly his boss attacks Hideo and his friend, leaving the friend to bash the head of their manager into a bloody pulp. Suddenly the fellow worker becomes sick, and Hideo is then attacked. Hideo is able to find the strength to fend off his attacker, and ultimately kill  his sick co-worker.

After a harrowing trip through the streets, as mass panic is happening, Hideo finally makes it home. He pleads to his girlfriend to open the door but she remains silent. He looks through the mail door slot to see his girlfriend lying on their bed. She suddenly starts to convulse and then falls to the floor, at which point his girlfriend slowly moves across the room to the front door. Upon opening she suddenly attacks Hideo, and in this moment he is in the ultimate fight for his life. Is this the point that Hideo becomes the man he always thought he could be or will he die trying to become a hero?

“I Am a Hero” is from the creative and imaginative mind of filmmaker Shinsuke Sato, who based the film on a popular Manga series. The film is funny, fast moving and has incredible action sequences that make this a perfect film for a midnight movie setting, such as the one I attended at SXW. As the film went along, the crowd (and myself) got more and more vocal on cheering on Hideo in his adventure and laughing at the numerous comedic parts in the film.

Hideo is an unlikely hero, though he fantasizes that he is, and more often than not, he cannot pull the trigger (literally in most cases during the film he fails to shoot his shotgun at really important times). All Hideo wants in life is to be a man of action and courage, but he is more a man of indecision, often freezing when he should act. Yo Ôizumi is pitch-perfect as the ineffective Hideo. He seems to show every emotion broadly on his face, so we are aware of what he is thinking without having to have it explain it to the audience.

The reason that this film is a blast to watch are the zombies. The zombies keep some of the characteristics of who they were when they were alive. A gifted athlete is still capable of performing fantastic feats as a zombie. Someone who like to shop, in zombie form, will attempt to enter stores with a determined purpose. The zombies can also talk, so very often they are muttering phrases that they often said while they alive, like a zombie barista to kill Hideo while also trying to take his order.
“I Am a Hero” is a brilliant, action-packed film that will make any zombie lover want to see this film over and over again, hoping that if the zombie apocalypses happens, we can also say “I Am a Hero.”    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

"Don't Think Twice"

My SXSW review of "Don't Think Twice"

"Don't Think Twice"

Posted on March 16, 2016  on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

'Don't Think Twice'   (2016)

At a small club in New York City, an improv troupe called The Commune performs nightly. The troupe is made up of 6 members, all who have ambitions to either write or perform for the SNL-like TV show called Weekend Live. The troupe has been together for years, and most were recruited from an improv class taught by Mike (Mike Birbiglia), who came within “inches” of making the Weekend Live cast years ago. The rest of The Commune is made up of Jack (Keegan Michael-Key), his girlfriend Samantha (Gillian Jacobs), Allison (Kate Micucci), Bill (Chris Gethard) and Lindsay (Tami Sagher). They don’t get paid much from the show, so most of the group have second jobs or are unemployment.

The troupe is at a crossroads, as the club they perform at is being sold and becoming an “Urban Outfitters.” This creates a bit of panic within the group, as they start thinking about their futures. As luck would have it, a talent scout for Weekend Liveshows up for one of their performances. When Jack and Sam are picked out of the group to audition for the show, this causes quite a bit of friction from the rest of the troupe (though they try not to show it). What will happen if Sam and Jack are picked for the TV show? Will The Commune survive?

I loved writer/director Mike Birbiglia’s first picture “Sleep Walk With Me,” which was about the trials and tribulations of being a stand-up comic on the road. I am happy to say that Birbiglia has done it again with “Don’t Think Twice,” as this movie is as humorous and inventive as his first film. Being a fan of improv and having done some during a stint in a children’s theatre program, I respect how hard it is to be consistently funny while making up things ‘on the fly.” The film gives you great insight into just how hard it is to make it as a comedic performer/writer. This is illustrated by Mike’s living conditions, as his room is basically a bunk bed in a closet. The life of a comedian in the big city is full of pain, rejection and self-doubts, all of which are part of this film. This isn’t a film that romanticizes coming to the big city and making it big. Instead, it shows just how hard and how many sacrifices that someone has to make to just survive. It’s also a film about friendship and competition, as your friend may be the one person that gets the job you covet, fulfilling their dreams as it crushes yours.

The joy of this film is the improv scenes (which by the way; some were scripted, and others were improvised), which will have you on the floor laughing. Even some of the scenes away from the club are fun to watch as the group make fun of each other constantly, though, sometimes the kidding can go too far and touch a nerve or two. The cast is exceptional and the chemistry, when they are doing improv, is brilliant and effortless. Birbiglia plays the insecure Mike with conviction. Keegan Michael-Key is a blast to watch as the group’s star on the rise and his interactions with Gillian Jacobs make it seem like they have been a couple for years. There is a scene near the end of the film between the two that just might bring a tear to your eyes. Kate Micucci is perfect as the talented writer who is scared to finish any project that she starts. Chris Gerhard plays the sad sack Bill with great comic timing and Tami Sagher, shows her strong improv background, standing out when the group performs.

This is a heartfelt, funny film that deals with all the pain, sacrifice and lows that comedians face in their everyday life just so that they can get those few minutes in the spotlight. “Don’t Think Twice” is a film that shows us that as painful as those struggles are, if you can make someone laugh while up on stage; it’s all worth it.    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

“Don’t Think Twice” comes out later this year.

"Midnight Special"

My SXSW movie review of "Midnight Special"

"Midnight Special"

Posted on March 15, 2016 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers

Film is reviewed from the 2016 SXSW Film Festival screening.

'Midnight Special'  (2016)

A report of a missing child is playing on a TV in a motel room. We know something is up because the windows are covered with cardboard, and the front door peephole is covered with black tape. Two men (Michael Shannon, Joel Egerton) are moving around the room, getting ready to leave. One man, Lucas (Joel Egerton) removes some of the cardboard while the taller man, Roy (Michael Shannon) packs a bag. We notice that there is another person in the room, someone under a sheet on the floor with what looks like a flashlight. When the sheet is removed, we see a child, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) with blue goggles on who has been reading a comic book with the flashlight. At that moment, we see that the report on the TV is of the same child, and that he has been abducted by his father, Roy. The two men hustle little Alton out the door and into a car under the cover of darkness. They set off down the road, the driver turns off the headlights and puts on night-vision goggles. As they leave, the receptionist at the motel sees the missing child report, and as she sees the car moving down the road she reaches for a phone.

We cut to a church where a preacher (Sam Shepard) is in an office watching the same missing child report. It seems that the preacher is interested in the child and sends a lieutenant to find the boy. We can tell from the tone that this is serious business, and they mean to get the child back as soon as possible. The preacher then leaves the room and goes into a large meeting hall filled with people. The crowd is made-up of men in mostly casually wear and women in extended plain dresses with long sleeves. As the preacher is giving his sermon, the congregation says a series of numbers, as if they have done this many times before. We cut to the outside, and we see a number of black cars and vans rolling into the compound. Out of the cars and vans comes a large military-like police force that slowly and carefully make their way towards the buildings. The Feds come into the church and announce they are taking everyone in for questioning. The preacher tells his congregation to cooperate and go willingly with the government forces.

We cut back to Roy, Lucas and Alton in the car. They are monitoring the police through a scanner in the car. Roy tells Lucas to slow down and put the headlights back on. Just as he takes off the night-vision goggles and turns on the lights, they crash into another car that is entering their road. The men and the boy are stunned but not severely hurt. Lucas gets out to check on the other driver, just as a police car drives up. How far will the two men go to keep the boy from being taken by the police?

This is the compelling opening to “Midnight Special,” an absorbing and intense film from Jeff Nichols, who brought us “Mud” (2012) and “Take Shelter” (2011). When I watched this movie, I kept flashing back to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Firestarter,” with a little “E.T.” thrown in. Just how far will Roy go to protect his son and what kind of powers does Alton possess that would make both a cult-like religious group and the government want him so badly?

While a chase film with some Sci-Fi thrown in, the heart of the movie is the relationship between Roy and Alton. Nichols lets us slowly learn about Alton and his backstory, getting us to understand just how deeply the love runs between Roy and his son. Along the way, we meet Alton’s mother (Kristen Dunst), who apparently has escaped the cult and is willing to help Roy keep his son away from the government and the church. Because Nichols places relationships above everything else in this film, the movie has a much deeper and richer tone to it, making it more than just a chase film. The relationship between Roy and Lucas, we learn is due to knowing each other when they were children. This friendship is so strong that Lucas is willing to drop everything at a moment’s notice to help Roy and his son out.

The cast is outstanding, with Jaeden Lieberher giving a subtitle performance as Alton, the little boy who is dealing with having a mystical power that everyone seems to want. Joel Egerton has probably the hardest role in the film, as he has to show his conviction and loyalty through actions instead of words. Kirsten Dunst, as Alton’s mother, isn’t asked to do too much, mostly because her character is just a supporting cog in the film, with the center being the father/son relationship. Michael Shannon gives another masterful performance as the father who will protect his son at all costs. It is to the credit of Nichols writing and Shannon’s acting ability that we get this feeling from the start of the film, and there is never a time in the film where Shannon’s character has to explain fully how deeply he cares for his son. Nichols lets Roy show how much he loves his son through his actions rather than his words. We almost instantly know that Roy is a good man, even though at the start of the film, we are being told by TV reports that he has stolen his son.

Credit should go to David Wingo creating a marvelous score that helps produce tension that is allowed to build throughout the film. Director of Photography Adam Stone’s photography gives the feeling that it’s always darkest before dawn, giving the film a shadowy look that helps make each scene feel full of menace.

I was a little disappointed in the ending, and without giving anything away, I would have liked the film to end just a little sooner than it did. I feel that the ending would have been more impactful and moving if we didn’t see everything, that Nichols should have left some things to the imagination. However, the ending doesn’t take away from the fact this is an exquisite movie that touches you immensely. “Midnight Special” is a film that places the love of a father for his son above everything else and we all better for it.    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

“Midnight Special” comes out this spring.

“Midnight Special” Website

"Everybody Wants Some!"

My SXSW review of "Everybody Wants Some!"

"Everybody Wants Some!"

Posted on March 13, 2016  on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Film is reviewed from the 2016 SXSW Film Festival screening.

'Everybody Wants Some'  (2016)

It’s 1981 in a small Texas college town where most of the sports teams of the college suck, all but the baseball team. The team rules the campus and just about the whole town, living in two old houses off campus, where there are only two rules laid down by their coach; no girls upstairs and no alcohol. Needless to say that both rules will be broken within in a few hours of the house manager laying down the law.

Into this environment walks freshman pitcher Jake (Blake Jenner), a likable but sometimes too smart for his own good 18-year old who must quickly find his place in this new world of booze, manliness and baseball. The team is ruled by the upperclassmen; Roper (Ryan Guzman), the ringleader of the house and the man with a line for every lady and McReynolds (Tyler Hoechlin), the best hitter on the team and a fiery personality to match his talent. Jake soon meets some of his other team members including Willoughby (Wyatt Russell) who seems to be on a mission to smoke as much weed as he can, Nesbit (Austin Amelio) a cock-sure upperclassman who never backs down from a challenge and Billy Autrey (Will Brittain), Jake’s new roommate and a teenager right out of West Texas central casting, drawl and all.

Jake is soon wrangled by the upperclassmen to go out for a little cruising of the campus for a little drinking before the team meets with the baseball coach for the first time. In a parking lot of a dorm, the guys encounter two girls who just aren’t falling for the upperclassmen’s lines, in fact, one of the girls, Beverly (Zoey Deutch), instead, tells the guys she is more interested in Jake, “the quiet one” over anyone else in the car. This is a girl that Jake will long remember, as he is determined to see her again, and isn’t going about to let college get in the way.

“Everybody Wants Some!” is a blast to watch, sort of a sequel to “Dazed and Confused,” Richard Linklater’s 1993 classic film about a bunch of Texas high school students experiencing their last days of high school. While not the same characters as in “Dazed,” the baseball team does inhabit the same small town Texas world, just a little older but certainly not the wiser. The film explores what it was like to go to college in Texas in the early eighties where Disco was starting to die, the “Urban Cowboy” craze was ruling the roost and the punk rock/new wave scene was still going strong. Linklater lets us get a taste of all these worlds, as the guys try to go with the flow, hitting bar after bar, in the search for free drinks and women.

The film takes place over the three days prior to the first day of class. It’s a tip to Linklater’s narrative talent that the film moves seamlessly from one day to the next, with the nights of rowdy behavior followed by a morning of recovery. Interspersed between parties, are conversations that range from talking about ESP (weed aided of course) to how to survive on a team full of competitors. This gives the film time to fill out the characters, making them seem more real than your typical college high jinks film. This makes Jake, Roper, and the others come off as much more rounded, fleshed out characters that we can enjoy. The quick banter back-and-forth as we learn about each team member makes the film flow, and is so much fun that often at my screening the laughter was so loud you couldn’t hear the response. Linklater’s knack of making dialogue seem natural while seamlessly flowing helps make this film feel as if we are almost taking part of the baseball team banter. The soundtrack is an amazing mix of different genres that perfectly reflect the times and the changing moods of taste. Everything thing from the flashy rock of Van Halen to the punk rock of Patti Smith to the country classic, the “Cotten Eyed Joe” contributes to fit the film perfectly for the time period.

The young, mostly unknown cast is outstanding with Ryan Guzman as the quick-witted Roper, Tyler Hoechlin as the brash MyReynolds and Austin Amelio as the boisterous Nesbit standing out. The secondary story of the film is the romance between Blake Jenner’s Jake and Zoey Deutch, the theatre major Beverly. Beverly is about the only woman in the movie that is treated as she isn’t a conquest for the team to win and Deutch gives us a performance that is smart and multi-layered, creating someone that Jenner’s Jake would be interested in. There is great chemistry between the two, as sparks fly from their first date as they talk and have ice cream, to their last date when they spend the whole night talking, right up to almost the first class of the year. Jenner is the standout of the film, as we instantly like his Blake, a guy that is trying to find his place on the team. Jenner also is able to show us that at the same time, it’s apparent that Blake is more than just a ball player, he is someone who has an intelligence in him that he can hold his own with the whip-smart Beverly.

Linklater has created a film, which while a little shallow at times, is so much fun that you are willing to overlook its few flaws. While a welcome addition to “Dazed and Confused,” this is a film that deserves it’s own place in the Linklater film repertoire. As with “Dazed and Confused,” which gets better with each viewing, you will want to revisit the baseball team from the small Texas college town for years to come.  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

“Everybody Wants Some!” Website

“Everybody Wants Some!” comes out this April.

"Only Yesterday"

My review of the Studio Ghilbi classic "Only Yesterday"

"Only Yesterday"

Posted on March 12, 2016 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of GKids

"Only Yesterday"   (1991)

In 1991, Studio Ghibli was only six years old but already had a major hit in the animated film “Kik’s Delivery Service” (1989). In 1991, director/writer Isao Takahata brought us the animated film “Only Yesterday” which went on to become the biggest grossing film in Japan for 1991. For some reason, the film was never released in North America. For the 25th anniversary of the movie Studio Ghibli has recorded an English-language version of the film starring the voices of Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”). The original Japanese language version with English subtitles will also be released. When the film was made director Takahata decided to keep the animation of the movie as realistic as possible, so the dialogue was recorded before the film was made and then the animators matched the animation to the voices. They also stayed away from the typical Japanese animation and gave the film a more realistic look, with lush animated backgrounds and characters that had much more human-like characteristics.

“Only Yesterday” is about Taeko (voiced by Daisy Ridley), a 27-year old office worker living in Tokyo. We follow her as she cleans off her desk, says her goodbyes and heads for the train station to start her 10-day vacation. She is off to visit her relatives, farmers in the countryside. It’s something she did last year and is looking forward to it again this year. As she rides on the train, she thinks about when she was a young teen, living with her sisters and parents. She thinks about what was important to a young girl, things that today seem unimportant but to a young child, it’s their whole world. It’s a world which could seemingly crumble if a classmate shuns you or if you aren’t picked for a team sport.

When Taeko arrives at her destination, she is clumsily met by Toshio (voiced by Dev Patel), a young farmer whose passion for the land is almost overwhelming to Taeko. Toshio is very outgoing, easy to talk to too and seems interested in Taeko’s opinions on just about every subject. He is a little jealous that Taeko gets to live in the big city, being one of the few young men in the countryside that hasn’t left to make it big in Tokyo, having decided to go into his families’ business of raising crops. They arrive at her relatives’ farm where they grow flowers that are used for rouge and for dying clothes. As soon as she gets out of Toshio’s car, she dons on her work clothes and instantly starts working in the field. The work is satisfying, and it seems that Taeko may be suited better for this world than the “rat race” back in Tokyo.

Photo courtesy of Gkids

“Only Yesterday” is a warm, lovely film that treats it’s main character, whether it’s the adult version or the younger one, with a loving touch. This is a movie about a woman discovering that what molded her in youth, now has implications in the adult world. Taeko seems to be happy with her job in Tokyo but the longer she spends getting back in rhythm with a simpler life, the more content she seems. The film explores the conflict that women in Japan felt at that time, their desire to be independent working women in conflict with the Japanese ideal that women should be “stay at home” mothers. Taeko will have to decide by the end of the film on what life she wants to live in the future, the big-city life or the simpler country way of living.

The film also explores Taeko’s childhood in flashbacks, often brought on by what Taeko is experiencing in the present time. Taeko’s childhood is not all smiles and playdates with friends. Taeko, as a child, like the adult, is extremely headstrong, wanting big things to happen and when they don’t, she gets very disappointed or rebellious. This causes her parents to react strongly back, whether it’s a slap from her father or her parents forbidding her from taking her interest in acting further. These incidents have far-reaching results that Taeko is still dealing with as an adult.

Photo courtesy of Gkids

This is animated film aimed at adults. It’s a romantic film about a young woman struggling to find her place in the world. It’s also a film that explores the importance of respecting nature and how you must give to the land as much as you take. The film combines the romantic elements with the message of celebrating nature to a satisfying conclusion where we know Taeko will finally be happy with who she is. This is an animated film that is far better than most romantic live action films. is exquisitely animated; a film to savor for its beauty and its story of finding our way in the world, that we can find peace with our choices and with nature.   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

“Only Yesterday” is now playing exclusively in Atlanta at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

For Mike’s reviews and interviews click here

"Zootopia"

.

My review of "Zootopia" starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman.

"Zootopia"

Posted on March 4, 2015 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

"Zootopia"  (2016)

All her life, Judy Hopps (Gennifer Goodwin) has wanted to make a difference. We see when she puts on a school play that she not only has the flair for the dramatic, she feels that it’s her destiny to leave the country life and go to the big city of Zootopia where all the animals live in peace, peace that has lasted for generations. While at a county fair, Judy sees some smaller animals being bullied by some bigger ones, including a mouthy Fox. She stands up to the gang and while a little worse for wear, survives to see another day.

Judy, against the advice of her parents (Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake), decides to enroll in the police academy. After a rocky start,  and with determination and fortitude, Judy not only graduates but is at the top of her class. Her parents are convinced that she will get hurt in the big city, but Judy is convinced that not only can she survive in the big city, she can also make a difference in her fellow animal’s lives.

Judy makes it to the beautiful Zootopia and rents a shabby little room that she proclaims is the best. Unfortunately, her first day on the job as a police officer isn’t as perfect as she would like. Even though there is a rash of mysterious animal disappearances throughout the city, Officer Hopps is assigned the job of giving out parking tickets. Hopps is determined to be the best parking ticket officer on the force and sets out to set a parking ticket record. Will the big city crush her dreams of making a difference or with the help of con-artist fox named Nick Wilde(Jason Bateman), can she find out what is happening to all the animals that are missing?

“Zootopia” is a magical movie that combines the beautiful animation Disney is famous for with a hilarious script that has some serious undertones containing a great message we can all use. While never spelling it out, it’s about as direct approach on the subjects of racism and profiling as you can get. The message never hits you over the head, and the reasons learned are never fully spelled out to the audience, but the message comes over loud and clear. As Officer Hopps spends more time in Zootopia, she discovers that the city isn’t necessarily the paradise that she thought it was. In fact, the city is starting to fall apart at the seams as a divide develps between the animals that used to be the predators and the majority of the animals in Zootopia that used to be prey. It’s a theme that runs throughout the film, using the sometimes naive Officer Hopps to explore the complexities of discrimination and prejudices.

Part buddy film, part mystery “Zootopia” uses humor at every turn to keep the movie moving at a rather quick pace. There are so many funny lines and rapid asides, making fun of past Disney films (including one about a “frozen” girl) that you may have to see the movie several times before getting all the jokes. Equally, there is so much happening on the screen that it sometimes almost becomes overwhelming to try and soak it all in. Disney has created a lush, complex city, filled with engaging buildings and even more entertaining residents. Some of my favorites are Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a gruff water buffalo who thinks Hopps is to small and weak to be a good officer, Bellwether (Jenny Slate) a sheep who is the deputy mayor of the city and is convinced that Officer Hopps is exactly what the city needs, Gazelle (Shakira), a pop singer with tigers as backup dancers, and Yax (Tommy Chong), a Yak that spends a little too much time meditating and not enough time in the real world.

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

The film works due to its humor and the incredible chemistry between Gennifer Goodwin, who has just the right tone for the excitable Officer Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman, who gives Nick Wilde, the cagy con-artist fox, just the perfect amount of sarcasm and coolness. Their scenes together are the highlight of the film, as their characters learn to work with each other, as they engage each other with a rapid give and take dialogue is fun to see develop.

“Zootopia” is a little long and very young children may get a bit scared at a few scenes of animals acting ferocious, but this is one film that everyone is going to enjoy. And, the DMV scene with the sloths that is teased in the trailer will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter.    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

“Zootopia” Website