by Patrick Carpenter | Jun 16, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson have found a spark in the buddy cop movie genre, and it’s grounded in one theme: being there for others. Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) is the All-American high school athlete. He’s the popular kid on the block voted most likely to succeed his senior year. Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) is the complete opposite. He’s overweight, mocked, bullied and, as victim of the senior prank, is literally the “butt” of all the jokes. 20 years later, Calvin is seen dealing with issues that many adults deal with. Life has settled in, and he doesn’t see the positives. His life hasn’t gone in the direction he might have imagined back in high school. He was meant for greatness, but, now, he is the accountant for a firm with an inflatable monkey out front. Calvin’s wife, Maggie (Danielle Nicolet), was his high school sweetheart and is considering going to couples counseling to fix their marriage. He almost resents his high school past because he didn’t meet expectations. Bob is quite different. He has lost over 200 pounds thanks to “working out every day for six hours the past 20 years.” Oh, and surprise, he is in the CIA. However, even with his accomplishments, Bob is still dealing with the bullying he endured in high school. Even after 20 years when Bob is faced with his high school bully, he is quiet. The trained assassin only sees his high school past in the mirror. He doesn’t understand who he is. So he seeks out the help of his only friend, Calvin, to help him. Calvin simply gave Bob his...
by Jade Spilka | Jun 10, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Featuring an impeccable cast and heart-wrenching storyline, the highly-anticipated tearjerker Me Before You is the romantic film of the year. The film, which is based on the novel of the same name by Jojo Moyes, follows Louisa Clark’s (Emilia Clarke) journey as a caretaker for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a young, wealthy quadriplegic man. Traynor is initially put off by Clark’s talkativeness and outfit choices, but as time goes on, he finds she is exactly what he needs. A relationship blossoms quickly, but Will’s desire to terminate his life causes a riff between anyone he cares about and himself. Clark dedicates all her time to making Traynor’s life exciting and happy. Though Traynor sees Clark could offer him a good life, he is still hesitant to continue their relationship because he could never have the life he once had. The film keeps you consistently guessing what their fate will be, and it features several tear-jerking moments. Kate Dowd casted the film, and I was impressed by every choice she made. Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin deliver extraordinary performances. Many films and television shows have supporting characters that sometimes overpower the main characters. However, Me Before You had clear stars throughout every scene. Clarke and Claflin shown the brightest while the supporting cast subtlety executed their performances in a realistic way that supported the storyline without stealing the spotlight. In a time where romantic films seem highly predictable and redundant, Me Before You offers a charming, completely unpredictable, fresh storyline. I was captivated within the first five minutes — a statement I rarely make. Me Before You is a must-see. Though you will leave...
by Erin Franklin | Jun 4, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
A live-action remake of the classic Rudyard Kipling tale, The Jungle Book is the rare family film that engages viewers of all ages, providing timeless storytelling and forgoing typical crude humor. Most of us have seen the original lighthearted Disney cartoon (1967) directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who also brought us the beloved Disney films Robin Hood (1973) and 101 Dalmatians (1961). I naturally wondered how Disney would stay true to this original film and the Kipling story, while still putting an original twist on its reboot. This sounds like a daunting task, but director Jon Favreau accomplished this with creative skill. One of the film’s biggest assets is its visual beauty. Set deep in the jungle, the film is uniquely and solely portrayed (other than Mowgli) through impressively realistic computer-generated imagery (CGI). It stays true to its Disney roots, too, incorporating beloved songs and characters from the cartoon, such as Baloo’s number “The Bare Necessities” and chief monkey, King Louie (both not in Kipling’s original story), yet, overall, it is loyal to Kipling’s coming-of-age tale about a boy finding his place in his jungle home. The film stars newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli, who got the part after auditioning with over 1,000 other children. Sethi is the only non-computer-generated character in the film (other than a brief flashback with baby Mowgli and his father in the jungle), with all other characters portrayed as magnificent CGI animals. The Jungle Book does bring in well-known names as voices for the jungle creatures, such as Bill Murray (Baloo), Ben Kingsley (Bagheera), Idris Elba (Shere Khan), Lupita Nyong’o (Raksha) and Scarlett Johansson (Kaa) to draw viewers. However, much of the film’s success must be given to Kipling since he is the author...
by Erin Franklin | Jun 1, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Although it wasn’t quite “grizzling or horrigust,” The BFG just might be categorized as a “grunicous” (as BFG would say) film to sit through for anyone who’s graduated from elementary school. Moviegoers can’t help but to expect an E.T.-like film upon hearing Steven Spielberg was directing another story about a child developing a friendship with a fantastical being, but The BFG (The Big-Friendly Giant) falls short of the storytelling magic E.T. possesses that we’ve come to expect from Spielberg. The film focuses on Sophie, an orphan, who is snatched by a giant from her bed. The tale continues with an unlikely, yet lovable friendship between Sophie and the giant, whom she dubs “BFG.” BFG isn’t the only giant in the world, though; there are several other giants, who have terrifying names, “Bloodbottler” and “Maidmasher,” for example, who eat children such as Sophie. The rest of the story tells Sophie’s and BFG’s quest to end the terror the other giants inflict upon “human beans,” and even BFG himself. BFG is not entirely without merit. The budding young star, Ruby Barnhill, delivers an admirable performance as Sophie, the orphan who travels to Giant Country. Mark Rylance also provides a wonderful voice performance as the title character. The CGI in the film is striking as well; however, this year’s The Jungle Book’s imagery is much more so. With today’s CGI possibilities, it seems that the scenery could have so much more depth — “Giant Country” is dull and lacking compared to the intricate and detailed jungle in The Jungle Book. Despite Barnhill and Rylance’s performances, older filmgoers may begin to suffer from boredom...
by Jade Spilka | May 31, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Filled with adventure and creativity, Director James Bobin’s Alice Through the Looking Glass captivates a creative-minded viewer and allows one to visit the enchanting land of Wonderland for a second delightful time. I was skeptical when I first heard Producer Tim Burton, who directed the 2010 Oscar-winning film Alice in Wonderland, would be bringing Wonderland to life once again. However, within the first ten minutes of the film, my fears were instantly put to rest. There are many positive messages portrayed throughout the fantasy film. Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) is the perfect role model for young girls. She is a tough go-getter who believes that nothing is impossible. She is not dependent on a man and knows that a woman can do any job a man can do. The Mad Hatter’s (Johnny Depp) storyline focuses on family and rekindling lost relationships. The Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and White Queen (Anne Hathaway) demonstrate repentance, forgiveness and the power of sisterhood. The film’s main focus, however, is time. Alice hates time and believes it is a thief, but as the story progresses, she learns time is a gift. After several attempts to change the past, she learns the past cannot be changed, but it can be a lesson applied to the future. The lessons were beautifully portrayed, and I left the theater feeling happy and surprised at the sequel’s fresh and imaginative ideas. Alice Through the Looking Glass is a must-see for any creative individual. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney...
by Jade Spilka | May 24, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Director Lorene Scafaria’s sophomore film The Meddler focuses on overbearing widow Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandon) who latches onto her daughter, Lori, (Rose Byrne) and anyone who will keep her company. The film opens with Marnie’s move to Los Angeles where her daughter works as a screenplay writer. Lori, however, is depressed from the loss of her father and a recent breakup, busy with work and feels smothered by her mother’s constant phone calls and text messages. Marnie, desiring to feel needed, begins volunteering at a hospital and giving large amounts of time and money to people she barely knows. A therapist suggests she may be spending so much because she feels guilty having her husband’s money. Marnie focuses most of her time on others but feels lonely in the process. She is rarely placed as a priority in anyone’s life until she meets a retired police officer named Zipper (J.K. Simmons) who is instantly attracted to her. The film follows Marnie’s journey in pursuit of her daughter’s time and her own happiness. She is led to find a balance in her life, and with the help of Zipper, finds love and friendship, too. The comedy-drama, while charming at times, lacked an apparent message and coherent storyline. There was no obvious struggle or villain which made it lack an aspect of entertainment that is usually crucial to a movie. The film was ultimately not engaging, but it was filled with extraordinary acting. Sarandon and Byrne’s delivery seems effortless. Sarandon’s strong Brooklyn accent is consistent, while Byrne, an Australian native, speaks with a flawless American accent. The Meddler certainly has sweet,...
