The Dawn Wall (2017)

 
Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer
Starring: John Branch, Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
Running time: 100 minutes

 

This documentary chronicles the trek undertaken in January 2015 by rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson to free climb the 3,000 feet of The Dawn Wall, of the El Capitan mountain, in Yosemite National Park. It was an arduous undertaking that had never been done before.

This is a brilliant documentary film. The subject matter is interesting and inspiring. On top of the amazing climb, it was cool to learn more about Tommy Caldwell’s life story. The guts and determination that man has. The images shot and used in this documentary are often breathtaking. I highly recommend this story of perservance.

Rating: «««««

Jungleland (2019)

 
Genre: Drama
Directed by: Max Winkler
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Jack O’Connell, Jessica Barden 

Running time: 90 minutes

Former pro boxer Walter “Lion” Kaminski and brother/manager Stanley Kaminski find themselves in trouble with a group of gangsters after Walter loses a fight that Stanley had bet on. To pay off the debt, the brothers must perform a task (driving a young woman to Reno) and then Walter must take part into an underground prizefighting competition.

Honestly, I never really got into this one. The story seemed to lack focus, and the acting felt uninspired. I was never really emotionally invested in the plight of these characters. Maybe I was not in the right frame of mind, but I was just waiting for the 90 minutes to be over.

Rating: «

Big Fish (2003)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup 

Running time: 125 minutes

 

Based on the 1998 novel of the same name written by Daniel Wallace, Big Fish tells the story of Will Bloom’s strained relationship with his father Edward. With Edward on his last miles, Will makes a last ditch effort to communicate with his dad and find out the truth and the inventions in all of the stories he told over the course of his life.

This is a beautiful father and son story wrapped around in a lot of the usual silliness you often find in Tim Burton movies. In spite of all these add-ons, this was a compelling storyline delivered on screen by a talented cast.

Rating: ««««

 

Captain Marvel (2019)

Genre: Superhero
Directed by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn 

Running Time: 123 minutes

 

Carol Danvers must reclaim her past as she becomes Captain Marvel in the midst of a war between two opposed alien civilizations.

Honestly, I did not care much for this film. I almost shut it off within the first few minutes, as it felt like I was watching someone I did not care for play a boring video game. Once the action moved to planet Earth, I got hopeful, but the story and the acting lost me again. It never feels like Brie Larson brings her character to life here. She feels very bland. And the problem might be the material, because even Samuel L. Jackson, who I know well and usually like, felt uninspired here in his performance.

The whole thing ended up going mostly over my head. A few moments made me smile, because of a joke or a tune. But, other than that, this is very blah.

Rating: ««

 

American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

 Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Jenny Popplewell 

Running time: 82 minutes

 

This documentary films tells the story of the 2018 Watts family murders, in Colorado. In 2018, Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife Shannan. along with their two young daughters, and tried to conceal the bodies, while trying to make it look like a disappearance. With use of videos from the dead mother’s Facebook feed, family shot home videos and police material, this film paints a very sad and somber picture. This documentary was interesting and well done, though it is sad when you think of such an ending for a beautiful young family.

Rating: ««««

Uncle Frank (2020)

 Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Alan Ball
Starring: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi
Running time: 95 minutes

 

Beth Bledsoe cannot wait to leave her family behind in the South Carolina of the 1970’s to move to New York and attend college. Beth feels very distant from most of her very conservative family, except for her Uncle Frank, a more refined man working as a college professor in NYC. Frank is a closeted homosexual, but the death of his dad might end up making his secret see the light of day.

The premise of this film was compelling. It is a very actual, let’s just say, for a movie set in the 70’s. It is a very “now” topic. The acting was pretty good too. In my opinion, the film suffered from a lack of focus. It sort of dragged in the middle and got confusing as to what the intent was. But, in the end, all was brought home properly.

Rating: «««

Our Very Own (2005)

 Genre: Drama
Directed by: Cameron Watson
Cast: Allison Janney, Cheryl Hines, Jason Ritter
Running Time: 106 minutes

 

In this coming-of-age drama, a group of teenagers from Shelbyville, Tennessee, work together to prepare a musical theatre number in a local talent show, hoping to impress local girl turned renowned actress Sondra Locke, who is rumored to be coming to town for a festival and movie opening.

This film had potential, but the final product lacked focus. It felt like there was no point to it all, and there was no strong lead to really attach your interest to. Here, Shelbyville was portrayed as boring for the youth, and the film ended up feeling the same way to this adult. The film began and ended, and I still did not get why I was suppose to watch. A few moments gave me hope, but there was nothing pulling those together.

Rating: ««