CBGB (2013)

Genre: Biographical / Drama
Directed by: Randall Miller
Starring: Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Justin Bartha
Running time: 101 minutes

 

This film tells the true story of Hilly Kristal and how he created the popular venue called CBGB, in the New York City of the 1970’s, that became a massive launching pad for such bands and artists as The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Patti Smith and many more.

Alan Rickman was really good as Hilly Kristal, but the supporting cast was a little too weak to support him in telling the story. And for a movie about the rise of punk music in New York, the finished product looked too cartoonish for its own good.

Nonetheless, I still found the subject matter interesting, which made the flaws that much more of a deception. I appreciated the tribute to Krystal, by the Talking Heads, at their Rock N’ Roll Hall Fame induction, being shown during the end credits.

Rating: «««

Beautiful Creatures (2000)

Genre: Thriller
Directed by: Bill Eagles
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Susan Lynch, Iain Glen
Running time: 86 minutes

 

Petula and Dorothy are both stuck in abusive relationships of their own. Their paths cross when one accidently kills the other woman’s boyfriend trying to stop a public beating. Both women work together on a scam to get money from the deceased’s brother, but things go sideways when a crooked cop gets involved.

This movie contains a few bright spots of witty dark humor, but, overall, it is a very forgettable piece of cinema. The story is a mess and the performances are nothing to write home about.

Rating: ««

The Box (2009)

Genre: Science-fiction / Thriller
Directed by: Richard Kelly
Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Running time: 115 minutes

 

Based on the 1971 short story Button, Button, by Richard Matheson, The Box tells the story of NASA engineer, Arthur Lewis, and his teacher wife, Norma. They have a son called Walter and they are having financial issues. Early one morning, a package is left on their doorstep containing a wooden box with a button on top. Later that day, Norma is visited at her home by a mysterious disfigured man called Arlington Steward, who tells them they have 24-hours to decide if they want to push the button on the box they received. If they do, they will receive 1 million dollars in cash, but someone they do not know will die. Their decision will set off a chain of events they could not predict.

The premise deals with an interesting moral dilemma. If that was offered, would you take it? As for the film itself, the acting performances were decent enough for the most part. The story offered some moments of good thrills, but there seemed to lack something to tie the whole thing together. It dragged along at times and felt discombobulated in certain moments. But, in the end, there is a nice little message about society and taking shortcuts here.

Rating: «««

Aline (2021)

Genre: Franco / Drama / Comedy
Réalisateur: Valérie Lemercier
Distribution: Valérie Lemercier, Sylvain Marcel, Danielle Fichaud  
Durée : 123 minutes

 

Librement inspiré de la vie de la chanteuse Céline Dion, ce film raconte l’histoire d’Aline Dieu, quatorzième enfant d’un famille modeste du Québec qui devient une star internationale après avoir été découverte par le producteur Guy-Claude Kamar, qui devient son gérant et ensuite son mari.

Avec ce film, les critiques sont dans deux camps diamétralement opposés. Les gens ont soit aimé ou détesté. Je suis dans le deuxième camp. Non, mais quel merde ce film. Et ne croyez pas que c’est par désir de protéger Céline. Je ne suis pas du tout un fan de Céline. Si Lemercier avait voulu faire une caricature de son film, j’aurais compris et ri avec elle. Mais, c’est qu’elle semble sérieuse. Le faux accent québécois horrible, les faux noms ridicules et impossibles donnés à la fausse Céline et à son entourage, la gestuelle maladroite et caricaturale dans les bouts sur scène, tout est vraiment nul. On jurerait du mauvais Louis de Funès. Il n’y a que Danielle Fichaud qui m’a fait sourire par sa performance, avec quelques répliques savoureuses, dans le rôle de la mère d’Aline.

Vraiment, Aline, c’est d’une platitude infinie.

Note: «

Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (2018)

Genre: Comedy / Musical
Directed by: Marcus Raboy
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short
Running time: 74 minutes

 

Writers, comedians and actors Steve Martin and Martin Short got together on stage, in Greenville, South Carolina, for a TV special filled with comedy, banter and music. Some of the stuff was a little hacky, but it was still a fun show, mostly because of these two legends having fun together on stage in front of a crowd. Short is a dynamo of energy, and Martin is one hell of a musician. They share a great chemistry on stage and I was entertained by this.

Rating: ««««

The Big Wedding (2013)

Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Justin Zackham
Starring: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl
Running time: 89 minutes

 

Don and Ellie Griffin were married for 20 years before getting divorced. From their marriage came three kids, now grown adults. Their youngest, who they adopted from Columbia, is set to be married. So as to not offend his birth mother, travelling to the US for the first time, they have to pretend to still be a couple over the weekend of the wedding, in spite of the fact that Don now has another woman, Bebe, in his life.

What could have been a very silly, pointless flick was greatly improved in my view by a talented ensemble cast. Some of the humor missed the mark but other lines made me chuckle. It is a fun little movie for a weekend where you do not want to overthink things. It was also a nice treat to see a Robin Williams performance I had missed.

Rating: «««

Mama (2013)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier
Running time: 100 minutes

 

Victoria and Lily Desange are two young girls who get abandoned by their father in a cabin in the woods. For five years, they are cared for by this unknown entity they call Mama. When they are found, five years later, in a feral state, they are sent to live with their uncle Lucas, who cares for them with his girlfriend Annabel. But Mama follows the girls there, bringing chaos in and out of the household.

While the acting and the visuals are pretty good, the story and the direction are such a mess that this one was tough to sit through. By the end of it, I was just glad it was over. It was not really that scary and it all made no sense when you tried to comprehend what the point of it all was.

Rating: ««