Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays (2014)

Genre: Comedy / Biographical / Drama

Directed by: Des McAnuff

Cast: Billy Crystal

Time: 132 minutes

In this stage adaptation of his autobiography, comedian Billy Crystal delights the crowd for a couple of hours with stories about his youth, his family, his mom and dad, the place jazz music holds in his life, his teenage years and his passage to adulthood. The man is such a great storyteller: The mannerisms, the facial contortions and the vocal changes, those are all tools that Crystal uses in a masterful way to get where he wants to go. This show made me laugh out loud, it made my eyes a little wet - Damn allergies! – and it then made me smile again. This is well worth seeing, and, come to think of it, I will most probably watch it again somewhere down the line.

Rating: «««««

Papa: Hemingway in Cuba (2015)

Genre: Drama / Biographical

Directed by: Bob Yari

Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Joely Richardson, Adrian Sparks

Time: 109 minutes

This biographical film is inspired by the true story of the friendship that was born between young journalist Denne Bart Petitclerc and his idol Ernest Hemingway, while the author was living in Havana, Cuba.

This movie was demolished in reviews, but, honestly, I liked it very much. Giovanni Ribisi is quite good in the role of Ed Myers, which is the film representation of Petitclerc. Adrian Sparks is also solid as Hemingway. The story and the acting went a little bit overboard with the melodrama at times, but I found the story very touching. I could relate to the idea of getting to spend time with an idol like that, even if it’s going to put you in a dangerous position.

Overall, this was an entertaining film in my book.

Rating: «««

13th (2016)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Ava DuVernay

Time: 100 minutes

This documentary is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States, which put an end to slavery, and it contends that the practice has been perpetuated since through the heavy criminalization of black people.

The 13^th amendment prohibited slavery, unless it was to serve as punishment for a crime. This film offers some alarming figures as to the ever increasing numbers of people in prison in the US.

In this movie, politicians, analysts, activists and many others discuss this sensitive topic, and it is eye opening for sure. Sure, like most documentaries, there is an agenda and nuances are rare. Still, there is no finger pointing towards one political party, as it shows that there is much blame to spread around all sides.

This is most certainly a film worth seeing to get some facts and then make your own opinion.

Rating: ««««

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Genre: Science Fiction / Horror

Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg

Cast: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher, Jr.

Time: 104 minutes

After losing consciousness during a car accident, a woman wakes up in an underground bunker with two men who try to convince her that there was an apocalyptic event above ground and that the air is now deadly.

The closed quarters used for most of this film were very useful to set a certain claustrophobic atmosphere, but the strongest element here is the acting performances from the cast. John Goodman is particularly solid in this film: He has that menacing aura about his character, which he manages to make totally believable.

This movie had me on the edge of my seat for a long time, but it got weird for my tastes and lost me towards the end, which is unfortunate.

Rating: «««

Assassin's Creed (2016)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Justin Kurzel

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons

Time: 115 minutes

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, this film offers a story set during the Spanish Inquisition. To be able to tell you more about it, I would have to look it up, since this movie had me so bored I was dosing off five minutes in. While visually-appealing, this was simply not my thing.

Rating: «

Blake Clark: You're Right...I'm Sorry (1990)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Sue Wolf

Cast: Blake Clark

Time: 60 minutes

Following an archeologically-themed opening, comedian Blake Clark took the stage, in Cleveland, to offer an hour long dose of your typical Southern US humor of that era. It was mostly complaints about how things are not the same anymore and, for example, how it is so complicated to order a cheeseburger nowadays. After 15 minutes, I had not laughed once, so I decided to move on. Clark is known for playing the Hardware Store guy in Home Improvement. I did not know he did stand up and, quite frankly, I wish I still did not.

Rating: «

The Infiltrator (2016)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Brad Furman

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, Benjamin Bratt

Time: 70 minutes

Based on the Robert Mazur autobiography of the same name, this film tells the story of this US Customs special agent whose undercover work as an infiltrator helped bust the money-laundering organization led by Pablo Escobar.

The strength of this film is in the acting. Bryan Cranston is particularly good in the role of Robert Mazur, a guy whose double life is taking a toll on his family and his health. The supporting cast is also quite solid.

The problem here is in the screenplay and the execution by the director. The film is too long, with some weak spots here and there that made me lose interest a bit. A little tightening would have helped quite a bit.

That being said, this was still an entertaining film, in spite of its flaws.

Rating: ««««

Marc Maron: Too Real (2017)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Lynn Shelton

Cast: Marc Maron

Time: 70 minutes

Filmed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this comedy special delivered some great humor that had me laughing almost all the way through. From the start, Maron delved right into the subject of the hour in North America: Donald Trump. He did not mince words and made his opinion clear. The Trumpers should hate him forever. The comic also discussed his love of music, going to a Rolling Stones concert, Dave Matthews fans, getting older, his parents and a multitude of other topics.

Overall, this is a very solid comedy show. Marc Maron’s material and especially his delivery are very reminiscent of the likes of Carlin, my all-time favorite. Maron lost me a bit in his hat buying routine, but, all things considered, this is one of the good comedy specials available out there.

Rating: ««««

The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Penelope Spheeris

Cast: Final Conflict, Litmus Green, Naked Aggression, The Resistance

Time: 86 minutes

The third and last installment in the Decline of Western Civilization trilogy deals with the teenagers and young adults living the punk lifestyle in the streets of LA, squatting and sleeping where they may, drinking and taking drugs and listening to music. We hear from many of these people usually referred to as gutter punks and we also from some of the bands they listen to. A police officer and a club owner also give their perspective.

This documentary is the saddest and more serious one of the three. At first, the director came off a little voyeuristic with her questions to these kids. But, then I got it: She wanted to hear their stories in the most honest, clear and precise way possible. I do not have kids, but I have young ones close to me: This movie made me think of them.

This film might be 20 years old, but the message remains the same: We have to take better care of our kids. A lot of these gutter punks had suffered through abuse and they had rebelled to the point of being completely out of society. The alcoholism, the despair and the total carelessness towards their own lives: It was very sad to see.

Rating: ««««

Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (2003)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: John Moffitt

Cast: Bill Maher

Time: 60 minutes

Taking the stage at the Hudson Theatre, in New York, in 2003, Bill Maher discussed President Bush, the war in Iraq and the Axis of Evil, amongst other topics. The comedian also proposed various posters the government should make these days if that was still their main propaganda tool. There was some good material here, but it did not feel as solid as it is usually the case for Maher. Some of the stuff fell kind of flat for me. Not his best HBO special.

Rating: «««