Cake

Cake

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 1/23/15

Reviewed 1/23/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Cindy

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I can see why Jennifer Aniston, who plays Claire Simmons, was nominated for a Golden Globe, although disappointingly she was snubbed by the Oscars. She did an outstanding job as Claire who has something dark in her past that has caused her suffering from chronic pain. She has scars all over her body, so you get the impression something pretty awful happened. Her housekeeper Silvana (Adriana Barraza) is pretty cute and will warm you up from her scene stealers.

Claire is bitter and mean, and while it is hard to feel sorry for her at first, the story slowly reveals itself and our feelings about her transform. One of the members of her support group takes her own life and this leads her to widower Roy (Sam Worthington). She has a long road of healing ahead and she wants to mend, but has a difficult time finding her way. Claire is morbid and blunt, which churns out a few funny moments, but for the most part the film is grim and depressing. If you are looking for the feel good cutesie Jennifer Aniston movie, this one is not for you.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj

Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 1/16/15

Reviewed 1/22/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This is a very strange story of wealthy John du Pont (Steve Carell), who involves himself in the lives of two Olympic wrestlers. John convinces Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to move to his estate and help him form a wrestling team for the 1988 Olympics. For some reason the creepy du Pont is obsessed with wrestling. We get a glimpse of his vulnerability that is revealed from his lonely childhood, which explains some aspects of his character.

John du Pont is fixated on Mark (Tatum) bringing his older brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) to join the team at the estate. Dave is the more stable brother with a solid marriage, two children, and also has better wrestling credentials. This story unfolds as John du Pont seems to be slipping rapidly, leading up to the tragic ending. I realize he was declining, but the movie does not portray any solid reasons why du Pont snapped, resulting in the murder of one of the brothers. Carell's appearance is altered to look more like du Pont and he is spectacular in this serious role. The creepiness really flows out of him. See this film, just to see how good Carell is. While it is somewhat of an interesting story, just remember it is dark, slowish and might put you to sleep.

QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  Jj

Time:  Jj

American Sniper

American Sniper

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 1/13/15

Reviewed 1/15/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

4 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

If I count American Sniper as a 2014 movie (as its original limited-release to qualify for the Oscars), it was by far my favorite film of the year. It's an amazing story based on Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's book about his tour of duty from 2001 to 2009. He's an American hero to the fullest. I read the book and thought it was good, but Clint Eastwood does such an amazing job bringing the story to screen. It's truly a snub that Eastwood didn't get nominated for Best Director. In the opening weekend alone the film made over $105 million, so that is the perfect answer to the Academy and the likes of Michael Moore, the big idiot. Enough cannot be said on how spectacular Bradley Cooper is portraying Kyle. He is nominated for best actor in a leading role and should be the winner, but we'll see on February 22.

Chris Kyle enlists in the U.S. Navy, motivated by the 1998 attack on the US embassy. He has his sights on special forces and becomes a Navy SEAL after rigorous and hellish training.

He meets and marries Taya (well played by Sienna Miller) soon afterward. In his training he finally discovers his aptitude - a sharpshooter. It is understandably very difficult for Taya each time Chris has to leave for one of his tours in Iraq. Life events go on in the meantime, including two children that Chris has to leave behind, along with his wife, to serve his country. He struggles between his love of family and the goal of saving lives and killing the bad guys that want to destroy Americans. The subsequent scenes are riveting depicting Chris in action. After almost not making it out of a deadly raid, Chris finally tells his elated wife he is done and coming home. It comes at no shock that Chris struggles with ordinary civilian life. It takes a couple of years for him to recover and "come back" to his family. He discovers by helping mentor veterans, especially those struggling with PTSD, he is aiding in his own healing. What comes out of this is so tragic, shocking and upsetting. Chris was killed in 2013 by a veteran he was trying to help. Filmmakers were in the early stages of filming, when Taya and the others learned of this horrific end.

Chris was known to have racked up 160 confirmed kills, making him the deadliest sniper in history. Think of all the lives he saved! Each one of those he took out would have killed many more Americans and allies. A true American hero that didn't die in the line of duty, but that doesn't make him any less of a hero. When Chris was being counseled by a psychiatrist after his tours ended, the doctor questioned him, "Are you struggling with all of the people you killed?" Chris responded very matter of fact, "Well no, I am struggling with all of those I didn't save". That says it all.

QUIET Rating system: 4 1/2 Js

Quality: JJJJj

Understood story:  JJJJJ

Interest: JJJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJ

The Wedding Ringer - Mini Review

The Wedding Ringer

Rated R and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Cindy

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Kevin Hart as Jimmy, aka Bic Mitchum, is hilarious as a "best man for hire". The groom though, needs the whole wedding party - and fast. This sets up for some serious humor! Cindy and I laughed pretty hard for the first half, then it slows down and it gets a bit sentimental in the end. Predictable, yes, but the premise is original and the laughs are worth it.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2 Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJj

Taken 3 - Mini Review

Taken 3 

Rated R and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

We hope it ends here - with number 3 anyway. This was better than number 2, but you can only get kidnapped so many times in your life. Come on. Worth seeing some time, as it is entertaining and the guys will like this one.

QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: Jj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJ

The Gambler - Mini Review

The Gambler

Rated R and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

We thought this movie was going to be better. I am a big fan of Mark Wahlberg, but he was not convincing in this very serious role as a big game gambling addict. Save this one for OnDemand.

QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJ

Time:  JJ

Big Eyes - Mini Review

Big Eyes

Rated PG-13 and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Amy Adams is excellent portraying painter Margaret Keane, but Cristoph Waltz as her husband Walter stole the show. Waltz is great in anything he does. Walter, beginning in the 1960s, takes credit for his wife's paintings with her reluctant cooperation. Gary and I thought this story was so fascinating. For most, this film can be saved for the cheapie theatre or a rental but it's worth seeing.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj

Unbroken - Mini Review

Unbroken

Rated R and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This is the story of overcoming an incredible amount of life breaking circumstances and living to be 97. This is Louis Zamperini. Growing up an Italian American, Louis becomes an Olympic runner in 1936 against all odds. This is just the tip of the iceberg in the amount of life Louis lives. He enlists in the military when World War II breaks out. His airplane is shot down, he survives the ocean for 47 days, and most notably comes out of torturous prisoner camps at the hands of the Japanese. It's almost not humanly possible...but he survived. Angelina Jolie does a fine job directing. You can almost feel her emotions and attachment to this film. There are quite a few scenes where I closed my eyes and that was not enough. Be prepared.

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2 Js

Quality: JJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJj

Wild - Mini Review

Wild

Rated R and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Reese Witherspoon was great in this very difficult role. She portrays Cheryl Strayed in the story based on her memoir of her 1100-mile trek across the Pacific Crest. Cheryl needs to find herself after losing her beloved mother. But her decision to do this with no experience at all is astonishing. It seems this film would not be that exciting, but the writers do a fantastic job at toggling back and forth between the flashbacks of her life and her current trek. An intense and impressive film.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ

The Imitation Game - Mini Review

The Imitation Game

Rated PG-13 and Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Gary and I loved this remarkable film based on the true account of Alan Turing, played by the incredible Benedict Cumberbatch. The Englishman Turing is socially inept but also a genius mathematician. He, along with his team, is credited for cracking the Enigma Code during World War II. It is believed his work saved millions of lives and shortened the war by two years. This is the amazing part of the story, what happens after will shock and disgust you! Astounding movie!

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ

Selma - Mini Review

Selma

Rated PG-13

Reviewed at Celebration North Theatre

with Lynne

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

After seeing Selma, which is an Oscar contender, Lynne and I felt this was a stirring depiction. I have to admit, I will look at the great Martin Luther King (MLK) in another light. This film does a spectacular job telling King's story. We don't get the true picture of MLK as we have been taught. I think schools should go so far as to show this movie when studying him. MLK wanted to make change, but always through peaceful means. The adversity he faced is unbelievable, but he stuck to his principles in spite of idiots like Alabama's Gov. Wallace. Thank goodness Wallace was never elected president after his four attempts. See this one and let me know what you think.

QUIET Rating system: 4 Js

Quality: JJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJj