Insurgent

Insurgent

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 3/20/15

Reviewed 3/20/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Brandon and Cody

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

I loved Divergent, the first in the franchise. I feel like the second movies are always the big set up for the third installment - Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Hobbit to name a few - and Insurgent is no different. We all liked this, but we were not overwhelmed.

Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) are on the run and hiding out with one of the harboring factions. Jeanine (Kate Winslet), the powerful Erudite faction leader, wants to ferret out all of the divergents, who are a small group that don't belong to any faction but possess the qualities of all of them. The evil-minded Jeanine has her reasons. While the Resistance power grows behind Four and Beatrice, the only way to take down Jeanine and her minions is to band together with other outcasts, but they are finding that difficult. In the end there is a remarkable turn of events, but the rest of the story didn't have the excitement of the first film. Woodley still carries this movie and it is a must-see sometime if you want to stick it out to the end. And you'll see where the third installment starts, which unfortunately is going to be broken up into two parts. Ugh!

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ

Run All Night

Run All Night

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 3/20/15

Reviewed 3/20/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Brandon

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This is Liam Neeson's type of movie. The kidnappings in his Taken films were getting a bit tiresome; so glad to see Neeson in something else. Even though Run All Night could be considered much of the same, it is action-packed with all the usual senselessness.

Jimmy Conlon (Neeson) is former henchman for his longtime friend Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris). Despite years of loyalty and friendship, Jimmy is forced to defend his estranged son Mike (Joel Kinnaman) against Shawn and his thugs after they both get tangled up in a crime spree. They must survive while being chased all over NYC by the police and bad guys. The plot has all the elements of predictability, but for the most part it is exciting to the end.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ

Oscar Party!

On Sunday I hosted an Oscar party for friends and family. Leigh, Gary, and I did a little pre-partying before guests started to arrive.

Andrew stopped for photographers on the red carpet

Lindsay arrived normally, unlike her husband.

Next came Drew and Cindy

plus past neighbors Carrie, Tami, and Barb.

Once everyone arrived, it was time to make Oscar predictions! Kim and Donna filled out their ballots so diligently.

If only they would have taken school so seriously! 

Dad and Laurie really debated on their choices.

Andrew's party face before he learned of the choices...

Dave telling Steve the answers, but I don't think it worked!

Phoning a friend for answers...

Julie trying desperately to concentrate...

and Mike probably should have concentrated on his picks a little more,

but all the yummy food was so distracting!

Now let's see who is eating, who is drinking, who is talking and who is WATCHING the Oscars...

It's almost over. Dad and Laurie get those ballots in!

Great night with friends and family! Though American Sniper (my pick for Best Picture) didn't win, my prediction was right. Birdman got it!

Oscars - Best Picture of 2014

Birdman

Weird movie. Wish I could get those two hours back, though I can see why Michael Keaton is nominated for Best Actor as he did a fine job but I am hoping for either Eddie Redmayne or Bradley Cooper to win in that category.

Boyhood

Snoozer. Too long, but I can appreciate this taking 12 years to film so the director should get kudos. But that's it.

Selma

Well done movie. Loved it. Great acting all around and it should have received more nominations.

The Theory of Everything

Amazing Story. I really liked it. Eddie Redmayne playing Stephen Hawking seems like the most challenging as his portrayal.

The Imitation Game

Interesting story. Loved it. Benedict Cumberbatch is another strong contender in the Best Actor category.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Quirky. I didn't embrace it at all!

American Sniper

Favorite movie of 2014. Loved it. Even though I feel like Bradley Cooper won't win in the Best Actor category, he is amazing and is my favorite. But I'm partial to this movie, as you'll see from my review.

Whiplash

Offbeat, but a surprise that I really enjoyed this one so much. J.K. Simmons should win as Best Supporting Actor and he deserves it.

MY CHOICE for BEST PICTURE:
American Sniper. Though my prediction is Boyhood or Birdman will win.
To see nominations for all categories and view trailers, go to the Oscars website here.

Kingsman: The Secret Service - Mini Review

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 2/13/15

Reviewed 2/13/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This amusing action spy movie is satirical of a James Bond film. It is quirky and not to be taken too seriously. Gary and I both really liked it. Colin Firth plays agent Harry Hart, who feels indebted to Eggsy's (Taron Egerton) father who saved his life many years before. As a result of his sense of duty, Harry recruits a young Eggsy (who doesn't have any direction or much going for him) into training for the top secret society of agents. Fighting off adversaries, like wacko billionaire Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), and saving the world is just the tip of the iceberg for his band of spies known as the Kingsman. It does have some of the comedic violence like Pulp Fiction so be aware and in spite of being a little long, it is a charmer.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJ

Black or White - Mini Review

Black or White 

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 1/30/15

Reviewed 1/30/15 at Celebration North Theatre

with Cindy

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

Kevin Costner superbly plays Elliott Anderson a grieving widow who raised his biracial granddaughter Eloise (Jillian Estell) since birth. Eloise steals the show as she is a charmer. Elliott's daughter died in childbirth and Eloise's father has a history of drug abuse and is a deadbeat, to put it mildly. The child's paternal grandmother Rowena (Octavia Spencer) has decided Eloise needs to be with her black family's roots and proceeds to attempt custody. This is a heart tugging adorable film that supports the path of forgiveness with needs of others foremost versus self interests. We both adored this film.

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ

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