Ocean's 8

Ocean's 8 - 110 min - PG13

This is a marvelous addition to the franchise. I love how this does nothing to the original fils it doesn't change any of the established story it just adds to it.

This hits every mark of the heist film as well as brings us new characters to explore. Read my full review here on Blackflix. 

Les Misérables

Les Misérables – 158min – PG-13

I have been putting off writing about this movie. It was such a good movie that I feel unworthy to write about it. The best way to describe it was like going to see the musical from right on stage with the performers. This movie is the musical recorded live as the performers acted on set. All of the performance were outstanding. I now have a new appreciation for this story. I have seen the other movie and enjoyed it but to truly get the scope and majesty of this story you need to see the musical. Obviously this deserves nothing less than a green light.

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a man who is jailed for stealing food for his starving nephew. His jailor, Javert (Russell Crowe) tells him that he is free but will always be a criminal. Jean Valjean then goes out into the world to rebuild his life. He has to face the fact that he is a criminal and that he needs to separate himself from the system that has made him into a criminal and rebuild himself completely. He breaks his parole and starts a new life. He becomes a respected member of the community but inadvertently causes Fantine (Anne Hathaway) to lose her job and forces her to sell her body, figurative and literally, on the street to get money together to send to the people watching her child. He finds Fantine and saves her from going to prison and promises to save her daughter, Cosette (Isabelle Allen). Fantine dies with the knowledge that her daughter will be safe. Javert catches up to Jean Valjean but he escapes with Cosette to Paris. We flash forward, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) is a young woman and they are living during the time of the revolution. She falls in love with a young man by the name of Marius (Eddie Redmayne) who is in danger of dying in the revolution; Jean Valjean saves him so that Cosette can have a happy life. As Jean Valjean has worked so hard for the redemption of his crimes he final dies with the blessings he has created through his good work. He dies redeemed.

I have given you the full over arching story but there are so many sub plots to this story you will still see lots that is new. Because each performance is given with all of the heart and soul from each performer it’s like having a wonderful full course meal for your eyes and ears. The wicked innkeeper and his wife were plated by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. They were marvelous in their roles and brought a level of vile oiliness to the parts that made you feel slimy afterwards.

The Director (Tom Hooper) is probably best known for his work on The King's Speech. He can bring out the spirit of a character through the work he does with his performers. One thing I have liked about both of his films is his dedication to the emotional connection he can build with the audience.

There was one performance that stood out to me more than any other and that was Samantha Barks and her Portrayal of Éponine was so engaging. You will need to keep an eye out for her future career because she has a very small résumé but an immense talent.

Warning Spoilers!!!! Only those who fight for the people can click on this link!!!!!

This movie was exactly what I needed, I cried my head off at the end of this movie and it all started with Anne Hathaway and lead to Samantha Barks right on the heals is Daniel Huttlestone and then finish off with Hugh Jackman. If you need a good emotional release go see his spectacular rendition of this story that is beyond compare.

I did not cry when Javert took his own life but it did shock me, I knew what we was going to do but the performance was so well done it took me by surprise.

Sacha Baron Cohen is a puzzle for me. He is an excellent performer and really enjoyed his role and his performance, but his other work really just rubs me the wrong way. I think that if he would focus on more performances like this and leave his asshattery alone he would reach a much wider audience. He is his own worst enemy.

What was the last movie that moved you to the point of tears? Why?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – 130 min – PG-13

The Harry Potter franchise comes to an end and it is a spectacular send off. This movie does a stupendous job of tying up the story of Mr. Potter and his friends. The good wizards stand against Voldermort and his Death Eaters in this battle royale of good versus evil. The second half of the final book was my favorite part so I was looking forward to this movie. I loved the climatic landscapes of this movie and the way the story comes alive and makes the magic seem real. It was with bittersweet sadness that I enjoyed watching this movie knowing that there are no more stories coming. Oddly, I did not feel this way when reading the books. I think as I am more of a movie person than a book person I have a stronger connection with the movies. I give this movie a green light. I truly enjoyed myself while watching the film. Take the last trip into Hogwarts and get set to watch a movie franchise close its doors with a bang.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are on the lamb when we pick up this film, we see them on their pursuit of horcruxes and speeding toward a final confrontation with Lord Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes). The final battle brings the entire cast back together again in the climax of this film. They spared no expenses in bringing us the visualizations and effects of the magic in a full on wizard war. The one character that I find myself thinking on the most is Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) . Out of all of the characters I think that his development throughout the story and the final film has been one of the best. He comes off as a truly despicable character and we see a contrasting side of him in this film. I feel the most sorrow for him mostly in the way that he is so misunderstood; still unlikable, but at least we understand why. Alan Rickman is a master performer and has been a favorite of mine from the time I watched him in The January Man. Another unsung character that I really liked is the heroic Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis). I would be remiss in not mentioning Maggie Smith in her role as Professor McGonagall. She showed her strength as an actress and I was moved by her performance. There were several parts where I knew what was going to happen but seeing them come alive on screen was still a rush.

David Yates has does a great job in making this film the crown jewel of the series. He is familiar with the characters and it shows in the quality of this film. The cast has worked together for several years and they are comfortable with the characters they play. I was completely taken in by the majesty of the final battles and the story elements. I think he did a great job of intertwining the special effects and the drama of the final film. It was well balanced and entertaining. It’s a challenge to balance the elements of a film so that not one overrides the other. He does a wonderful job of making sure that each complements each other.

Warning Spoilers!! No Muggles allowed!!Wizards click here to see them.

Some of the most moving parts for me were the heroic speeches. The first one was McGonagall bringing up the defenses and calls the statues alive and starts to shield the school. I also enjoyed Neville’s speech about Harry being alive in all of us, and his decapitation of the snake. Man, really great stuff.

The entire Room of Requirement scene and its ramifications were exquisite. In the middle of the flight for their lives from the flames Harry makes a heroic choice and risks his life to saves Malfoy (Tom Felton). That good deed in turn saves his life in the forest when Malofy’s mother (Helen McCorory) reports Harry Potter is dead but knows that he is alive and her boy is safe. This is a great story element.

I loved the part where they break into Gringotts and Hermione saves the day. I tell you without her they would not have gotten as far as they did. I loved her trying to be vile and evil as Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) this is a testament of Helena Bonham Carter’s skill she was playing someone else playing her. And if you think about it, she had to think of how Emma Watson was going to play Herminie playing Bellatrix. It’s kind of mind bending when you think about it.

The last question I have for you today is what is the next book series that is going to make a mega millions franchise? I know that I Am Number 4 was trying to get a start but ended up not doing as well as they wanted. What book series should they do next?