Ladies and Gentlemen..."The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years"

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years (2016)

Not Rated

Starring John, Paul, George & Ringo

Directed by Ron Howard

The Story:

It's 1963 and some British band called The Beatles is about to take off on the greatest meteoric rise in music history.

This is their story.

Ron Howard's engaging documentary compiles footage of the band from 1963-1966.

At that point, the band stopped the breakneck pace of touring and simply released albums after that.

The movie concludes with footage of their final rooftop concert in 1969.

There is archival footage from the Beatles discussing these crazy years on the road, as well as current takes from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

Along with that, there are some celebrity fans who discuss what life was like growing up during the height of Beatlemania.

Definitely worth a viewing if you're a fan.

And possibly if you're not a fan (tsk tsk) you might see what all the fuss was about.

 Final Grade: A-

Gangsters Aren't Just American Made.."Legend"

Legend (2015)

Rated R

Starring Tom Hardy

Written and Directed by Brian Helgeland

The Story:

The rise and fall of Reggie (Hardy) and Ronnie (Hardy) Kray, possibly the most notorious gangsters ever to rule the streets of London in the 1960s.

Based on the true story of twin brothers Reggie and Ronnie Kray who ruled the London underworld with an iron fist through the 60s.

While there are indeed other actors in the film, the film basically is an acting tour de force for Tom Hardy to play both roles.

Each has mannerisms and behaviors that are unique to the character, and Hardy effortlessly portrays both with ease.

You can easily forget the stunt casting of it all, even during the fight scene when he beats himself up. :)

The story might be more riveting for those that grew up hearing about the Krays, I would think they might be similar to our Old West robbers or the Mafia.

Otherwise, a bit slow as the story tries to balance their life together as well as their life apart from one another.

However, at the end of the day, it's hard to walk away from family and the good life.

There are several stellar moments in the movie where you realize that Hardy could indeed be a contender to be the next James Bond as well.

Time will tell...

Final Grade: C

There Is Little "Doubt" That Today's Movie Might Polarize Some Viewers

Heaven help us...

The Story:

The 60s.  Kennedy is dead.  And Catholic Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) apparently has a penchant for boys.  Or at least one boy in particular.  At the school, Sister James (Amy Adams) brings up the peculiar situation to the principal, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep). She immediately begins to dig to crucify (zing!) Father Flynn, but Sister James has doubts...

Well, if you're going to have a drama, you can do much worse than casting Hoffman or Streep in your film.  You know you're going to get a class act from both.

The problem is, as great as they are, if the material is wanting, then the film falls apart.  Even a great actor can't save a turkey.

Thankfully, this movie is engaging enough to keep you interested, if not riveted, to what is happening.

The scary part, Sister Aloysius seemingly knows from the start that Father Flynn is up to something.  She throws a casual remark out there that Sister James picks up and runs with.  Naturally, when things start happening that seemingly prove the rumors to be true... what do you do?

The staredowns between Streep and Hoffman are the best parts of the movie, as a man accused of...nothing...yet something...this was downright scandalous...in the 60s.  Plus you have a nun taking on a priest in the church...I don't even think that happens today.

Today, when isn't the Catholic Church in the news for something?

The ending is a bit... odd.  And I don't mean how they resolve the dispute, that was actually quite clever in how it was handled.

No, Streep's meltdown at the end was strange, and out of place.

While never admitting any wrong-doing, perhaps all the Father really was doing was comforting a confused boy.  Nothing more nefarious than that.

That could explain her scene, but otherwise, the film ran about a minute too long.

;)

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was enough, as with most dramas.