"Doctor Strange" Is Not Covered By Your Affordable Healthcare Plan

Doctor Strange (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen,

Directed by Scott Derrickson

The Story:

Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) is an extremely accomplished neurosurgeon who is as brilliant as his ego suggests he is. In an instant, his world comes crashing down, and he loses everything. In a last-ditch effort to regain the full use of his hands, he heads east in the hopes of healing, and winds up learning ancient mystic arts. Of course, when another former pupil is trying to learn a dark spell that will wind up destroying the earth, it will fall upon Strange's shoulders to see if he's learned enough to stop the threat.

Full disclosure, I never really cared for Doctor Strange when I was growing up. Aside from guest starring in the books that I read, I never sought his own comic out to read.

Just a character I never truly cared for.

However, much like Daredevil, give him to the right hands, and I might find myself really digging the character.

When I saw the trailer(s) for Doctor Strange, I was also less than overwhelmed.

They did nothing to alleviate my fears, unlike the killer trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy that made me realize THAT movie is going to be amazing, and I MUST see it in theaters.

Nope, this looked like one I could probably miss in theaters and catch on DVD, much like I did with Age of Ultron.

However, I wound up at the theater with one of my kids Friday afternoon, and we sat down to watch.

Neither of us hoping for much, other than to not be let down.

Part of me wonders why we even worry about anything Marvel touches anymore.

: )

In short, it exceeded any and every expectation that we had.

There was great characterizations, there was fun, Marvel dialogue.

The special effects are nothing short of amazing, and they keep the fight sequences fresh and visually stunning.

I've seen handfuls of reviews, both professional and not that actually recommend this one be seen in 3-D if possible.

I can only imagine how crazy that's got to look!

The final "boss battle" in the movie is really good, and keeps within the character that Doctor Strange has been and becomes as the movie progresses.

What else?

Doctor Strange sounds an awful lot like Dr. House. Apparently that is the default voice for grumpy brilliant doctors. : )

And if the Academy ever decides to create a Best Supporting Prop category, I nominate the Cloak of Levitation.

: )

Go see it.

You'll be glad you did.

Final Grade: A-

The "Spotlight" On A Great Movie About A Terrible Subject

Spotlight (2015)

Rated R

Starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci

Directed by Tom McCarthy

The Story:

It's 2001 and The Boston Globe gets a new editor (Schreiber). As he feels his way into the job, he decides to pull his Spotlight team (Keaton, McAdams, Ruffalo, James) and put them on the hunt about a Catholic priest who may have abused multiple children and his exploits were known and covered up by the Catholic Church. What starts with dead-end after dead-end soon unravels one of the most scandalous real-life stories ever told.

Wow.

That is likely the feeling you will get as you watch the film and when it concludes.

It deserves every accolade it received, and while I see a great vocal assortment of film watchers clamoring that this movie should not have received the Best Picture Oscar, and it should have gone to The Revenant instead.

That simply reminds me that many people can be wrong.

:)

The cast all give strong performances, and it's a little sad that Brian d'Arcy James doesn't even get billing on the movie poster. He gives an honest, raw performance of a news reporter who wants to tell the world, or at least his corner of it, but can't due to his duty to the story.

Strangely, only Mark Ruffalo's performance is the one I cared for the least. He seemed a little too excitable and manic, and several times I smiled thinking he would turn into The Incredible Hulk when he started stressing out.

Well worth your time and energy.

It should begin streaming on Netflix sometime this summer if  you haven't seen it by then.

Final Grade:  A

Is It Time For Cameron Crowe To Say "Aloha" ?

Aloha (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray, Danielle Rose Russell

Written and Directed by Cameron Crowe

The Story:

Brian (Cooper) a former military contractor that had been left for dead returns to Hawaii to work alongside some former co-workers (McBride & Baldwin) and the former love of his life (McAdams). The Air Force assigns him a liaison (Stone) to keep him out of trouble as they prepare to launch a satellite for a billionaire (Murray). Will Brian have his edge back, or are familiar surroundings going to overwhelm his sense of duty?

I think the only thing I heard about this film was that there were complaints about having Emma Stone portraying someone who is supposed to be part Hawaiian. Apparently complaining about things is the new 21st century pastime.  Then the film pretty much tanked at the box office.

Is it game over for Cameron Crowe as a writer/director?

Not so fast.

This is hardly the worst film of his career. Yet that was seemingly the buzz that surrounded this film. Sorry, but that honor belongs to Elizabethtown (which I've seen) or possibly Vanilla Sky (which I haven't).

This is a fine ensemble cast that does their best with what they are given. It's certainly watchable, and with the amount of comic actors in this film, the humor is subdued as Crowe was not out to make a "comedy" but a slice of real life and capture the humor within.

The best part is near the end between Brian and Grace (Russell) that says so much with no dialogue at all. Heartwarming and tender, it lifts the rest of the movie right up with it.

Final Grade: C+

It's About Finding Love... "About Time"

About Time (2013)

Rated R for language

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

Directed and written by Richard Curtis

The Story:

Tim (Gleeson) learns from his dad (Nighy) that the men in their family have the ability to travel back in time.  Tim attempts to do just that, and finds that yes indeed, his dad was right.  So Tim is out to find true love, when he meets Mary (McAdams).  It will take some doing to get that meeting just right because like any time travel story, if you tinker just a little bit, you face repercussions.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film.

Curtis has given us Notting Hill and Love Actually among others.

So yes, a good romantic comedy was probably coming.

And it is.

But so much more.

As the film unfolds, subtly, it becomes about a love between a father and son.

When Tim learns of the limitations of what time travel can do, it sets up an emotional finale that will put the proverbial lump in your throat.

McAdams and Nighy do their usual perfect roles, but I was impressed with Gleeson.  This is the first starring role from him that I am familiar with.  He comes across as very charming and fun.

He's the new Hugh Grant.

Yes, that's a great compliment.

I also thought to myself as I watched it, that while I don't watch the show, this guy seems like he would make a great Doctor Who someday.

We'll see.

My only real complaint with this film was the rating.  I think the overall audience and reach of this film could have been greater with a PG-13 rating and dial the language back a notch.

Just my take.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would be willing to watch it again.

Is There Anything More Romantic Than "Midnight in Paris" ?

Life was so much better back then...

The Story:

Gil (Owen Wilson) is a successful Hollywood writer, but he very much wants to try his hand at writing a novel.  He travels to Paris on a vacation with his girlfriend Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents (Kurt Fuller and Mimi Kennedy).  Gil loves Paris and wants to ditch Hollywood and move to Paris, but Inez is dead-set against it.  They bump into Paul (Michael Sheen), an old acquaintance of Inez, and he wants them to hang out with him and tour Paris.  Gil isn't interested, and finds an excuse to ditch the party.  He wanders through Paris and at midnight, a car pulls up and he is asked to come along for a ride.  The next thing Gil realizes is that he is hanging out with Cole Porter (Yves Heck) and the Fitzgeralds (Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston).  Maybe he's drunk, but Gil is finding life in the Roaring 20s everything he thought it would be.  How long will this time travel experience last?

Well, I have to admit, this may be one of the first Woody Allen movies that I've actually watched.  Looking over his prolific career, the man makes about a movie a year, normally as writer/director, or at least director.

I think I was turned off by Woody Allen by his performance in Scenes From a Mall.  It wasn't that funny, therefore it's easier to just chuck his career and move on.

Now that I see he didn't write or direct that movie, I may have to rethink my position on Mr. Allen's career.

Eventually.

: )

Now, back to the movie at hand.

This movie was very charming, if not a directly a paint-by-the-numbers formula.  You can tell immediately just by their reactions that Gil and Inez are not meant to be together.

That said, there's nothing wrong with following a formula, provided you do it effectively, and this movie does so.

The real question is, how will Gil figure this out?  Will he stay in the 20s and live out his life, retroactively?  Or will he learn that the only true golden age is the one he lives in right now?

It is fun to watch Gil put the pompous Paul in his place with facts about Paris that he is gathering first-hand on a nightly basis by hanging out with the actual players.

Good fun all around.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: A definite yes to rewatchability, and yes if the price is right.  I've got a million other movies to purchase, so prices and titles have to be aligned perfectly. : )

High School is Full of "Mean Girls"

Sharpen your claws...

The Story:

Cady (Lindsay Lohan) is the new girl in school.  Here she meets the clique, "The Plastics": Regina (Rachel McAdams), Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried) the prettiest and most popular girls in school.  Also the bitchiest.  Hatching a plan with outsiders Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese) Cady is to infiltrate the Plastics and spy on them from within.  However, once Cady gets involved with the Plastics, how long can she maintain her innocence before she goes to the dark side?

Yep, another teen chick flick.

Thank heavens for little girls, otherwise I would miss out on a ton of funny movies.  But as a dad, it's my job to dutifully watch the animated movies with them when they are young, and then endure the genres with them as they grow older.

Luckily, I've seen much better films by their sides than I've seen terrible flicks.  Oh, and the kids have a cross between my movie taste and their mom's, so that means we usually see only the best of the bunch.

And this is  a great one!

Adapted for the screen, and also starring Tina Fey, the movie is a probably more accurate look at high school life for girls than people want to admit.

The cast is exceptional, from top to bottom.  It was Amanda Seyfried's first movie role, though she wouldn't become a superstar until Mamma Mia a few years later.

Rachel McAdams is in top form as the bad girl in her 2nd big screen role.  Naturally, she would go supernova with the release of the Notebook the same year.

Then there was Tina Fey who exploded upon a national audience with this film, where fans of her work on Saturday Night Live were already familiar with her skills, now the world was aware, and things have been looking up for her ever since.

Conversely... there is Lindsay Lohan, the star of the film.  Well... this was the last good movie she made, to be quite honest.  She was actually on a bit of a role with this capping off the terrific remake of Freaky Friday, the okay Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and she capped off the trifecta with this film.

And then life happened, she lost her mind, and has been a complete train wreck during the intervening decade.

Sad.

Thankfully, we've got this gem to remember the good times before she lost her mind.

: )

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Already own... watched it quite a bit... hilarious every time.  A special shout out to the underrated abilities of Tim Meadows who kills as the principal in his few scenes. : )

Up Before the Crack of Dawn... "Morning Glory"

Go back to bed, it's early...

The Story:

Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) lives for the news.  More specifically, she has dreamed of being the producer of  The Today Show since she was a little girl.  Doing her best at a local morning show in New Jersey, her life abruptly changes when she is canned due to budget cuts.  She is desperate to get back in the game, and takes the plunge at the ratings challenged Daybreak show on IBS.  Can she pull her series out of the ratings basement before it's too late?

This is a comedic gem of a movie.  I absolutely love to watch it, and I make no apologies for that.

First and foremost, it's a comedy about the morning news programs.

Second, and wisely, there is a romantic comedy entanglement that plays second-fiddle to the first part of the story, which works great because in the real world, that's exactly what would happen.

Becky has an odd assortment of characters on her show to deal with.  She opens her career with a bang by firing one co-host, leaving her other star (Diane Keaton) to wonder what's going on.  Combing the archives, Becky realizes that she can get curmudgeonly anchorman Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) on her show due to his contract.

Becky tries, but the ratings keep getting worse, and her boss (Jeff Goldblum) threatens cancellation.  Becky pulls out all the stops... and amazingly the ratings begin to rise.

It's good fun throughout, and I can't help but think this is the best role that Harrison Ford has had in the movies in over a decade (Air Force One). 

It's well written, believable, and funny.  And when the weatherman (Matt Malloy) rides the roller coaster, I bust up laughing.  Every time.

Currently available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Would I Own It: Yep, and I do.  Very re-watchable.