Tag: 10s

The Hustle’s Stars Are Entertaining

Picture of Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway in the film The Hustle

The Hustle

Directed by Chris Addison
Written by Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning, Dale Launer, Jac Shaeffer
(One questions how much funnier this film about female con artists would have been had any females been among the writers or director.)

The review:

I greatly enjoy both Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson so your payoff* for this female con artist film may vary. But I was in need of a palate cleanser and this silly romp provided a nice cap to my evening.** Astute viewers of con artist films will probably pick up on stuff, but if you’re there for humorous antics by two comedians, it doesn’t really matter the predictability of the plot.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Hulu monthly fee ($11.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*See what I did there?
**Also, Alex Sharp was so much fun! He reminded me of early Miles Teller.

Questions:

  • What’s your favorite Anne Hathaway comedy?
  • What’s your favorite Rebel Wilson comedy?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

When Penny first meets Josephine on a train Josephine is reading the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Alex Sharp, who co-stars in the film, made his Broadway and acting debut in the play that was the based on the novel.

Other reviews of The Hustle:

Orange background with text: Why are women better suited to the con than men? —The Hustle. Read the three-sentence movie review 3SMReviews.com

A Quiet Passion Is Quite Dull

A picture of Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle in the film A Quiet Passion

A Quiet Passion

Directed by Terence Davies
Written by Terence Davies

The review:

Oh my god, there’s quiet, and then there’s glacial and uninteresting.* There is passion and then there’s randomly shrieking about stuff while your kind sister looks on.** Plus, acting that reminded me of very dedicated high school students of middling talents*** making for an overall excruciating film.****

The verdict: Skip*****

Cost: Free via Kanopy
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*About twenty minutes in, I thought, “Uh oh, this already feels like a long movie.”
**I understand Dickinson’s passion was her poetry and staying true to herself, but I never felt like the movie showed me, or hinted at, what was causing her outbursts. Also, the switch to the older actors early had me very confused at how much time was passing between scenes. Watching fifty-two-year-old Duncan Duff (Austin Dickinson) introduce the wife he married while studying at Harvard was odd, to say the least.
***Catherine Bailey as Vryling Buffam was particularly terrible.
****One nice feature: the Dickinsons sitting for portraits and seeing them age into their older characters. That meant that 50-year-old Nixon played Emily Dickinson from age 20 onward. See above about confusion as to what year it was.
*****The movie included Mabel Loomis Todd, which is the interesting (and titillating) part of the Dickinson family story, but was still boring in this film. There’s another Dickinson film that goes in a different direction. I’ll see if it’s any good. I suspect we’re still waiting for a film worthy of the writer.

Questions:

  • What’s the thing to focus on with a Dickinson film?
  • Was Cynthia Nixon the right choice for this role?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Terence Davies first met Cynthia Nixon when auditioning actresses for a comedy film called Mad About the Boy that ultimately never got made.

Other reviews of A Quiet Passion:

Clarity is one thing; obviousness is quite another. —A Quiet Passion. Read the three sentence movie review 3SMReviews.com

Perhaps Don’t Add Plus One to Your Queue

Picture of Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine in the film Plus One

Plus One

Directed by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer
Written by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer

The review:

I need to like the couple at the center of a rom-com, and though I found Maya Erskine* interesting and Jack Quaid** serviceable, I never really got on board with the vibe that they should end up together. The time line is a little jumbled, which takes some getting used to,*** and the Venn diagram of this movie would have it crossing with a Judd Apatow film, rather than a Nora Ephron one.**** I think, ultimately, seeing the couple-to-be only at weddings didn’t give me enough information about them, so I never really committed.

The verdict: Skip

Cost: Hulu monthly fee ($5.99) (my half) (one month, so I could watch Sword of Trust)
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*I liked the irritation level of her character. Attending a lot of weddings in one’s twenties while single and female is an irritating experience.
**Jack Quaid’s last name might alert you to one-half of his parentage. His blue eyes and wide-open surprised expression will clue you into the other half. My opinions of this movie might be shaped by the fact that in my mind Jack Quaid is ten years old. That he is clearly a fully-grown man had me feeling incredibly old. [Pause for Googling.] I just looked up his age. He’s twenty-eight!
***The directors use a framing device of starting each scene at a wedding with an awkward speech. I loved the awkward speeches, and then was often confused what was happening when the scene started at the wedding before that point.
****The raunch level is high.

Questions:

  • What would have made this film better?
  • What celebrity offspring makes you feel old?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Brianne Howey reprises her character of Jess Ramsey from Andrew Rymer and Jeff Chan’s 2008 short film Suckerpunch. They also reprise the gag of using her full name each time she is mentioned.

Other reviews of Plus One:

Orange background. Text: But the truth is, if you spend your whole life looking for perfect you wind up with nothing. —Plus One. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Peeples Is a Fine Meet the Parents

Picture of David Alan Grier and Craig Robinson in the film Peeples

Peeples

Directed by Tina Gordon
Written by Tina Gordon

The review:

Meet-the-parents-style films are not my favorite,* but this entry provides ample opportunity to show off Craig Robinson’s many talents.** It’s fun to watch a film with a Black cast where the big problem has to do with “fit” with family rather than standard topics we usually get. And you get to see some fun stuff from David Alan Grier and S. Epatha Merkerson, not to mention appearances by Melvin Van Peebles and Diahann Carroll.

The verdict: Good

Cost: free from the Multnomah County Library
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

  • The Wood
  • Aaaaannnd, that’s all I’ve got.
  • This is an area I need to do some viewing
  • According to the previews, every Tyler Perry movie, ever.

Further sentences:

*I always spend the run-time of the movie thinking, “Mr. Rogers thinks you are good enough just the way that you are, so don’t engage.” Or “This person is not worth it. Run away! Run far away!” This film fell into the “run away” category, thus making it hard to root for the ending I knew I was going to get.
**IMDB tells me he gets steady work, for which I’m glad, but I think if we were in an era where the musical theater nature of actors was better able to display, plus if we valued our talented Black performers, he’d have a much bigger career.

Questions:

  • Do you think this happens in real life? I feel like 90% of people aren’t that overt in their dislike. And even their passive/aggressive game is weak.
  • Were you rooting for the couple, or not?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The filmmakers found an existing house in Connecticut that they transformed into the Peeples home complete with details of the family’s ancestry including a painting of Ignatius Toussaint Peeples who lived between 1766 and 1844 that can be seen hanging in the front hall of the home.

Also this:
The cast was constantly singing and dancing on set in between takes, so much so that the producers had to lock the piano during filming.

Other reviews of Peeples:

Joy Ride Is a Fun Ride

Picture of Steve Zahn, Leelee Sobieski and Paul Walker in the 2001 film Joy Ride

Joy Ride

Directed by John Dahl
Written by Clay Tarver, J.J. Abrams

The review:

I greatly enjoy both Paul Walker and Steve Zahn, so your mileage may vary* with this ridiculous thriller involving a CB radio, a prank, and a very persistent trucker.** The key to success with a movie like this is the level of commitment and the cast is all in. This is also a thriller that was pitched at my favorite level of thriller*** and made for a nice Saturday afternoon escape.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: free from Multnomah County Library
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*See what I did there?
**Not only does this have Walker and Zahn, I also picked it because LeeLee Sobieski is in it, though she turned out to not be super great. But John Dahl, director of Red Rock West, directed this! And with J.J. Abrams as a co-writer, you can see how it might turn into something worth watching.
***Not really scary because it isn’t going to happen to me.
****It appears there are sequels, but I will not be going any further in the franchise.

Questions:

  • What’s your favorite kind of ridiculous thriller?
  • What did you think about the triangle?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

For the nighttime chase scenes, the headlights of the trucks and cars were replaced by aircraft landing lights for extra brightness. This helped to bring down the exposure enough to keep the sky consistently black even at early dawn.

Also this, which I wondered about:

To avoid the unpleasant effects of having to remove tape from Leelee Sobieski’s hair and skin after the take, she was tied up with a strong, thick plastic film (like thick Saran Wrap) which looked like tape and stuck almost like tape, but which had no glue, making its removal simple and fuss-free.

Other reviews of Joy Ride:

  • Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com
  • Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com
  • (You know what’s hard to find? Live links to a so-so movie from 2001 reviewed by women.)
Orange background with a white frame. Text: I'm not going anywhere until somebody tells me why I should be afraid of a radio. —Joy Ride. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Afternoon Delight Turns Up the Tension

A picture of a couple sitting on opposite ends of a couch. The woman is drinking a soda and the man working at his computer. The picture is made with neon lights.

Afternoon Delight

Directed by Joey Soloway
Written by Joey Soloway

The review:

This film tricks you into thinking it’s a kind of rich-people problem, white-woman-depression film, but Soloway is so good at ratcheting up the tension that at the critical juncture I had trouble breathing as I waited for the hammer to drop.* The camera keeps its eye on Kathryn Hahn, which is a treat for the audience because Hahn’s dramatic roles are as good as her comedic ones.** Her relationship with the stripper McKenna*** drives this forward while also catching markers of wealthy moms-with-school-age-kids life.****

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: free via Hoopla, Multnomah County Library’s lesser streaming service.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*It also began with a car wash scene that captured the magic I feel whenever I travel through that magical washing machine.
**Check out Private Life for drama and Bad Moms for comedy.
***I watched this movie that prominently features a stripper the same day I wrote a newsletter about how few men have to consider stripper roles when looking for work. There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to stripping as a profession, which I won’t do here, but please know that Juno Temple was the complete package when it came to her character.
****I saw aspects of this life when I worked at a charter school. It strikes me as yet another oppressive part of being a mother that no one talks about. Props also to Annie Mumolo as “Kosher Amanda” who I’ve just realized is “Barb” in Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar, thus ensuring I will prioritize this film when it appears. She also has a story credit for Joy and co-wrote Bridesmaids.

Questions:

  • What do you think was Rachel’s motivation for bringing McKenna into the household?
  • What do you do to shake up your life when you get stuck?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

(Also the only IMDB trivia item)
One of Quentin Tarantino’s favorite movies from 2013, according to Variety.

Other reviews of Afternoon Delight:

Orange background. Text: How did the stripper get in the maid's room? —Afternoon Delight. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Welcome to Me Was Not a Winner for Me

A picture of Kristen Wiig in the film Welcome to Me.

Welcome to Me

Directed by Shira Piven
Written by Eliot Laurence

The review:

I wasn’t having a great mental health day when I watched this film that attempts to find humor in a mental health crisis,* which made it hard to appreciate this story. Though it was packed with actors I’m always happy to see** and Kristen Wiig’s deadpan performance was exactly what the character needed, I think this movie is best left on the shelf. I suppose you could watch this for the set design, if you were into that.

The verdict: Skip

Cost: free via Kanopy, the Library’s streaming service.
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Interestingly, the National Alliance on Mental Illness lists Welcome to Me as a movie about mental illness that gets it right. Their other recommendations are:

Further sentences:

*It also had a layer of people taking advantage of a person experiencing a mental health crisis, so I suspect I wouldn’t have liked this even on my best mental health days. I’m not a fan of stories where a person’s weaknesses are exploited for someone else’s material gain.
**Kristen Wiig! Wes Bentley! Linda Cardellini! Joan Cusack! Loretta Devine! Jennifer Jason Leigh! I’m even happy to see James Marsden! Plus both Tim Robbins and Alan Tudyk were in this.

Questions:

  • What parts of Alice’s life rang true to you?
  • What do you think is the best film that depicts an aspect of mental illness.

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The actress playing Kristen Wiig’s mother is actually director Shira Piven’s mother.

Other reviews of Welcome to Me:

Orange background with text: Come with me. Into another time that happened to me. —Welcome to Me. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Sword of Trust Pokes Fun, Shows Relationships

A picture of Jon Bass, Marc Maron, Michaela Watkins, and Jillian Bell in the film Sword of Trust.

Sword of Trust

Directed by Lynn Shelton
Written by Lynn Shelton & Michael Patrick O’Brien

The review:

Low-key humor is my favorite thing about Lynn Shelton movies* and Sword of Trust provides a full scabbard. The other thing she does well is to showcase relationships; in this film we get to see a long-term relationship between Cynthia and Mary,** plus how they interact with two pawn shop employees*** when they go to sell the inherited sword that purports to show the South won the Civil War. The film takes a few gentle pokes at internet conspiracies and had more than a couple great scenes with Marc Maron**** that elevate an already solid movie.

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: $5.99, because Matt and I split a month of ad-free Hulu plus some shenanigans with a free trial of Hulu+Showtime because Hulu lied to me and said this movie was available on Hulu.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Though she died in May, I’m not up to writing about her in the past tense.
**Jillian Bell and Michaela Watkins who also starred in the excellent Brittany Runs a Marathon
***Jon Bass’ commitment to his slack jaw was impressive.
****Maron talking about how he came to own the pawnshop plus his interaction with two men harassing the group.

Questions:

  • What’s your favorite part of a Lynn Shelton film?
  • What was the best nickname in this film?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Marc Maron scored the film. The blues guitar solos heard throughout were played by him.

Other reviews of Sword of Trust:

Orange background with text: Is this Antiques Roadshow for racists? —Sword of Trust. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Bumblebee: Transformers for the Whole Family

A picture of Hailee Steinfeld hugging the robot Bumblebee in the film Bumblebee

Bumblebee

Directed by Travis Knight
Written by Christina Hodson

The review:

God bless Travis Knight and Christina Hodson for creating a gem that manages to combine robot cars,* a coming of age story, lots of humor, and 80s pop cultural markers to make a delightful cross-generational film. Hailee Steinfeld is excellent as the mechanically minded Charlie, still grieving her dad’s death. But the digital artists who created Bumblebee also deserve many kudos for creating such a nuanced character.**

The verdict: Good

Cost: $1.80 via Redbox
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*This is my first Transformers movie, and it was a good first-of-series choice.
**Bumblebee inside the house is one of the most amusing scenes of this summer’s movie watching.

Questions:

  • Why could some transformers turn into vehicles that fly, but some could not?
  • What’s your favorite scene with Bumblebee?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Bumblebee’s model is a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle with bumpers, available only for export. The yellow color was also only available for the export version Volkswagens as the color in Germany was used by the then-state-owned German Postal Service (Deutsche Bundespost).

Other reviews of Bumblebee:

Orange background. Text: They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn't set off any red flags?

Night Comes On Captures Complex Sister Relationship

Picture of Dominique Fishback and Tatum Marilyn Hall in Night Comes On

Night Comes On

Directed by Jordana Spiro
Written by Jordana Spiro and Angelica Nwandu

The review:

Dominique Fishback (Angel) and Tatum Marilyn Hall (Abby)* play sisters separated due to both foster care and Angel’s time in juvenile detention. As they reunite, each has ulterior motives and it’s marvelous to watch them navigate around those motivations. While this is a movie about Angel seeking vengeance, it plays out in a very real-life, testing-the-waters way.**

The verdict: Good

Cost: Kanopy
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I came to this movie after seeing Dominque Fishback in Project Power so I wasn’t surprised how good she was in this role, but Tatum Marilyn Hall was also excellent especially for someone so young.
**Much like as in real life, there are mundane obstacles and complications which shift this film from vengeance to relationships in an interesting way.

Questions:

  • Did you agree with Angel’s choices?
  • What was the best sister moment in this film?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

(Also the only trivia item)

This film was partially supported by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards grants to female actors, writers, and/or directors of short films, feature films, and documentaries. The foundation was created by Andy Ostroy, the widower of actress, writer, and director Adrienne Shelly, after Shelly was murdered in 2006 at the age of 40.

Other reviews of Night Comes On:

(Metacritic had 15 reviews, 14 of them were by men)

Orange background with a white frame. Text: She used to say the cars in the night could sound like the ocean. Like the waves, running in and out like the tide. You squeeze your eyes tight enough, you could almost see the sun, smell the salt, feel the sand. —Night Comes On. Read the three sentence movie review: 3SMReviews.com