Movie Review: BEGIN AGAIN

BEGIN AGAIN
Director: John Carney
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, James Corden, Mos Def, Cee Lo Green

I always enjoy a good movie inspired by music or when the music ends up being a driving factor of the story. It adds another dimension to the emotional arch I go through as a moviegoer. Greta (Knightley) is that kind of bashful singer/songwriter that writes great music and wants to be a performer but can’t muster up that “throw caution to the wind” type attitude needed to perform at an open mic night. Her buddy Steve (Corden) drags her up onstage after his song, and she sings one of her original pieces with her guitar. Watching from the back of the bar with a drink in his hand is Dan (Ruffalo), a music executive who internally hears a variety of instruments behind her and envisions her being the next Norah Jones.

The first portion of the film goes back and forth in the timeline of events leading up to this night. We learn more about her relationship with Dave (Levine). He is an actor and singer that has just made it big and is learning how to deal with being recognized in public. Dan is separated from his wife (Keener) and is trying to have a better relationship in their daughter (Steinfeld). When Dan and Greta meet, they are both at a crossroads with their life and career. He pleads with her to trust him and let him produce an album of hers. She reluctantly agrees, and he gathers a group of random musicians to start recording her album in various outdoor locations around New York City.

Irish director John Carney is probably best known for directing the wonderful film Once which later went on to become a Tony Award winning stage musical. With Begin Again, he is clearly working with a bigger budget and with Ruffalo, Knightly, and Levine has a broader appeal than Once did when that opened. There is a smooth and mellow vibe to all of the original music that was written for the movie by Gregg Alexander of The New Radicals. His frequent collaborator Danielle Brisebois co-wrote some of the songs with him along with Rick Nowels and Once’s Glen Hansard.

I admire any actor willing to learn how to sing or play an instrument for a part. It’s no easy feat and Keira Knightley does it justice. While she doesn’t have a big booming voice, the tone of it is perfect for this kind of music. We’re so used to seeing her in period films like Atonement and Pride and Prejudice that it’s a pleasure to see her step outside of her comfort zone. Adam Levine (Maroon 5, NBC's The Voice) is making his big screen debut playing Knightley’s boyfriend. He was so excited to delve into acting that he apparently he did the movie for little to no pay just so he could be a part of it. He makes a smooth transition as he seems quite natural and comfortable on camera. Yes, he is playing a singer/actor so he doesn’t have to stretch his acting chops too far. Some other musicians who have attempted this have not been as successful. Musicians Mos Def and Cee Lo Green also appear in the film. Def is credited under a different name and plays the other executive at the record company Ruffalo works for. Green plays Troublegum, an artist under their label that owes his career to Ruffalo. Speaking of Ruffalo, I really admire the choices he makes in his career. I love that he alternates between big studio pictures like Marvel’s The Avengers and little indies like this one or Thanks for Sharing. He was phenomenal in HBO’s The Normal Heart which premiered back in May. It’s available on HBO Go now and will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD in August.


One of my life philosophies is that things happen in life for a reason. This story highlights that idea and about following your instincts. Our two main characters were in the right spot in the right time and let spontaneity, openness, and trust guide them to a new beginning. Begin Again has some elements of a romantic comedy as the music provides the emotional release for our characters’ feelings. However it’s not so syrupy and saccharine that you roll your eyes. It makes some smart choices that don’t fall into the standard rom com clichés. This is a great choice for a good date night movie, and you may be find yourself humming along to some of the music on the car ride home.

Is it worth your trip to the movies? It’s a feel good summer movie that is great for anyone that needs a break from some of the stupid blockbusters out there.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 TICKET STUBS

Movie Review: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Catherine Keener

Based on the scary true events from 2009, Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne" sequels, United 93) brings another sharp and pulsating story to the big screen that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Captain Richard Phillips and his wife (Keener) kiss each other goodbye as he heads off for his next job. He is leading the cargo ship Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean around the Horn of Africa. At the same time a group of young men in Somalia form a crew to set out and hijack the cargo ships in the area for money. They come from a very small and poor area where money and food are scarce. This is not a first time job for some of them as they have a boss and leader they are working for.

Captain Phillips is given warnings on the impending danger of piracy in area. He seems to have a sixth sense that something is going to happen has he takes them quite seriously. He makes his crew perform piracy drills and reminds them of the very real threat they may be in. Some of the turn defensive and threaten that their Union status doesn’t cover piracy threats. Leave it to a good Tom Hanks moment to remind them all that this is indeed the job they signed up for and that they knew exactly what they might be facing in this part of the world. It is not long before the skiffs appear in sight. Muse (Abdi), who is the leader of the group, and three others in one small boat manage to hijack the Maersk Alabama and take Captain Phillips hostage aboard a lifeboat.

It may come as a surprise that the main four actors portraying the Somali pirates are all making their feature film debut. Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali are all from Minneapolis who responded to a massive casting call. So much of the film relies on the back and forth relationship between Hanks and Abdi. He is quite stunning and is fully capable of going head-to-head with the two-time Oscar winner. His line “I’m the captain now” is delivered so firm and matter of fact that it is eerie without coming across as diabolical or campy. Each of them is so convincing that it challenges you to feel a bit sympathetic at times, especially for Abdirahman’s character for being in this situation at such a young age. Hanks gives one of his best performances in years. He has had a string of misses lately that have not really given him a chance to shine and show off how great of an actor he can be. Even hidden behind all the make-up, he was still very Tom Hanks-ish in Cloud Atlas. Don't believe me? The last fifteen minutes will change your mind.

Greengrass and screenwriter Billy Ray (The Hunger Games, Flightplan) keep this film focused and on point yet give it dimension despite the short time period in the events. The story is all about the hijacking. There are no sub-plots or back stories to bog down its core. There are two quick scenes at the beginning to set up these characters and the two vastly different worlds they come from. After that, the course of events is set into nail-biting action as you continually try to figure out how they successfully rescue Captain Phillips. I would hate to think of that as a spoiler, especially if you remember this news story. The suspenseful, claustrophobic feeling should also be attributed to cinematographer Barry Ackroyd whose close-up shots with the shaky camera give you that tight atmosphere of being trapped in a lifeboat.

It's only the middle of October and this is the third intense drama, Gravity and Prisoners being the other two, that ask quite a bit from its audience. By the end, you just feel a bit exhausted. I have a feeling the rest of the year will be just as potent. I cannot fathom being in any of these situations that these films present. What does it say about the Somali men that have the gall and determination to think that with some guns and a basic ladder they can board a cargo ship? How poor of a life do you lead when that seems to be your only viable option for money. Films like these provide such interesting character study as they stay with you for days later.

RATING: **** (4 out of 5 stars)

Movie Review: ENOUGH SAID

ENOUGH SAID
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Toni Collette, Catherine Keener, Ben Falcone

So what happens when two iconic Emmy winning actors from two of my favorite television shows do a movie together? They prove, yet again, that they are more than just Tony Soprano and Elaine Benes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Eva, a divorced single mother working as a masseuse and looking for more in life. Her daughter is heading off to college soon, and she is determined to soak in as much mother-daughter time as she can. She attends a party with her friends Sarah (Collette) and Will (Falcone) and awkwardly mingles with the other guests and passes out her business cards hoping for new clients. She meets Marianne (Keener), an earthy hipster poet that actually calls her back for an appointment. Eva is quite impressed as most people just take her card to be nice and never use it. They form a quick bond over being divorcees with daughters. Marianne has the gorgeous home and lifestyle Eva wishes she had. Their massage sessions turn a bit therapeutic and personal for Marianne as she continually opens up about her awful ex-husband.

At the same party, Eva is introduced to Albert (Gandolfini), another divorcee whose daughter is college bound. He is sweet, tender, funny, and the sparks ignite between the two of them. They may seem like an unlikely pair, but as they continue to see each other, they realize they may just be what each other needs in life. Eva's new found friendship in Marianne and romance with Albert is put to the test as she puts the pieces together that her new boyfriend is the awful ex-husband Marianne keeps nagging about in their sessions.

Of course there has to be some sort of snag. That's what makes this movie all the more realistic. Life always has to throw in those curve balls right when you think it is on the up and up. Director/writer Nicole Holofcener has created a mature smart romantic dramedy that feels far more accurate and true to life than many of those sophomoric and idiotic rom-coms that clutter the theaters. Take the first date between Albert and Eva as an example; it has that first date feel full of awkward moments, interesting dialogue, and some funny banter. There are these road blocks and personality traits that test the compatibility of the couple that ring very true to life. I feel like we do not see enough of these types of stories where the characters are set in their ways but are trying to find love again. There is an interesting commentary on divorce and how one person’s personality traits and ticks may bother one person but another person may find them redeeming. The character of Marianne is so adamant in her thoughts about Albert, but that doesn’t mean he is a terrible person or that it is wrong for Eva to be attracted to him.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus primarily works on the small screen, so it is such a treat to see her take on this character. I wish she would take on more film work in between her seasons of HBO’s “Veep”. She is truly one of the best comediennes working today. This is more of a dramatic role than say Elaine Benes, Christine Campbell, or Selina Meyer. Have no fear as she still infuses the role with her style of comedy by finding the humor in those awkward moments that she is so perfect at delivering. She has that infectious laughter that is always so believable. The chemistry between her and Gandolfini works so well, that I often wondered if she was laughing as the character or laughing at Gandolfini working his magic and charm. Maybe a little of both. It is such a shame that Gandolfini is no longer with us. He was so unbelievably talented. To many people he will always be known as Tony Soprano. Enough Said was a great platform for him to show off just how great he was at playing someone that showed off his warm and gentle side, which often goes unnoticed.

Enough Said is a gem of a movie that has gained a small audience but deserves much more. This is one of those movies that could get lost in the shuffle, but to see these two actors work so well together is such a treat. Plus, they are joined by Toni Collette and Catherine Keener who are delightful as always. If you want a romantic comedy that you can actually relate to and understand where these characters are coming from, do try to catch the latest from indie director Nicole Holofcener.

RATING: **** (4 out of 5 stars)