MOVIE - Danny Collins

R (1:46)

Wide Release 4/11/2015 - but very difficult to find

Viewed on April 30, 2015, while I played hooky from work on my birthday

RT Critic: 78   Audience:   82

Cag:  6/Awesome  

Directed by Dan Fogelman

Bleecker Street Films

Based on the book by

Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer

My comments:  I think I've found a new favorite here.  The members of the cast were all terrific names and did a splendid job, especially Bobby Cannavale.   There was heart, there was humor, there was battling demons and addictions, there was sickness and health, there was family and the lack of it, and there was a whole lot of John Lennon.  Most of the music was his, and the turning point in the life of this aging rocker was a long-lost letter from him.  I was really into it. I just love the way the story was told, unfolded, a little bit of something for everyone!

RT Summary:  Al Pacino stars as aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins, who can't give up his hard-living ways. But when his manager (Christopher Plummer) uncovers a 40 year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he decides to change course and embarks on a heartfelt journey to rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act. 

MOVIE - Annie

PG (1:58)

Wide release 12/19/14

12/28/2014 with Ashley & Heather in Bangor

RT Critic:  29  Audience:   63

Cag:  2 /So disappointed!

Directed by Will Gluck

Sony Pictures

Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne, Bobby Canavale

My comments:  Cameron Diaz was horrible.  Jamie Foxx was coooool.  Annie - Quvenzane Wallis - wasn't sweet and optimistic at all.  And, although I realize it was a musical, if they broke out into song one more time I was going to barf.  It just didn't work.  At all.

RT Summary:  Academy Award (R) nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) - advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) - makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around. 

MOVIE - Blue Jasmine

PG-13 (1:38)

Limited release 7/26/13

El Con, after school on Friday, 8-16-13

RT Critic:  89 Audience: 86

Cag:  4.5 Liked it a lot-especially the incredible acting of Cate Blanchette

Directed by Woody Allen

Sony Pictures Classic

Cate Blanchette, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins

Fandango summary:  After her marriage to a wealthy businessman (Alec Baldwin) collapses, New York socialite Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) flees to San Francisco and the modest apartment of her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Although she's in a fragile emotional state and lacks job skills, Jasmine still manages to voice her disapproval of Ginger's boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Cannavale). Jasmine begrudgingly takes a job in a dentist's office, while Ginger begins dating a man (Louis C.K.) who's a step up from Chili.

My comments:  Blue Jasmine was quite a movie.  It wasn't what I would typically expect from Woody Allen.  The first thought that I'll always have about this movie is that Kate Blanchette is an incredible actress.  The next is that it's incredibly sad.  The thrid is that I love the setting, at least half of it takes place in San Francisco.  The flashbacks take place in New York.  I actually like the way it jumps back and forth in time - it takes no time to figure out when and where you are.  The movie is crafted beautifully, the story is told beautifully, but, for me, it's a really sad movie.  It makes any kind of sorry I feel for myself to away instantly.

MOVIE - Win Win

Why do the "Limited Release" movies seems so much better than those released widely?
Limited Release 3-18-11
on DVD 8-23-11
saw 4-17-11 alone
R (1:40)
RT:  95%  cag 90%
Director:  Tom McCarthy

Paul Giamatti