Overboard

“Overboard” stars Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez and Eva Longoria in this remake of the 1987 film which starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. The film, co-directed and co-written by Bob Fisher and Rob Greenberg, is is a trite and near absurd story that spells “formula film” all the way and, for that reason, challenges the viewer’s logic and patience. I give the film 1 star and suggest that the original directed by the late Garry Marshall is really the one to see. If you forget the title,think "over-bored".

 

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RBG

“RBG” is a documentary about the career and achievements of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film follows Justice Ginsburg’s life from her early days growing up in Brooklyn to her college, law school and professional accomplishments which ultimately found her sitting as an Associate Justice on the highest court in the land. However, the film is not just the story of a woman’s love for the law, it is also a love story of a husband and wife whose mutual caring and respect for each other allowed this physically small but large in stature lady to become an icon and beacon for all who believe in equality and fairness under the laws of our land. Attending law school and seeking a job afterward was not easy for any of us in the late 1950’s. Add to that the special difficulties and challenges Justice Ginsburg met while at the same time being a wife, mother and “lady lawyer” encountering the “no women allowed” policies in most law firms in the land. Despite all of these obstacles, this unique and marvelous person persevered and succeeded.  I give this film 4 stars with kudos to the documentarians for making and telling this inspiring story of tenacity and dedication. As one law student and admirer of the Justice wisely said after reviewing her decisions and career: “You can’t spell the word truth without… RUTH”.

Tully

“Tully” is the third film collaboration between writer Diablo Cody and Director Jason Reitman (“Juno”, “Young Adult”) and is another testament to the chemistry that exists between the two. The film stars Charlene Theron, Mackenzie Davis and Ron Livingston in this story of a suburban New York housewife and  mother of two who is expecting her third. It is fitting to review this film on Mother’s Day for it is indeed a testament to the role women play in both child bearing and child rearing.  Ms. Theron gives an awesome portrayal as she struggles with physical and mental stresses that so many mothers face on a daily basis. Gaining 50 pounds for the role, Ms. Theron proves that she is as talented and beautiful an actress at any weight. I give the film 3 stars with a cautionary note to the viewer that the last 10 minutes of the film will make the prior 85 much more meaningful.

The Rider

The Rider” is a rare and unique film (i.e. docudrama) based on the real life story of a young rodeo rider named Brady Jandreau. To understand the film properly, the viewer must know that in 2016 Brady was thrown from the horse he was riding and kicked in the head by its hoof. He had a metal plate inserted in his head and was told that he would never ride again. This real life drama was witnessed by filmmaker Chloe Zhao who at the time was on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Reservation directing her film “Songs My Brothers Taught Me”.

Ms. Zhao then wrote and directed the story of Brady Jandreau’s ability to cope with and seek to override the debilitating disability he suffered in his rodeo mishap. What is so unique about this film is that, not only Brady, but his real life sister (mentally underdeveloped 15 year old Lily) and his father, Tim, non-actors all, play themselves in this deep and involved story of life in the mid-west and especially those career cowboys whose lives exist on horseback or bulls, depending on the rodeo event they are in. In addition to the Jandreaus, the film employs the friends of the family including Lane Scott, who plays himself, a rodeo rider severely injured in an automobile accident which not only ended his career but left him a quadrapalegic.

Brady Jandreau’s performance is outstanding and hard to reconcile with the fact that this non-actor, playing himself, could give such a meaningful portrayal of how a cowboy who knew only horseback riding can find his way back to adjust and survive with the difficult hand he was dealt.

Ms. Zhao’s sensitivity and skill is manifested, not only in the ability to elicit such beautiful performances from her novice cast but to capture the sunrises and sunsets of the Dakota territory where the movie and real life events actually occurred. I give this film 3 and ½ stars and urge that it be seen by all who can appreciate that truth can be much more awesome  and powerful than fiction.