Streit's: Matzo and the American Dream

"Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream" is a documentary film written, directed and photographed by Michael Levine. As its title indicates, the film is the story of the Streit family and their baking of this traditional Passover food for almost 100 years. Starting in a tenement building on Rivington Street in downtown Manhattan, it is also the story of enterprising Jewish immigrants and their realization of the American dream. Still using equipment and processes dating back since the beginning of the company’s existence, the film tells the story through the eyes and ears of the now 5th generation owners and their dedicated employees. The film, as is the case where the director and writer are one and the same, is badly in need of editing and could easily have been made into a shorter presentation rather than the 75 minutes it took to tell the tale. Nevertheless, the film documents the plight and perseverance of the new immigrants and their attempt to succeed in what for them was truly the land of opportunity. I give the film 2 stars because., as entertainment per se, it has no depth nor is it able to hold the audience's interest for too long but, as a piece of history, it must be highly regarded for it imparts information to all of us who have either eaten or heard about this cardboard-like bread substitute that observant Jews eat each Passover holiday.

Born to be Blue

"Born to be Blue" stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo in this film written and produced by Robert Budreau. This is the story of Chet Baker, the famous jazz trumpeter who in the mid 20th Century captivated jazz audiences and fellow musicians until his consumption with heroin destroyed him. Although the film moves at a rather slow pace and is unevenly edited, it nevertheless serves as a vehicle for Mr. Hawke who gives an extraordinary performance as the ill fated musician. It also gives an insight into the music business and the lives of those who lived and played in midtown Manhattan where this music genre found its life and audience. I give the film 2 and ½ stars and recommend it especially for those who were aware of and listened to this great talent.
 

I Saw the Light

"I Saw The Light" was written and directed by Marc Abraham based on the book "Hank Williams -The Biography". The film stars Tom Huddleston portraying the ill fated Hank Williams, the country western icon who brought his style and songs to the mainstream of American popular music with such cross-over hits as "Your Cheating Heart", "Cold Cold Heart", "Hey Good Lookin’", "Poor Old Calija" and many many more. Although the film could have delved more into the life of this marvelous singer/songwriter, it gives the audience an overview of his short life and the 6 years in it which brought him to national prominence.
Tom Huddleston, as Mr. Williams, is amazing and the actor’s own singing captures the essence of this immortal performer. Elizabeth Olsen give an outstanding performance as Audrey Williams, the wife that bore him his young son, Bocefus, who country western fans know today as Hank Williams, Jr. This is a story of a life filled with artistic success, ill health  and personal failure as Hiram "Hank" Williams strived to attain a place in the world that would give him fame as well as a happy family. Sadly he achieved one but not the other. I give the film 3 stars and whether the viewer is or is not a country music fan, the story of Hank Williams and his place in country music is well worth watching

Midnight Special

"Midnight Special" was written and directed by Jeff Nichols ("99 Homes") and stars Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Jaeden Lieberher, Adam Driver and Kirsten Dunst. This is not a good film and, as in so many instances where the writer and director are one and the same, that third party objectivity regarding the film’s elements and scenes is absent. Most writer-directors find it difficult to cut or edit the scenes they both wrote and direccted and become almost paternal in ther possession of these elements. Here, in what purports to be a science fiction drama, the real fault is in the story and screenplay itself for the audience is confused and never completely aware of who the characters are and what they represent to the story. Worse than all of this is that it takes almost 2 hours to watch this endeavor and, at the end, the viewer is still not sure of the things the writer could have more easily made clear. I give the film 2 stars and suggest that there is nothing "special: about the film, be it "midnight" or at any other  time.

Hello My Name is Doris

"Hello, My Name is Doris" stars Sally Field, Max Greenfield and Tyne Daly in a film directed by Michael Showalter and co-written by Mr. Showalter and Laura Terruso.
Although my preference is not to go into detail regarding the plot, it is impossible to discuss this film without first letting the reader know the basic elements of the story and the characters in it. Ms. Field plays an older office worker who become infatuated with a much younger co-employee and the film follows her relentless efforts to create a relationship with him that defies all odds and traditions as well. Walking a thin line between a pathetic pursuer and a mild mannered Fatal Attraction type, the movie, for me at least, was uncomfortable  to watch especially when viewing the unrewarded efforts of this spinster trying to go where few real life and especially movie heroines dare to tread.. More comedic scenes and less sad and serious ones might have made the film easier to watch and maybe even enjoy but, for me, the only saving grace in the film is the tremendous effort Ms. Field exerts in trying to make this film better than it is. Despite Ms. Field's appearances in every scene, it really doesn’t succeed. Even with acknowledging the participation of this wonderful actress, I can  only give the film 2 stars. Ms. Field and the theater audience deserved better.

Eye in the Sky

"Eye in the Sky" stars Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul in this drama depicting the technical versatility of today’s drones in modern warfare and the ethical questions their use poses. Directed by  Gavin Hood  with a screenplay written by Guy Hibbert, the film is blatantly one-sided in its efforts to convey the viewpoint of the writer and is almost amateurish in the manner in which his points are attempted to be made. One wonders why an actress of Ms. Mirren’s depth and talent would lend herself to the small and mundane part she plays except perhaps to allow the film to get the financing it needed and to help exhibit her personal and political point of view as well. In any event, the film, despite its shortcomings, makes for an interesting examination of the role of these unmanned aircraft and how and when they should be deployed. I give the film 2 and ½ stars, more for the information the viewer will receive from watching it as opposed to the quality of the film itself..

Hail, Caesar

"Hail, Caesar" boasts an all star cast including Channing Tatum, Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, Elden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton and was co-written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Given this stellar list of talented actors, writers and directors, I eagerly anticipated viewing this attempted satire of 1950’s Hollywood but, unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed for the advertised brand was significantly better than the product. With so much material available, the Coens missed almost every opportunity to make the film work and could have elicited genuine laughter instead of only a slight smile or grin from an audience anxiously wanting and hoping for more. It should also be noted that Mr. Clooney and Ms. Johansson, two charismatic and generally enjoyable actors to watch, should not attempt slapstick comedy for the result is more tragic than humorous. Also, the film with many subplots never properly allows any of them to develop and what could have been a clever spoof of making films in the mid 20th Century becomes a poor but unsuccessful  attempt to be funny.  Knowing what could have been achieved but wasn’t is even more frustrating. Difficult to understand, too, is that so many reputable critics have applauded this film apparently judging the proverbial "book" by its cover rather than its contents. I give the film 2 stars suggesting that the Coens owed the viewers and their own tremendous talents more than they were able to achieve in their latest theatrical endeavor.