Daddy's Home

"Daddy’s Home" stars Linda Gardelini, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in this comedy based on a story by Brian Burns and a screenplay co-written and co-directed by Sean Anders and John Morris. Seeking to recapture the terrific chemistry that Messrs. Ferrell and Wahlberg had in the film "The Other Guys", Mr. Ferrell plays a sweet and mild mannered husband and step-dad married to Mr. Wahlberg’s ex-wife. The film examines the inevitable conflict that exists between the divorced biological father who wants to retain some identity with his kids in spite of the step-dad now occupying the family residence. Obviously a subject more serious than comedic, the film tries to interject humor and to a certain extent succeeds. It is a light and easy film to watch with no great surprises enriched by the pleasant demeanor and screen presence of Mr. Ferrell.  I give the film 2 stars with the warning that it needn’t be on your must see list of films for 2015.

Sisters

"Sisters" stars Tina Fey, Amy Poehler Ira Barinholtz and Maya Rudolph in this film written by Paula Pell and directed by Jason Moore. This is not a good film, in fact, it’s one of the worst films Ive seen in a very long time. The chemistry and talents of Ms. Fey and Ms. Poehler deserve a better vehicle to display the obvious abilities these two ladies possess. What makes the situation even worse is that the entire film is an insult, not only to them but to the viewers who expected and were entitled to much more.
Slapstick comedy, even badly executed slapstick comedy, has its place but crudeness without humor does not. Adding to the tumult and artistic anarchy are James Brolin and Diane Wiese who play the parents of the two sisters but, try as they may, they just aren't comic actors and their efforts fail as does the rest of the endeavor. The film is a disappointment to the viewers and demeaning to the performers which I guess sums up the whole  experience. I give the film 1 star and that really goes to Ms. Poehler who, in spite of it all, is the only person worth watching in this 98 minutes of theatrical discomfort.  

The Big Short

"The Big Short" is a film based on the book by Michael Lewis which details the fall of Wall Street in 2008 and the circumstances that led up to it. With an adaption of Mr. Lewis' book by Director Adam McKay and co-writer Charles Randolph, the film has an outstanding ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Christian Bale and Brad Pitt (who was also one of the producers of the film). Mr. Bale’s character and 3 others find that the bundles of mortgages being sold by Wall Street firms to their investors are loaded with subprime (a/k/a) "bad") mortgages, most of which have adjustable sweetheart rates that end in or about 2007. Recognizing this and the debacle that will ultimately occur when mortgage rates and payments will suddenly soar and foreclosures will become the inevitable consequence,, these savvy mavericks swap or 'sell short' these bundles in order to reap the high profit that they anticipate will come about. The film is filled with trade acronyms and concepts that even well seasoned brokers would not understand so, in order to educate the viewing audience, stars like Selena Gomez, Anthony Bourdain and a lady in a bubble bath interject themselves into various frames in the film in order to explain to the viewer the complexities of these arrangements.
The vehicle works and what might otherwise have been a disaster of technical jargon becomes a more or less easily understood combination of events, both serious and comedic,  that led to the crash of 2008. There is no single performance that stands out although the sum of all them makes this a film that should be seen by anyone who directly or indirectly was impacted by what occurred in the fatal year when Wall Street houses and stocks crumbled. I give the film 3 and ½ stars and recommend that it be seen if, for no other reason, to understand  how vulnerable an unregulated and rogue bunch of brokers, dealers and institutions can and, in fact, did manipulate the system.

Carol

"Carol" stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler and Sarah Paulson in this story of two lesbian lovers and the era in which their affair takes place (mid 1950’) when such relationships were not only frowned upon but subject to severe ridicule and chastisement. Based on the novel "The Price of Salt" written by Patricia Highsmith and a screenplay written by Phyllis Nagy, the film was directed by Todd Haynes. The film attempts to capture the conflicts and problems arising out of a relationship totally out of sync with the morals and values of the time in which it took place and although Ms. Blanchett's and Ms. Mara's acting deserve special recognition, for this viewer, at least, sitting through the film was a slow and tedious experience.. I give the film 2 and ½ stars and suggest that, to use author John Gray's labels, those viewers "from Mars" will  probably not enjoy it as much as their companions "from Venus".

Secret in Their Eyes

"Secret in Their Eyes" stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in this ill conceived story written and directed by Billy Ray.
A murder that took place 13 years ago has the viewing audience bouncing back and forth from scenes in the present to scenes which took place at the time of the crime. The only possible way to distinguish between the two time periods are the hairstyles of Ms. Kidman and Ms. Roberts and the buttoned and unbuttoned collar of Mr. Ejiofor. This is a task that the most attentive and dedicated viewer will find hard to accomplish  Watching the film is an effort and, when you add to that,  a concocted plot in a film poorly written, edited and directed, it becomes obvious that quality players are being asked to perform in a less than adequate vehicle which, for this viewer, gets and deserves only 1 and ½ stars.

Spotlight

"Spotlight" was co-written by Josh Singer and Thomas McCarthy who also directed the film.  It stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, John Slattery, Rachel McAdams and Leiv Schrieber (who looks like he should have taken 2 No-Doze pills before his parts were shot).. The film tells the story of the investigative team of  reporters on The Boston Globe (called "Spotlight") and how they uncovered the scandal in the Catholic Church involving the molestation and abuse of children by priests and the efforts made to cover up those transgressions by the Church hierarchy. The real "star" of the film is this most interesting story of how an institution so beloved and respected by its community could be made to be held accountable for these unconscionable acts engaged in by its representatives.. With all due respect to the performances of Messrs. Keaton and Ruffalo and Ms. McAdams,, the film takes too long to tell its story and is definitely a "look at my watch" experience. Nevertheless, the importance of the subject matter and the tenacity of those investigating and ultimately writing the story that won their paper a Pulitzer Prize makes it a film worth seeing. I give the film 3 stars because, even after acknowledging its importance, it still remains an entertainment vehicle that should have left at least 20 minutes of it on the editing room floor.

Trumbo

"Trumbo" is a bio-pic depicting the life and travails of Dalton Trumbo, one of the blacklisted Hollywood writers in the post war cold war era where the members of the House Unamerican Activities Committee and the infamous Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, heaped their venom on the constitutional  rights of this nation’s citizens. Based on the book by Bruce Cook with a screenplay written by John McNamara, the film was directed by Jay Roach. Bryan Cranston plays the title role and Diane Lane, his wife, Cleo, with Michael Stuhlberg portraying noted actor, Edward G. Robinson. Helen Mirren is a convincing Hedda Hopper and Louis C.K ably assists in the film thus proving once again that a good comedy actor can play any serious role (although the converse is not always true). Mr. Trumbo’s story, a successful writer who, because of the blacklist, was forced to write using "fronts" (i.e. fictitious names instead of those of the real author). This is a film that teaches how to overcome obstacles and the economic and emotional stresses imposed upon those whose only crime it would appear was to attempt to preserve their respective rights of privacy and independence. Intermixed in the film are clips from newsreels and the hearings that took place at the time giving added credibility and  relevance to the events that I’m sure so many involved would like to forget Mr. Trumbo, noted for screenplays ranging from "Kitty Foyle", "Roman Holiday" and "Spartacus" perhaps said s it best when he recalled this difficult era in a speech to the Writers Guild of America and noted that "there were no heroes or villains in this troubling time, only victims". Although many of us lived through this era and time and can remember the incredulous abuses heaped upon artists, teachers and so many others, there are those of later generations who do not. It is for them as well as for us to be made aware and to be reminded of what took place.  I give the film 3 and ½ stars and urge that it be seen by all who cherish freedom,  justice and the indomitable spirit to survive.