The Water Diviner

"The Water Diviner" stars Russell Crowe and also represents his directorial debut.
Those very familiar with the events that occurred in World War I and, in particular, Gallipoli, Turkey,
will appreciate more than most who was fighting who and what the battle meant to
the nation of Australia and its soldiers who died there.  If not familiar with these events, the viewer will be unable to easily follow the issues at stake and the identity of the combatants on the field.

Although the film attempts to portray the horrors of war and the needless losses of life,
it fails as a good theatrical experience.
The film in many ways is concocted  and its story confusing and difficult to believe, (even though it
is supposedly based on a true story). The editing room and splicing machine deserved a more
experienced hand and eye than the ones possessed by Mr. Crowe. Also, Mr. Crowe seems to hold back and be unnaturally restrained in scenes that warrant a more emotional commitment. My guess is that, as the director, he held back in deference to the actor/director role he was playing..

A better written story would have also been a tremendous asset and perhaps mitigated many of the film's shortcomings. Regrettably, in its present form, it is a long and difficult movie to sit through and watch. I counted 3X that I looked at my watch. One must acknowledge the wonderful photography and, with that in mind, I give the film 2 and 1/2 stars with a suggestion that the director not turn down any future acting jobs and continue to do that which he does best.. If you'll forgive the obvious pun, this movie is nothing for him to "Crowe" about.

Woman in Gold

"Woman in Gold" is a film regarding the famous painting by Gustav Klimts, the family that owned it and the niece, Maria Altmann  (played by Helen Mirren), who witnessed its theft by the Nazis and her extraordinary efforts to regain it. This is also the story of her attorney, Randy Schoenberg (played by Ryan Reynolds) and the legal machinations put in Ms. Altmann’s path by a Viennese government dedicated to the retention of its "Mona Lisa", as it colloquially referred to this revered work of art. More than anything, this film, directed by Simon Curtis and written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, is about justice and those who will give their all to achieve it. Ms. Mirren plays her role with the dignity and dedication that the real life subject no doubt possessed.  The film is engrossing and well paced and one need not be an attorney to follow and understand, the legal niceties it contains. One can talk about millions who were brutalized by the members of the Third Reich but the impact of the crimes they committed becomes even greater when the story is told about one person and one piece of property. I give the film 3 stars for its ability to relate the horror and hopelessness the victims of Nazi tyranny experienced as their dignity, their possessions and, yes, their very lives were  taken from them.

Clouds of Sils Maria

"Clouds of Sils Maria" is a French made film (with total English dialogue) starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. The film was written and directed by Olivier Assayas and, perhaps, there lies the problem. This a movie showcasing the superb talents of Ms. Binoche and the surprising versatility of Ms. Stewart (who won the French equivalent of our Oscar, i.e. the Cesar, for her performance. Unfortunately, that is where the accolades must end for the writer-director, although attempting to script a clever story of the trials and tribulations of an aging actress faced with her own professional mortality, forgot how to edit and tie each chapter of the film into a cohesive easy to follow tale. The movie has more unresolved issues and loose ends than a mutant octupus. Adding to the confusion is the fact that this basically three person film is over 2 hours in length which only makes what might have been tolerable in a shorter version uncomfortable to watch in the one it is in. If ratings were based on performances alone, the film which generate a much higher number but, as a total theatrical experience, I can only award it 2 and ½ stars. "All About Eve" said it better and in a much shorter period of time.

While We're Young

"While We’re Young" stars Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Amanda Seyfried and Adam Driver in this film written and directed by Noah Baumbach. This is not a good film as Ben Stiller tries to play a Jack Lemmon type character against the beautiful Ms. Watts but to no avail. More like a lemon than a Lemmon, he Is awkward and quite annoying to watch. Touted by the critics as a great and "deep" film about the older generation facing the younger culture surrounding them, the film never quite achieves this lofty goal. For the most part, tt Is a trite and meanngless story that had me trying to stay awake during some of its footage. I give the film 2 stars, and am probably being overly generous by doing that.