"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
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
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.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
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.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
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..
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