THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN (Released to Theaters USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  The Art of Racing in the Rain— is one of the better 'feel good' films—has a great story and presentation. Creativity begins with its metaphorical usage of racing as living life and rain as the way life (the race) goes sometimes and that living a good life begins with becoming very good at navigating slippery tracks well. Actor Milo Ventimiglia plays the roles of the race car driver and family man. Kevin Costner voices Enzo, the Golden Retriever. The movie is written through the eyes of Enzo, the Golden Retriever. The movie's portrayal is supported by the story. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Golden Retriever tells a story about life lived with its owner.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Simon Curtis for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Joannie Burstein, James C. France, Christina Giubbetti, Donald J. Lee Jr. for making the film possible. Cast include Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, Jackie Minns, Marcus Hondro, Ian Lake, Andres Joseph, Gary Cole, Donald Heng, and Amanda Seyfried.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. A quiet story told quietly. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

While We’re Young takes its time to get into its story. The viewer repeatedly finds itself sitting on the sidelines waiting for the characters that Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts portray to ‘get it’ and move on. At the same time, the sweet taste of the underlying story theme becomes difficult to ignore and by the middle of the movie gathers its own force as the main characters race toward a seemingly inevitable conclusion. Casting creates an interesting dichotomy with the placement of Ben Stiller with Adam Driver. They work together like salt around the rim of a good Margarita. Adam Driver (J. Edgar, Lincoln, Llewelyn Davis, Tracks) shows exceptional talent and is worth keeping an eye on for future films. Watch for Amanda Seyfried from Les Misérables.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Josh (Ben Stiller) and his wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts) do not make the approach to middle age and the transition into family life in the usual straight forward fashion. They take a detour that involves returning to youth by developing a relationship with Jamie (Adam Driver) and his wife Darby (Amanda Seyfried), a much younger couple.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Noah Baumbach for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Noah Baumbach, Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, and Lila Yacoub for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Marina (Maria Dizzia), Fletcher (Adam Horovitz), Tim (Matthew Maher), Ira Mandelstam (Peter Yarrow), Ira’s Wife (Bonnie Kaufman), Frank (Hector Otero), New School Woman (Deborah Eisenberg), Tipper (Dree Hemingway), Benny (Matthew Shear), Elise (Annie Baker), Pepper (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), and Music Class Band (James Manzello).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Ben Stiller has an irresistible screen presence that carries every film in which he stars. This film is no exception to that rule. However, the story runs slowly, seems quite boring at times, and lacks the usual Ben Stiller comedic effect. 

Video Review Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LES MISÉRABLES (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Les Misérables starts well—almost with the majestic feel of Lord of the Rings. This musical is not the ‘typical’ musical—much of the dialogue is sung without the benefit of rhyming lyrics and musical score. Now that the format is understood, the story can be settled into. The first big surprise is that Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway can sing—well. We already know Hugh Jackman can sing (Oklahoma!). The acting is—good. The story is—unsettling, darkly written. It’s no Cinderella story—the working-class, single mother does not rise to a place of plenty, but is lowered into a life of prostitution, disease, and poverty. This story is a dive into reality where revolutionaries do not live to celebrate the day, but are massacred as they stand and deserted by those for whom they fight. Good deeds are not rewarded and injustices are madly pursued until the critical question is finally asked, “If we live in a world of grace and forgiveness, what happens to law and order?” Irreconcilable worlds clash, neither one forgiving of the other, until it seems that only on the other side of death shall all be made right. The climatic ending scenes send this movie through the roof for kudos. Les Misérables takes a while to tell its story, but don’t miss it.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is released on parole, but cannot find a job. Bishop of Digne (Colm Wilkinson) gives him a place to stay, but Jean Valjean steals his silver. When the police catch Jean Valjean, the Bishop tells them he gave the silver to Jean Valjean and then tells Jean to go make a life for himself.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Tom Hooper for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Nicholas Allott, Liza Chasin, Angela Morrison, F. Richard Pappas, and Thomas Schönberg for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), Javert (Russell Crowe), Fantine (Anne Hathaway), Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), Thénardier (Sacha Baron Cohen), Madame Thénardier (Helena Bonham Carter), Marius (Eddie Redmayne), and Enjolras (Aaron Tveit).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film’s message is unmistakable and needs to be retold again and again.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers