PARKLAND (Released to the Venice Film Festival, Venice Italy 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Parkland, a refreshing 93-minute exploration of the JFK assassination, approaches its subject matter from a completely different perspective while skillfully interweaving actual broadcast radio recordings and archival footage throughout the film’s approach to its storyline. The film is based on the book “Four Days In November” written by Vincent Bugliosi. It’s a worthy addition to films dedicated to this subject. Watch for a superb performance by Zac Efron as Dr. Charles “Jim” Carrico.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The John F. Kennedy assassination is re-examined through the eyes of ordinary persons impacted by the event—medical personnel, FBI agents, and the Oswald family.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Peter Landesman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Tobin Armbrust, Guy East, Brian Falk, Joe Ricketts, and Ginger Sledge for making the film possible. Cast include: Paul Giamatti, Marcia Gay-Harden, Ron Livingston, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeremy Strong, Jacki Weaver, Kat Steffens, and James Badge Dale.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film is a 50^th Anniversary memoriam to the JFK assassination event. It’s a good watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE GENTLEMEN (Released to Theaters USA 2020)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  The Gentlemen—odd, complicated story—is a movie that even with a plotline read is difficult to follow. It drags its audience through a crime-driven, murder-solution, unwholesome and low thinking, drug-oriented life-style. It may work in films where one can learn what not to be. But in this film, one comes away thinking 'why do we care?' The movie begs the question, 'Why was this film financed and given the green light?' Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline   A USA man wants to unload his marijuana business, located in England, which activates a chain of unwanted con men who want a 'piece of dirty pie'.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Guy Ritchie for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, and Bill Block for making the film possible. Cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is what it is. It works outside the general mafia-styled movie and does not entertain. It plays too deeply into the gross realities of its world and drags it audience through the mud with it. Its complicated plotline does not allow its audience to comfortably and easily understand its storyline but superficially talks about the worst parts of this world with exceptionally graphic violence. It allows no room for audience comfort. A misnomer to title this movie "The Gentle-Men." Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers