Benedict Cumberbatch & The Imitation Game

Playing God as Turing

I will admit I am a Benedict Cumberbatch fan. I thoroughly enjoyed him as Sherlock and last weekend I saw 'Dr. Strange.' Today we watched The Imitation Game in which he played Turing. Yes, that Turing. As much as we will miss the great actors who have departed this world in the past year, there are new people ready to take up the mantle. I submit that Mr. Cumberbatch will be one of those greats in the future.

If you haven't seen The Imitation Game, I promise it is a WWII story that should not be missed. Discovering the power of life and death in order to protect the greater good could not have been an easy burden to bear. It is a wonderful drama and told in flashback by Turing.

Kiera Nightly plays Joan Clark and for the young women fascinated by technology and the science, this is someone you should learn about. Turing fought to have her work with him despite the problems of a single woman working among men at the time. She was the exception and it is made quite clear during the interview scene.

The intersection of brilliant minds, gender differences, and homosexuality during 1940's Britain makes for an eloquent discussion on how we lost one of the brilliant minds of the 20th century. Turing was a great gift and I hope when you watch this film you will think about all the people out there changing the world, even if you don't know their stories yet.

Must see: Race

Race: Jesse Owens in the 1936 Summer Olympics

Have you seen the film 'Race' yet? If not you absolutely should. The filmmakers did a fantastic job of not getting to caught up in the politics of the time so that Mr. Owens remained the focus of the story. Of course, the blatant racial discrimination of the day is part of the story and it was handled with care. I would have liked to see more of his struggle with the decision to attend the 1936 Summer Olympics.

As a filmmaker, I really honed in on Leni Reifenstahl's interactions with Dr. Goebbels. Whatever you think of her as a person, you have to respect that a woman who caught the eye of Hitler was in a terrible position. She used that power to ensure that Jesse Owens' achievements that day can be seen again and again by the runners following in his footsteps and the rest of us.

It is a powerful film, one that I hope you watch with your family. It opens many options for dialogue about our recent past and how it affects current events. Specifically, the ongoing conversation about race, discrimination, and hatred. You can also watch for the gender divide as well. I throughly enjoyed it and cheered Mr. Owens, despite already knowing the outcome and I think you will too.

Kubo and the Two Strings

Don't Miss This One!

If you haven't seen this film you absolutely must and please grab the family. It is beautifully written with a great sense of humor that must be seen. You will appreciate the clay and paper animation smoothed in a digital environment.

The story feels eastern but the ending has been softened for western audiences. Kubo's story will feel very familiar to you with great adventure following a child's mistake. Throughout Kubo's journey the filmmakers gently expose memory loss in our elders. They also show how memories shared are the stories that keep us alive.

This is a brilliant work of animation and storytelling that will stand next to Spirited Away and The Book of Kells. You don't want to miss it!

Earth to Echo

Keeping It Short

Had time on my hands so I finally watched Earth to Echo. Cute film, but if you aren't into handheld 90% of the time skip it. The story line felt like Goonies meets ET. I love that one of the kids is a filmmaker and he also narrates throughout. Almost every scene is intended to appear as if the characters recorded the events themselves.

The BFG

The BFG is Worth Every Penny.

The film is perfect for children of all ages! It is lovingly crafted and honors Dahl's text. The score is beautiful and feels like the dreams the BFG collects. Dreamworld is eye candy, sumptuous and delightful to behold. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl growing up. That means I read all of his children's books many times including reading them to siblings and my own children.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story you will enjoy this romp through Dahl's imagination. Be warned, towards the end it does tend more to the ridiculousness of dreams. The story itself is very much like a dream itself and the film follows the same trajectory. From start to finish the film is enchanting.

It is over 2hrs which may be too long for some young viewers. If possible, see this in 3D as the technique will pull you into the story like it did so successfully in Avatar. We watched it in an RPX (Regal Premium Experience) theater which is a huge screen, almost IMAX size. I definitely advise you find it on the largest screen in your area. Enjoy!

Star Trek Beyond

Live Long and Prosper

Tonight I saw Star Trek Beyond, the third movie in the rebooted series. It was wonderful and included a beautiful tribute to Leonard Nimoy, contained in the overall story arc. Some great one-liners and dialogue between Bones and Spock puts this among my favorites in the Star Trek world.

Plenty of excitement and explosions puts the film definitively in the action adventure space. We watched in on... IMAX in 3D and the depth of that viewing experience was breathtaking. I did catch some ghosting during the more intimate scenes however.

The editing was fantastic and really drags the viewer into the excitement. I particularly enjoyed the final space battle and I know you will too. There is a sequence that showcases the power of the cut and the soundtrack to hypnotize the audience - we cheered.

This is a must see for fans of the franchise, I promise you won't be disappointed, and viewers of all ages. This is classic Trek with great fight sequences, witty banter (that doesn't slip into NFK territory), and beautiful scenery. Live long and prosper my friends.

Why do women make better film editors?

Why do women make better film editors?

Read original Article Here by Thomas Hobbs
Little White Lies

I don't think the article answers the question at all. Women have been editors since the beginning of cutting film in the early 1900's. When sound came into play in the mid-20's women were pushed out of the cutting room too, because editing was becoming 'technical.' It was still easier in the cutting room for women to succeed than elsewhere under the studio system.

Then as now we hear that women have more attention to detail. It is believed that their craft (think knitting/sewing) skills encourage that particular trait. Male directors also say that women are softer and maternal in their guidance.

My question is why does a maternal nature matter? Is it that we don't challenge directors in the same way a man might? Does the perception of softness apply to feminine male editors? Are editors supposed to support the director or are we meant to challenge them so as to improve the film itself?

Women have been involved in the film industry since its inception. Learn more about those pioneers here: https://vimeo.com/187436869.

Secrets of Film Editors

Why Are We Still Talking about Editing Secrets?

Read original article HERE

by Suzanne Raga

mental_floss

Nice article, but continues to say that editors rely on instinct and that our work, when done well, is invisible. That instinct is more about feeling the rhythm and emotional pull of each scene. Editors guide the viewer by showing them what to care about. It is similar to a composer creating a symphony.

As to being invisible, some of our most iconic films bring the editing front and center, such as Easy Rider. The biggest tent pole films in the last few years do the same. Think of the Marvel films and any other action film that jumps everywhere especially during fight scenes. The cutting there is more about ramping up the emotions of the audience than being invisible.

Sure, we don't want to call attention to the editing, that would damage the story and throw our audience out of the experience. Editing is not invisible, it is a shorthand that audiences today have internalized from a young age. If anything, editors are pushed to cut more frequently and give the impression that a story is moving along at a faster clip than in decades past.

We need to stop talking about the secrets and expose our work for what it is. We must internalize the language of film such that we can bend the rules to get the most out each moment. In collaboration with our partners, the director, producers, and composer we are the last storyteller. We guide the audience, showing them who and what to care about.

Data Exposes Gender Fault Lines

Data Exposes Gender Fault Lines

Read original article HERE

by: Team Slated

filmonomics

Unfortunately, this doesn't include post production, such as editors and composers, nor does it include effects or support positions. I don't think these other specialties would change the larger picture, but it would be interesting to see the comparison. I have understood that some of the best editors in the past 30+ years have been women, but is the gender bias still true for their department?

Sea Quest

Reminiscing  

Anyone else remember SeaQuest DSV? This show was set in 2018 after another world war and colonization of the sea had begun.

I re-watched Sea Quest recently and I understand why it was ended in the middle of the third season. The first two seasons spent too much time on the paranormal, mostly poor writing, and didn't have enough actual science. The third season completely changed the parameters with a new focus on peacekeeping and war. The writing was much better in the third season, but I can see how fans from the beginnin...g might be turned off, ultimately making it a loser during sweeps.

I loved the show as a kid and only really appreciate the flaws now. I still think it would an interesting concept if it was tried again if they can put it far enough into the future to be believable. I'd like to see an exploration and science basis, but perhaps the peacekeeping and geopolitics would make for better drama.

Check it out on Netflix, but be warned - season 3 episode 11 'Brainlock' is out of order (it actually aired out of order) and feels like jumping the shark. Watch it after episode 4 and before episode 6 to keep the timeline intact.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Independence Day: Resurgence

Of this week's film releases we chose Independence Day and it is worth the price of admission. We chose to see the 3D version because the 3D reviews were great. If you loved the first film you are going to adore the sequel.

They did a nice job of intercutting the new heroes with the old, handing off the torch very nicely. I like how David is still trying to understand what the aliens were after even 20yrs after the first attack. Lots of explosions and destruction as expected, but it didn't give me the same feeling of dread that was accomplished in the first film.

We laughed and laughed a lot. Have a good time this weekend and take the family.

Celebrating Father's Day at the movies

Celebrating Father's Day At The Movies.

Just watched 'TMNT 2 Out of the Shadows.' It is a barrel of laughs so long as you aren't expecting a serious action flick. You don't have to know the Ninja Turtles start to finish to get a kick out of this but it helps. The wit of the writers really makes this a fun choice for everyone.

Kids? Absolutely (7+) and anyone that gets a kick out of the heroes on a half shell.

NYSM2

Now You See Me 2 Review

Now You See Me 2 was a fun movie and stayed true to the characters developed in the first. Of the performances, I love Daniel Radcliffe's. He is a wonderful villain. The tricks aren't as fantastic this time around, but we get to see each move the horsemen make, so it is a trade off. It's a lot of fun and worth the ticket cost.

Pretty clean language throughout and only one fight scene makes this kid appropriate (10+) in my opinion, but as always if you're not sure your child can handle it watch first before taking him/her along

The Core - again

The Core - again!

"I built the ship in three months. I didn't think I'd be intentionally sabotaging her. I'm sorry" - Brass in The Core
I love disaster films and re-watching this one reminds me why I love this genre. It always comes down to a small group of people making sacrifices for each other and their (often times) self appointed mission. I think we make these stories to reaffirm our faith in humanity. The Core is also about correcting a human error and doing the needful without a massive audience.

Ex Machina

Ex Machina - in brief

Watched Ex Machina for the first time. Very cool movie. It has a similar vibe to that of 2001 A Space Odyssey. The writing is wonderful. The photography is dreamlike and the pacing lulls you into a passive state. It is as if the viewer is part of the machine, part of the closed network of cameras.

For parents, I'd say it is NFK (Not For Kids) for nudity and theme - In case you were wondering.

A Hologram for the King

A Hologram for the King Review

If you haven't taken the opportunity to see A Hologram for the King starring Tom Hanks, you should make the time. It is a lovely film about turning points and finding new direction. I also happen to think it is a great date night movie.

Tom Hanks give his usual outstanding performance, but I really enjoyed the supporting characters. The editing really gives you the feeling of days passing without change despite all of the little elements that are in fact changing. Watch for the guard at the entrance to the city.

The story tackles the concept of globalization in a more abstract way than I had expected from previews. I think you will find that very interesting as much as Allen's growing relationship with his drive Yusef.

Enjoy.

Eddie the Eagle

Eddie the Eagle is Why I Love IRL Stories

The reason I love films like the one I saw this afternoon, Eddie the Eagle, is that remind us to try and celebrate personal bests. Participating and loving what we do allows us to achieve more than we dreamt possible. You can't become better unless you do and fail, get up and do it again.

Eddie dreamed of medaling at the Olympics and his mother encouraged him at every opportunity. His father was like most, and only wanted to see his son settle into 'real life' with a job and maybe a family. It is his belief in this dream that pushes him to fight the British Olympic committee for a place on the team. They pushed out the finish line never expecting that he was devoted enough to meet their demands.

Despite some foul language, the film is a good choice for your family. Might not hold the attention of some youngsters, but the message will be worth it in the end. 

Hello, My Name is Doris

Hello, My Name is Doris Review

Watched Hello, My Name is Doris today. Really identified with character's struggle with finding purpose. It's so hard to start over and finding the momentum to continue can be even more difficult. So many of us start over in our careers or in our lives because of things outside of our control. What is admirable about Doris is that she start making over her life because of a kinship she feels with a much younger man.

Sadly, he doesn't return her feelings and Doris makes the choice to finally leave her dead end job and walk away from her crush. This was a tear-jerker for me, so I advise you bring some tissues along. Also, this is NFK (Not For Kids) due to some language and adult situations.

London Has Fallen and Zootopia

This woman hasn't been to the movies nearly enough this year.  Sadly, pneumonia, a car accident, and several colds caused me to think of the well being of others first.  I did finally get out to see Zootopia and London Has Fallen.  Two very different films but both positively screaming political messages at their audiences.  Even my husband felt like he was being hit over the head.

The first on our weekend binge was London Has Fallen, sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, didn't disappoint with its gratuitous violence, explosions, and high body count.  However, the idea that western leaders couldn't be kept safe on the ground in the United Kingdom is somewhat distasteful.  I realize that the scenario played out in the film is unlikely, but it is certainly something that our allies do think about anytime there is a state function such as the funeral in the film.  How arrogant are we as Americans to tell our allies that only we can solve such a crime without assitance on their soil?

Yes, a MI6 agent wraps up the film by taking out the traitor, but the Americans in the story are the ones that wrap up the final loose end after taking out all of the foot soldiers during the rest of the film.  To me this was a 'we're better than you' story that felt way over the top.  I would have liked to see more interaction between the Americans and our allies throughout.  London Has Fallen did an excellent job of making the UK officials look like idiots.  I don't think this film will play well overseas when you consider that angle.

The day after watching London Has Fallen, my husband and I took in Zootopia.  This film follows the classic theme of overcoming prejudice.  What I found more interesting was how the story takes places the inexperienced junior officer in front of the press without preperation or a senior officer taking the hard questions.  It really showed how a few words can twist the whole view of a case.  Of course it is the bunny's friend that calls her on her statements.

Ultimately, the film shows that it is a disenfranchised member of the second class that is pulling all of the strings.  The ending shows a 'happy ever after moment' with the aforementioned fox and bunny as partners on the force.  What the film fails to address is that the original media frenzy caused by the bunny's statements about predator DNA would likely continue reverberate through the population even after the fox joins the police force.

It would seem to me that there would be a large segment of the population that would resist the addition of another predator on their police force.  To say nothing of the hate crimes that would plunge the city into chaos before the crime is finally solved.  Of course, this is a 'kids' movie so it is unlikely that a discussion of that was ever on the script table.

Both films are worth seeing, but both smack the viewer over the head with their messages.  Of the two I preferred Zootopia.  The fox's story really resonated with me because those moments stick with the victim their entire lives.  It colors everything those indiviuals experience and how they teach their children, the good and the bad.  I like that the writers showed both main characters as being flawed but finding ways to overcome those flaws to connect.  This is a lovely message for all of us and that is why I like this film.

Ender's Game - Getting Preachy Hollywood

I recently re-watched "Ender's Game."  I haven't read the book, but I love how the film unfolds.  It is an interesting story and told beautifully.  The end surprised me the first time, but I was so caught up in the film that I missed the clues that normally tell me within minutes how a film will end, including major plot twists.  If you haven't seen it, I won't deprive you of making your own discovery.

Let me just say that "Ender's Game" vividly depicts the arrogance regularly displayed by those in power who think they know the only solution or are too scared by what they don't understand to consider any other actions. These criminals create an environment of nondisclosure that deprives their students of the knowledge they should have before following certain orders.  And in effect, create unwilling criminals from those students.  There is a single line uttered by Ender in the final act of the film that resonates so much with me that I feel more than sympathy for the character.  I empathize with him.

Every day some new revelation emerges from our government and corporate America that is so similar to how the plot evolves in "Ender's Game" that I'm astonished by how many people still go with the flow.  We are losing our privacy under the guise of anti-terrorism and falling prey to the worst kinds of fear.  How else can Trump be considered anything more than a arrogant and egotistical man running for office?  We want full disclosure from our officials without the fear mongering that is dancing through media headlines, unfortunately we have to do our own research to understand even half of what the media chooses to discuss.  I just hope that we engage our brains a little bit more and question why before we are held accountable by the people who will suffer because we didn't do our due diligence.

Lego Brickumentary

Lego Brickumentory - 1pip

Watched the Lego Brickumentory last night. It was really very good both as a documentary and entertainment. I laughed quite a bit and discovered some aspects of Lego I didn't expect. You can find it on Hulu. It's a perfect way to introduce your children to documentary.