Movie Review: "Magic in the Moonlight

This mystery stars academy award winning Colin Firth who plays the world’s foremost illusionist Stanley Crawford in 1920’s Europe. He is called on by a fellow illusionist to unmask an American spiritualist played by Emma Stone. Most of the story takes place in beautiful villas and their surroundings on the French Riviera. Crawford is initially convinced that his subject is a fake and charlatan. Over time, he begins not only to doubt his opinion of her but also his concept of man’s place in this world. Stone and Firth’s acting is top flight. The plot is sophisticated and well developed. The ending is somewhat surprising and uplifting.

Movie Review: "The Grand Seduction"

This Canadian movie is about the tiny dying Canadian fishing village Tickle Cove. This isolated village is desperately trying to attract a recycling factory. The factory will not locate there unless there is a full time physician. By hook or by crook, the town leader, Murray French, is determined to land both the factory and physician. A young recently minted urbane plastic surgeon is caught with cocaine in an airport and is able to avoid legal action if he agrees to spend one month in Tickle Cove. This film in fact is a situational comedy. The setting is sumptuous. The plot is well thought out. Enough time is allowed during the movie for adequate story and character development

Movie Review "Ida"

This Polish black and white movie is about Anna, a young Polish girl who is on the verge of taking her final vows to be a Roman Catholic nun in 1962 Poland. Her Mother Superior informs her that she has one surviving relative- an aunt who is a ranking member of the Polish communist party. Her aunt is a hard living, hard drinking middle aged childless Jewess. Anna discovers that almost everyone, save the aunt, were murdered during the war. The remainder of the movie involves the search for what really happened to her family and the direction of her life. The cinematography is unusual. Besides being black and white, the format is actually “tall screen” rather than the usual wide screen. All lines are subtitled, but sparse. The plot and filmography stands almost alone without dialog. One of the better films of the season.

Brooks Museum: "The Eclectic Sixites" & "Wood Engravings by Thomas Bewick

THE ECLECTIC SIXTIES: This small collection of works includes bizarre pop and minimalist works. Controversial topics are addressed such as feminism, abuse of native Americans, civil rights and governmental abuse. Most of the items on display were not very interesting- the exception being David Parrish’s “The Eagle Has Landed.” It’s worth a few minutes of your time just to see this one painting. WOOD ENGRAVING BY THOMAS BEWICK: Thomas Bewick was a master engraver in 16th & 17 century England. Animals, farm scenes and birds predominate the engravings on display. The resulting prints are incredibly fine and detailed. This exhibition is small, but well worth the time.

Movie Review: "Secret LIfe of Walter Mitty"

This is a remake of James Thurber’s story of day-dreamer Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) who escapes his mundane life as a negative processor for Time magazine by creating an imaginary fantasy world. Mitty has been sent a set of photographic negatives by a world famous action photographer, one of which is to be used on the cover of the final edition of Time magazine. The negative is lost. Mitty embarks on a worldwide search for the famous photographer and the missing negative. Much like the Wizard of Oz, Mitty discovers that the qualities and adventures he craves has always been an arms length away. The story line is fairly well developed. Ben Stiller and co-stars Kristen Wiig and Sean Penn give better than average performances in their respective roles. There was very little if any profanity. It could have earned a “G” rating in my opinion.

Movie Review: "Nebraska

This black and white drama/comedy centers around a nuclear, but dysfunctional Midwest family. Bruce Dern, who plays Woody, the family’s alcoholic elderly father, is convinced he has won 1 million dollars in a contest by a Lincoln Nebraska magazine clearing house. Despite not having a valid driver’s license, he is determined to get to Nebraska to claim his prize. His younger son, played by Will Forte, volunteers to take him to Lincoln from their home in Billings Montana. On the way, they stop in his tiny hometown of Hawthorne, Nebraska. There he reunites with his extended family and old friends. June Squibb expertly plays Woody’s shrew of a wife. Through a series of domestic conflicts, the family discovers the presence of true affection and mutual self sacrifice. The wonderful black and white cinematography is reminiscent “Everything is Illuminated.” Dern and relative newcomer Squibb’s performances are superb. Story development is slow, but sophisticated. There was a lot of unnecessary profanity and innuendo- otherwise it would not have earned an “R” rating.

Movie Review: Gravity

This recently released movie is about two astronauts, George Clooney as Matt Kowalski and Sandra Bullock as Ryan Stone. They are set adrift in orbit after disaster strikes a shuttle mission. Initially, they are tethered together and tumble out of control. After regaining their composure, they try to conserve oxygen and find the resources to survive their ordeal. Clooney plays a seasoned space veteran with a great deal of composure, quick wit and the ability to calm Bullock’s character. Sandra Bullock plays a biomedical engineer who is new to space and somewhat reluctant to be in her position. The performance of both is over the top. The plot is well developed and appropriately suspenseful. The cinematography and special effects are breath-taking and innovative. I viewed it without the benefit of the 3D format. Probably one of the finest movies I have seen this calendar year.