MA (2019): The Things I Liked…

Ma (2019), Octavia Spencer, Universal Pictures
Ma (2019), Octavia Spencer, Universal Pictures

Starring Octavia Spencer as the lonely and definitely unhinged Sue Ann, Ma is the story of a group of teenagers who end up wishing that they never accepted a middle aged woman’s invitation to party in her basement.

Having had no idea about the true extent of Sue Ann’s lunacy, I enjoyed being surprised by it. And when Ma wasn’t busy thrilling me, I was appreciating the believable portrayal of teenage life, the close mother/daughter relationship and another notable performance by Spencer. 

Director Tate Taylor’s film could certainly have taken a more realistic direction in terms of how particular aspects of the story played out – but I’m not mad about the end result. It was mostly realistic enough for me, and fun. 

A key part that I wish had gone differently was approximately twenty minutes in, during the exchange between Ma and Gianni Paolo’s character. The dialogue and what happens in that scene just didn’t seem to quite fit.

Watch Ma if you’re curious. You may just have a good time. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

JUST MERCY (2019): New Trailer From Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, Rafe Spall…

Just Mercy (2019), Michael B. Jordan, Warner Bros.
Just Mercy (2019), Michael B. Jordan, Warner Bros.

Co-written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Just Mercy stars Brie Larson, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Rafe Spall.

Telling the story of world-renowned civil rights defence attorney Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy recounts his experiences as he details the case of a condemned death row prisoner he fought to free.

Jordan and Foxx in a movie together? I didn’t know I needed it until it was here.

This will make me cry, of course. What am I saying? It already made me cry; that’s how I know.

O’Shea Jackson Jr., Tim Blake Nelson, Rob Morgan, Rhoda Griffis, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Drew Scheid, Andrene Ward-Hammond and Tonea Stewart also star.

Just Mercy Release Dates: December 25th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

MEMORY – THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN (2019): New trailer For Documentary About Ridley Scott’s Alien Film…

Memory - The Origins Of Alien (2019), Madman Films
Memory – The Origins Of Alien (2019), Madman Films

Written/directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, Memory – The Origins Of Alien is a new documentary about the untold story behind Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi classic, Alien.

Featuring Bijan Aalam, Tim Boxell and Axelle Carolyn, we can expect to learn about how Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, the art of Francis Bacon, and the dark visions of Dan O’Bannon and H.R. Giger inspired Scott’s film and more.

One of the scariest things I can think of is the idea of a living parasite. I bring this up because the creatures (Xenomorph or Internecivus raptus) that burst forth from within bodies in the infected parties in Scott’s Alien are essentially parasites.

I’m looking forward to finding out how my simplistic thinking aligns with what Philippe’s documentary will reveal.

Ivor Powell, Veronica Cartwright, Rhoda Pell, Shannon Muchow, Ben Mankiewicz, Mickey Faerch, Roger Corman, Roger Christian and Axelle Carolyn also make an appearance.

Memory – The Origins Of Alien Release Dates: October 4th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

MISS VIRGINIA (2019): New Trailer From Uzo Aduba, Matthew Modine, Vanessa Williams,Niles Fitch…

Miss Virginia (2019), Uzo Aduba, Vertical Entertainment, US
Miss Virginia (2019), Uzo Aduba, Vertical Entertainment, US

Based on a true story, Miss Virginia is a new drama starring Uzo Aduba as Virginia Walden Ford, a struggling inner-city mother who’s determined to do everything she can to save her son’s future and that of thousands like him.

Directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna; additional key cast includes Matthew Modine, Vanessa Williams and Niles Fitch.

I’m always ready for stories about extraordinary people ‘doing the most’ in the best possible way. Also, Abuba is great and I like Fitch in This Is Us. There’s also the lovely Williams.

Aunjanue Ellis, Niles Fitch, Amirah Vann, Adina Porter, Ethan Herisse, Nadji Jeter, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, April Grace, Suzanne Ford and Erik LaRay Harvey also star.

Miss Virginia Release Dates: October 18th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

FALLING INN LOVE (2019): The Things I Liked…

Falling Inn Love (2019), Adam Demos, Christina Milian, Netflix
Falling Inn Love (2019), Adam Demos, Christina Milian, Netflix

Starring Christina Milian and Adam Demos, Falling Inn Love is a Hallmark-style romance/comedy about a San Francisco-based city girl who spontaneously enters and wins a ‘win an inn’ (in New Zealand) competition.

I’ve watched my fair share of Hallmark Channel romance movies in the past, and Falling Inn Love isn’t very different from those films. It’s absolutely PG-rated; plus, there’s nothing in there to really surprise you in terms of story, but that’s kind of part of the charm, right?

As you may have guessed, the destined couple will meet and not get along at first, but soon enough they’ll start to fall in love and before you know it, you’re slapped in the face by a sickeningly cheesy line that may or may not force you to roll your eyes. Yet, because love is beautiful, and perhaps, you, like me, like Milian, Demos or both, and you’re in the mood for an easy viewing romance/comedy film, you keep watching and end up having fun.

Would it have been better if there hadn’t been a line or two so cheesy that my eyes were forced to roll? Yes. Would I have liked it that much more if I thought that the song the soon-to-be couple sang along to in the car was actually great? Yes, it really would have – but that’s just a couple of little details. Overall, I actually enjoyed the dialogue, views of sunny/green New Zealand, plus, I liked Milian and Demos’s performances. I also enjoyed Gilbert the goat, an animal that happens to have stolen several scenes, if not the entire film.

Lastly… What the dumpster?!’ – my favourite line in the movie because of its comic timing and delivery.

Watch Falling Inn Love if you’re curious. 

Happy Film Loving,

G