Tag Archives: Brittany Snow

SOMEONE GREAT (2019): The Things I Liked…

Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez
Someone Great (2019), Gina Rodriguez

Someone Great stars Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, a young woman who just went through a devastating break-up. She becomes determined to enjoy one last night in New York City with her friends, before moving to San Francisco for work. 

After you watched the trailer for this movie, just in case – like myself you were thinking that half the film would be set in New York City and the other half in San Francisco, you better forget about it. Someone Great happens entirely in New York and there are zero gorgeous images of the Golden Gate Bridge to be enjoyed here, sorry. 

Now that I’ve delivered the bit of news that probably only I care about, I enjoyed writer / director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s film more than I thought I would. In fact, I’ll even go as far as to say that this is my favourite of Rodriguez’s roles. She did a good job of selling the romantic connection, the devastation that followed when it all fell apart, as well as the bond between Jenny and her best friends, played by DeWanda Wise and Brittany Snow.

Nicely edited and paced, Someone Great captures well, though semi-briefly the highs and lows of a passionate relationship in one’s twenties. I also enjoyed the sisterly, non-toxic female friendships plus the music and dancing. The talented LaKeith Stanfield’s performance as the love interest and Rosario Dawson’s small role were also definite highlights.

The only thing that frustrated me during Someone Great is when the momentum slowed down a little and I found myself thinking, ‘OK, OK! You’ve already established the intimacy between the three friends. So please move the story along!’ I may or may not have said that out loud.

The part I liked most overall is actually the voice over towards the end because it’s so beautifully written.

Watch Someone Great for the writing… and all the other reasons mentioned above.

Happy Film Loving 

G

HANGMAN (2017) Movie Review: Its…

Hangman (2017), Karl Urban, Brittany Snow, Karl Urban
Hangman (2017), Karl Urban, Brittany Snow, Karl Urban

Hangman, the thriller about a homicide detective and a criminal profiler hunting a serial killer is not a great movie. Starring Al Pacino, Karl Urban and Brittany Snow; within the first quarter of the film, it was already clear to me that the story wasn’t flowing as well as a thriller of this sort ought to, in order to be good – let alone great.

Something didn’t quite gel for me between the characters played by Urban and Pacino. Maybe it’s a lack of chemistry, perhaps the writing, or all the above and then some. I just knew that this wasn’t going to be a serial killer movie that would make me forget even for a second about Se7en (1995), one of the best of the genre.

As awkward as the story set up felt initially, things did pick up somewhat in terms of happenings that had me paying attention. Still, overall there really isn’t anything in Hangman that will having you insisting that others must watch. I’d usually say ‘watch it if you absolutely must’ at this point. However in this case, by ‘absolutely must’ I’d mean, so you can see for yourself how the film missed the mark in terms of story structure, seamless character background introductions and awkward dialogue that played a part in making generally good actors look bad.

Have you seen Hangman? If so, do share your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy Film Loving

G

HANGMAN (2017): New Trailer From Al Pacino, Karl Urban, Brittany Snow…

Hangman (2017), Karl Urban, Al Pacino
Hangman (2017), Karl Urban, Al Pacino

Al Pacino, Karl Urban and Brittany Snow are the stars of Hangman, a Johnny Martin directed thriller about a homicide detective and a criminal profiler on the hunt for a serial killer…

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman’s Se7en (1995) has me believing that in every serial killer movie, a member of the investigative team is going to die, or at the very least be targeted by the serial killer. I’m tuning in because of Pacino and the story. I actually haven’t watched a good serial killer drama since the earlier seasons of The Mentalist. I live in hope.

Hangman Release Dates: December 22nd (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

THE LATE BLOOMER (2016): The Things I Liked…

The Late Bloomer (2016), Johnny Simmons
The Late Bloomer (2016), Johnny Simmons

Starring J.K. Simmons, Jonny Simmons, Brittany Snow, and Paul Wesley, The Late Bloomer is unfortunately not as good a movie as the trailer suggested. A notable issue is the slow pace of the film and the general mediocre execution of what may have been a great comedy about what happens when puberty comes to man at age 30.

Not only did it take too long to get to potentially the most entertaining part of the film – when puberty finally hits, but the amount of time it took to get their proved not nearly worth it because the characters being introduced in the first 30 minutes or so are barely interesting and not particularly convincing. When we do finally get to the puberty segment, the laughs are few. 

The Late Bloomer (2016), J.K. Simmons
The Late Bloomer (2016), J.K. Simmons

As for what I like about The Late Bloomer, I enjoyed Johnny Simmons’s character’s notes to himself about ‘chapter title’ ideas for his new book. I liked the dad character played by J.K. Simmons. His lines were the most amusing and the father / son conversation towards the end is just beautiful. 

Overall, is a movie you should probably only watch only if you absolutely must. I was hoping for something such as the likes of The 40 year Old Virgin (2005). Me and my expectations…

Look up I Love You, Man (2009), a well executed comedy where J.K. Simmons plays another good and funny dad. There’s of course, plenty more to the film than that and it’s all good.

Happy Film Loving

G

THE LATE BLOOMER (2016): New Trailer From Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Brittany Snow…

The Late Bloomer (2016), Johnny Simmons
The Late Bloomer (2016), Johnny Simmons

Imagine the awkwardness of having to go through puberty at 30 years old. That is the premise of The Late Bloomer, the new comedy starring Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Brittany Snow and Jane lynch…

Based on the book by Ken Baker and directed by Kevin Pollak, I’ll be watching in hopes that the movie will be executed well and be a little reminiscent of The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). 40 Days 40 Nights (2002) also comes to mind.

I’m also excited about the father/ son relationship between Simmons and Simmons’ characters. The clips in this trailer remind me of what I loved about J.K. Simmons’ good work in I Love you, Man (2009).

Kumail Nanjiani, Maria Bello, Charlotte McKinney and Lenora Crichlow also star.

The Late Bloomer Release Dates: October 7th, 2016 (US)…

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G