Dead To Me (2019): Linda Cardellini, Christina Applegate, Netflix
Dead To Me is a new comedy series starring Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, Edward Asner and James Marsden.
Created by Liz Feldman, at the heart of the story is the powerful friendship that grows between a free spirit with an unexpected secret and a tightly wound widow.
I really like it when filmmakers put together two actors I had no idea I wanted to see in the same production. I’m in for the story, humour, mystery and certainly the sisterhood.
Tiffany Yvonne Cox, Sam McCarthy, Felice Heather Monteith, Luke Roessler, Diana Maria Riva, Adora Soleil Bricher, Nayeli Esparza and Gloria Calderon Kellett also star.
Linda Cardellini, Patricia Velasquez and Raymond Cruz are the stars of The Curse of La Llorona, a new Michael Chaves directed horror / mystery.
Set in 1970s Los Angeles, a social worker and her small children are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm after they ignore the warnings of a troubled mother…
In the name of my mission to watch more scary movies this year, I’m drawn to this one because of Cardellini. I mean, did you see how well she sold the moment that happens soon after 1:00 into this trailer? Wonderful actress!
Sean Patrick Thomas, Tony Amendola and Madeleine McGraw also star.
Green Book (2018), Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen
Directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen and Linda Cardellini, Green Booktells the story of the great friendship between a working-class Italian-American bouncer / driver and an African-American classical pianist. Since Farrelly’s story is set in 1960s America, racial tensions play a significant part in the movie. Nevertheless, the main focus is very much the developing friendship between the two men.
There’s a number of heartbreaking scenes in Green Book but there are definitely far more that’ll make you smile and have you thinking about the great friends you have and / or want in your life. You may also be moved to be even kinder than I’m certain you already are. What stands out most for me about Green Book, in addition to the great performances is the understanding that Green Book is one of those movies with a rhythm so perfect that there wasn’t a single moment when I questioned any of the director / editor’s choices. Everything just flowed beautifully and my eyes gladly took in and appreciated the skilful execution before me.
Some of the music in Green Book definitely had me contemplating dressing up and showing up at the nearest jazz venue; not that the main music featured is jazz, by the way. I enjoyed Mortensen’s performance as what one might argue is the most convincingly Italian non-Italians to ever be seen on screen.
I say, watch Green Book because it’s good and to see an example of an inspiring growing friendship and respect between to men. One that ends up altering them both.
Director Paul Feig’s crime / thriller about a mommy vlogger trying to find out the real reason behind her new best friend’s sudden disappearance is a movie I liked less than I expected to.
Starring Blake Lively, Henry Golding and Anna Kendrick, what I liked most about A Simple Favor, besides Lively’s character Emily’s great sense of style is her embodiment of a young woman in charge who refuses to take nonsense from anyone.
It’s therefore no wonder then that Kendrick’s outwardly super sweet Stephanie was very much drawn to the clearly inspiring and very fun to watch Emily.
There was a moment after all the key characters seemed to have been established that I wondered where the story was really going. What I most certainly didn’t expect is that I’d find A Simple Favor to be rather unsatisfying overall.
Having never read the book on which this movie is based, I’d prepared myself for a different kind of experience; one that was a fun mystery with entertaining dialogue, but without things taking quite the dark turn that they did. And when I say ‘dark,’ I’m really mostly referring to the truth behind Emily, her true nature. It’s clear to me now that I simply wanted to like her.
The last time a movie did something similar to me, almost like a bait and switch was The Lobster (2015). And just like the Lobster, I liked the earlier half of A Simple Favor more.
Watch it if you’re so curious, maybe you’ll enjoy the darkness.
In the new Daddy’s Home trailer starring Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell, it looks like the famous charisma and charm synonymous with Wahlberg, coupled with Ferrell’s comedy expertise is going to result in a very funny movie. Especially when you add the ‘cool biological dad versus ‘new and not at all cool stepdad’ dynamic…
Directed by Sean Anders and John Morris (part of the team behind 2013 comedy hit We’re The Millers), there’s no reason not to hope for good things.
The Movie My Life 