To The Wonder

Soon after returning to his native Oklahoma with a beautiful woman he met in Paris, Neil finds himself drifting toward an old friend.  Meanwhile, the woman he brought back with him has unfinished business with her first husband.  With that being said, I would have not been able to write this without Netflix synopsis.  There is virtually no dialogue in the movie.  The only help one gets are some subtitles.  Never is Ben Affleck's  character called by name--so Neil is a shock to me.  Beautiful woman has a 10 year old daughter that tags along.  Beautiful woman, whatever her name is, is nuts and spends the majority of the film twirling around like a bad ballerina or rolling in dead grass, leaves or whatever.  Her subtitles allude to a crack pot philosophy on love.  The old friend isn't any better.  She has issues that really because of no dialogue are not clear, but what a guessing game.  Oh did I forget the equally nuts priest?  In the broad spectrum, I got the impression he was confused about God and his role but once again with no dialogue it is hard to tell.  This is the ultimate "artsy fartsy flick".  There is a lot to be said for a good story line.  How Ben Affleck can go from Argo to this is bewildering.  I give it a 2 only because of the boots.  Both females wore great boots--with no dialogue, nothing to distract you.  Stars ( and that is using the term loosely) Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylendo, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams.

42

This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era.  Excellent portrayals of the characters and very uplifting.  I rate it an Eight.  Makes one hang their head in shame at the treatment of blacks in that era.  Harrison Ford, Alan Tudyk, Lucas Black, Christopher Melont.

Trance

This is a thriller about an art heist gone wrong and the hypnotist who's hired to ferret out the missing master piece.  Everything is a jumble after an auctioneer gets hit in the head while double crossing some art thieves.  Entertaining but not exceptional.  This can be saved for DVD.  Rating is a 6 (just above average).  Lots of nude scenes so keep the kids home.  Stars James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel.

Everyone Has a Plan

Viggo Mortensen stars  in this thriller as twin brothers Augustin, a doctor living a comfortable but mundane life and Pedro, who has a criminal past.  When Pedro dies, Augustin adopts his brother's identity and gets a taste of Argentina's underworld.  I am rating this a 7 because it is entertaining but dark.  Can't believe people really live like that.  Starts Viggo Mortensen, Soledad Villamil, Daniel Fanego, Sofia Gala.

Ginger and Rosa

With the cold war looming over them, teen best pals Ginger and Rosa share everything in early London- until betrayal drives them apart.  This is a drama steeped in the anxieties of the nuclear age.
Ginger is the ultimate Debbie Downer singing "On the bad ship lollipop..."  You just want to smack her at times.  The teens need elocution lessons.  Thank goodness for Annette Bening who is understandable.  The movie rates a four or five.  The ending is one of those "what the hell happened here" endings.  Starts Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Christina Hendrick, Annette Bening and Timothy Spall.

The Sapphires

The spirit and vitality of the 1960's soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career.  Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan inspired by the youngest sister.  They answer an advertisement to audition for a gig in Viet Nam.  This movie is near and dear to me because I was in Viet Nam in 1968 and could relate to life with the military there.  Not all is factual but the story is true.  The devil is in the details like modes of transportation.  I won't go into that now.  For those that want more details just email me at sconklin00@Gmail.com.  I lived it and will share.  The music is great as are the singers.  I am changing my ratings to one to ten.  One being as sucky as a movie can get.  Ten is Academy Award material.  This movie is getting an 8.  You will tap your toes during the whole thing.  Stars Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens.