"Cruella" Movie Review

 

Like the Maleficent movies before it, Cruella is Disney's latest installment in their campaign to rehabilitate the images of the studio's most evil characters. The problem is that despite the film's best efforts I can't empathize with the title character because I know going in that she'll eventually try to murder dozens of puppies for no other reason than to drape herself in "cutting-edge" fashion.  In an age in which socialites routinely have paint thrown on them -- and their fur coats -- how did a story that places cinema's most notorious hound-killer as its protagonist even get made? This redemption spree is exactly the kind of thing that has led to such a lack of accountability in the world today. What's next? Will we learn that Scar shouldn't be blamed for Mustafa's death? Will the Jafar origin movie put all of his actions in an entirely different context that proves that he's simply misunderstood?

Estella, which we learn from is her given name, is bad from the start, prompting her mother to blame the misbehavior on an alter-ego. And almost from the start, the film blames other characters for Cruella's self-inflicted misfortunes: retaliation is spun as bullying; and she initially holds her dog responsible for her mother's untimely demise (which happens immediately following attempted blackmail on her part) -- even though said dogs were released on Cruella herself because she'd crashed a party. What do you do when your central character is irredeemable? You invent an even worse person to challenge them. In this case, it's de Vil's boss, Baroness von Hellman. Maybe the screenwriters next project will be attempting to resurrect Rudy Guiliani's political career. 

There's even a revisionist take on the events of 101 Dalmatians in the form of a suggestion that Cruella, that story's antagonist, never intended to actually skin the titular pooches but had threatened to do so as a publicity stunt in order to stoke her reputation. She's not really a monster, she simply has a carefully-orchestrated public persona. Riiight.

Head-scratching decisions abound in this flick. For instance, you'd think that Cruella de Vil would be the poster-girl for cat ladies but inexplicably, her best friend in the world is a stray canine named Buddy. And her Sia-inspiring black-and-white tresses are her natural hair color and not another ill-conceived fashion statement designed to command attention. Also, it's revealed that Cruella can hotwire a car and be gone in 60 seconds but she doesn't know how to drive. Make it make sense.

Moral ambiguity aside, Cruella is just no fun to watch. If the 1960s/70s setting complete with the period's horrendous fashion weren't bad enough (browns and pea-soup greens everywhere), the washed-out palette gives everything onscreen an ultra-drab look. By the end of this overlong snooze-fest (a mind-numbing two hours and 14 minutes), you'll be begging to see any animated movie with bright, vivid colors that you can get your hands on just to balance it all out. 

You'd think the folks at Disney would've learned a lesson from their last $200 million-plus, unnecessary origin story, Solo (the only Star Wars movie to lose money). Like that barrel-fire, there's also a pointless scene in which the main character obtains a last name in a ridiculous way. And Han Solo's genesis isn't the only cinematic inspiration for this mess; the screenplay "borrows" heavily from All About Eve and The Devil Wears Prada. This Joker rip-off (a notorious and flamboyant villain is revealed to have had a monumentally terrible mother) is a horrible movie about horrid people. 2015's Cinderella is still the best live-action Disney remake -- partly because the evil stepmother remained just that. Don't waste your money or your time on this dishwater.

"Cruella" is the Worst Movie I've seen This Year

 

by Robert Zenoni

Alright, well there’s not much to say here except that this was not the best birthday gift (the 28th was my birthday). Anyway, this is probably the worst movie I’ve seen this year. And I watched Wrath of Man, which is as boring as it gets but I digress. Cruella is the origin story for infamous Disney villain Cruella de Vil. The plot was as if Ocean's Eleven and The Devil Wears Prada were put in a bowl, mixed together and you put vinegar on it -- just terrible and leaves a bad taste in your mouth because you paid to watch this film. The acting was the only decent thing about it...that and the faithfulness to 101 Dalmatians.

"Army of the Dead" Movie Review

 

by John Zenoni

Ok, let me say up front that I do love zombie shows and movies, particularly the television show that started it all for me, ‘The Walking Dead.’ And really, I guess it was even before then but TWD just took it to another level as far as I'm concerned - that is, until some of the writing started suffering further into the seasons but I'm riding it out to see what ends up happening. Too much time invested in that one.

Anyway, with all that being said, I watched the latest entry in the zombie flicks, Zack Snyder’s ‘Army of the Dead.’ I didn't even realize this one was coming out so I was quite surprised to find out about it. The biggest plus for this film is the action. I will say that there's plenty of it and it's done well. In fact, it's almost non-stop from the get-go and you can tell some money was definitely spent on this movie with the special effects and technology on display. That much I can say I was impressed with. I'll also say that it was a pretty good story line, although I still was left with questions at the end of the movie. However, based on the ending - with no spoiler-alert here - I think I might get those questions answered sometime in the future if this film garners a lot of interest.

The thing I didn't care for about this film was the acting! I'm sorry, but Dave Bautista just cannot act. I know he has his fans and this might be blasphemy for me to say but I mean the way he tries to express his emotions just isn't believable and is somewhat painful to watch. Some of the lines delivered by Bautista and others were just atrocious. I know that I shouldn't be expecting this to be an award-winning film but the dialogue and acting in many scenes was just horrible.

Oh well, the main thing to be concerned with I guess is seeing who can make it through the fast-moving zombies in Las Vegas!

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#armyofthedeadnetflix

#armyofthedead

#snyderarmyofthedead

#zackarmyofthedead

The Soundtrack to 1976's "A Star is Born" is Just as Good as the Movie

 

by John Zenoni

1976 is the year that the 3rd remake of the Hollywood film ‘A Star is Born’ was released and in my opinion it's still the best. It was nominated for 4 Oscars later that year. I mean, Barbra Streisand was probably at her peak as Esther Hoffman and Kris Kristofferson gave a surprisingly good performance as John Norman Howard, an aging rock star whose popularity is beginning to diminish due to his abuse of drugs and alcohol. He just happens to meet Esther in a club one evening, begins an affair with her and helps her get her career started, which takes off, and she soars while he sees his slowly decline. The movie is older but in my opinion still holds up well even today.

With that being said, the soundtrack to this version is amazing and is one I remember hearing played on the record player player consistently when it was released. I can recall every song on this album and that's because Barbra and Kris actually SING! No electronics or voice overs or covers to help with their voices. The songs have meaning and are performed so well. There is rhythm that you can appreciate and lyrics that have meaning. Barbra’s voice is amazing - especially during that classic ending when she brings down the house while performing ‘Watch Closely Now.’ Kris has that raw, smokers voice quality that works so well during his performances.

The theme song - ‘Evergreen’ - is so beautiful and it's no surprise that it won the Academy Award that year. But my favorite song has to be one performed by Kris Kristofferson, ‘Crippled Crow.’ Man, this is an amazing song written by Donna Weiss. But the entire soundtrack is great. It's an album I grew up with and still love as it has ballads, R&B influences and rock and roll. Great listen!

#musicfiends

#astarisborn1976

#astarisbornalbum

#astarisbornstreisand

#astarisbornkristofferson

"The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness" Series Review

 

by John Zenoni

I remember back in the late 70’s, early 80’s how the disco craze had taken over the music scene, including movies, i.e. ‘Saturday Night Fever’, of course, and reading a lot about New York and how people, including celebrities, were crazy over the discotheques -- but most of all the infamous/famous (depending on how you look at it) Studio 54. But it was also a time when a nightmare hit New York and that was the time of the ‘Son of Sam’ murders. I remember reading about the case and the murders and when the killer, David Berkowitz, was caught. It was probably one of the biggest news stories in the country at the time, even though other things were going on, like gas shortages, high unemployment rates and other issues.

According to the articles I read, Berkowtiz, known as the ‘Son of Sam’ but also the ‘.44 Caliber Killer’, was said to have acted alone. However, that was not believed to be the case by journalist/author, Maury Terry, who followed the case very closely and for many years after. This is what's discussed in the fascinating, horrifying and intriguing Netflix documentary ‘The Sons of Sam.’

This is a great documentary in that it gives so many details into what was known from a factual basis by the New York City police and investigators, as well as providing the evidence and theories presented by Mr. Terry while he was investigating and writing about the case. In fact, as told by those who knew Terry, he became obsessed with the case because he didn't believe that Berkowtiz could have acted alone. This is definitely a case of ‘he said, they said’ as the NY Police Department was emphatic that Berkowtiz was their man and the case was closed. However, if you look at everything presented in this documentary about what Terry found and uncovered, it does make you wonder if Berkowtiz took the fall for others involved in the crime. There are even potential ties to Charles Manson and as far away as England based on the research done. Terry would eventually write a book, ‘The Ultimate Evil: An Investigation Into a Dangerous Satanic Cult’, that explains his findings and theory as to why Berkowtiz didn't act alone. Unfortunately, Terry didn't get to see any further arrests take place or even acknowledgment for his work before he passed away. His family and friends said that all he wanted to do was to get justice for the victims and keep the cult from hurting others.

The direction of this documentary is very good and the use of the pictures, news articles, interviews, etc. is captivating.

Hold on tight with this documentary as it will definitely keep you thinking and realizing what craziness exists in this world. Great one to watch!

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#thesonsofsam

#thesonsofsamnetflix

#sonofsam

"Dream Horse" Early Movie Review

 

by John Zenoni

As described on the poster, ‘Dream Horse’ is definitely an inspirational, feel-good movie. It really is an enjoyable film that I highly recommend. Have we seen this type of film before? Perhaps, but this one is also done well and right now I'll take any film that leaves you feeling positive and upbeat.

The story is about a hard working woman named Jan Vokes who bartends in a small town. She's tired of living her dreary, daily life and tells her husband one day that she's going to breed a race horse. She convinces many of her neighbors to chip in and help pay for the cost of breeding, training and racing the horse in hopes that they can do better financially. With the help of those who invest, and these are quite the characters, the group manages to do what many would consider to be the impossible and end up owning a winner.

The story isn't all win and glory and fame as things do happen that cause many to doubt that they'll be successful. That's what makes this a very good film. It's funny and entertaining in many ways. The main character is played by Toni Collette, who does a great job in her role.

This is lighthearted stuff but it's still worth a watch for some joy and a few good laughs.

Coming to theaters on May 21.

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#dreamhorse

#dreamhorsefilm

"Final Account" is a Challenging but Important Watch

 

by John Zenoni

This is an absolutely stunning documentary in that you get to hear first-hand from people who were just observers of or who actually participated in the Nazi party during Hitler’s reign. Unbelievable is all I can say. The film footage is remarkable and the interviews intriguing because you - at least I was - are thinking to yourself the whole time, ‘How could this person have wanted to have been part of this when the word was getting around and people saw how Jewish people were being treated?’ It left me speechless, needless to say.

There are those interviewed who admit regret about what happened and what they might have done but then some used age - being too young to have regrets or able to do anything - as an excuse, which I did find upsetting. As such, it's a difficult film to watch at times but this is a piece of history that needs to be remembered - like slavery - so it doesn't happen again.

Do not let this one go by as it is a must watch!

Coming to theaters on May 21.

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#finalaccount

#finalaccountfilm

"Pink: All I Know So Far" Seems a Bit Too Sugar-Coated

 

by John Zenoni

As a big fan of music, watching documentaries about those musicians I follow or am a fan of tends to make me nervous as I always wonder if finding out certain facts about them will make me dislike them, lessen my taste for their music or just disappoint me overall. I will say that with the last several music documentaries I've seen that none of this has been the case thank goodness, including the one I watched tonight about the rock/pop artist, Pink, called, ‘Pink: All I Know So Far.’ There have been some really good documentaries lately about great artists, such as ‘Amazing Grace’, about the Queen of Soul herself, the legendary Aretha Franklin, and ‘Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band’, about The Band. With this latest entry in the rock star documentary though I'll say it just didn't quite go where I wanted it to.

When the segments in the film focused on Pink’s voice, it was great as you can't deny the woman can belt out a tune with her strong, magnificent voice. You also can't deny that she's an entertainer, definitely giving you your money’s worth, if you've ever been to any of her shows. The amount of time and effort the crew and staff have to put into preparing her Las Vegas-style shows in an arena has to be long, hard and very stressful.

This particular documentary was filmed in Europe while Pink was on her 2019 ‘Beautiful Trama’ tour, which also came here to our area and I definitely went to, but the difference being that on this tour she had her husband and two children with her. The director focuses on Pink as she shows how she manages her tour staff of 200+, rehearses her music, and works at being a wife and mother. The film does give some interesting insight into the musician and her life but not the background I would have expected. I wanted it to get into more details about her early start in music, her difficult relationship with her parents (I'd always understood that she was a rebellious kid but didn't get that impression here) and most importantly, her relationship with motocross superstar Carey Hart. Pink has repeatedly stated in interviews that it's because of their contemptuous relationship that she has written many of her songs, including some of her biggest hits! While the film does touch a little bit on their relationship and his role as a great dad, it really just touches the surface.

I definitely enjoyed watching her perform the songs she's known for and scenes of her in concert but this film is a little bit sugar-coated in my opinion and I just don’t feel like we got the real behind-the-scenes story.

Available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video on May 21.

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#alliknowsofar

#pinkalliknowsofar

#pinkmovie

Billy Meets Tiffany in "Here Today"

 

by John Zenoni

You know it's nice to see a new movie where it's all ‘feel good’, ‘inspirational’, ‘light hearted’ with no foul language, nudity or violence and if you want to see one today - which is a rarity in amongst current entertainment choices - then I suggest you watch the just released film, ‘Here Today.’ First of all, not that I'm his biggest fan, but it was actually nice to see Billy Crystal on the big screen again. He has some pretty smart one-liners in this and I have to admit to finding some of the jokes pretty good. Keep in mind, I said some and I'll explain why later. It was also nice to learn that Crystal directed the film and I think he did a very good job. The other smart thing on his part was to cast Tiffany Haddish in the film. I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest as I just couldn't see her playing opposite Crystal. But the chemistry really does work between them, very well in fact. She also has some good one-liners and she and Crystal react to each other very well.

Now, with all this being said, the issue I have with the film is that while there were some good jokes, there were some that seemed to be pretty forced and just didn't hit it out of the park. The other thing is there were moments that were a little ‘schmaltzy’ or ‘cheesy’, if you will. I could see pretty early on in the film where things were headed - I'm sure most could from some of Crystal’s actions in the opening scenes, so with that it made the film pretty predictable.

But I'm not going to complain because it was nice. We need that every once in awhile - a lot actually - and so I say kudos to him for making a movie that focused on not having to resort to excess violence, language or nudity to make a point but instead making one that has a wonderful message about life.

#cinemafiends

#heretoday

#fullycinematic

#heretodaycrystal

#heretodayhaddish

"When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" Movie Review

 

by John Zenoni

I'm an avid reader but will admit to not having read anything by author Judith Kerr, so I went into watching the 2019 film, ‘When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit’, not knowing what to expect.

This film is based on Kerr and her classic children’s novel of the same name. The story is based on her childhood memories of growing up and her family’s escape from Berlin just as Hitler rises to power. This is a great film told from a child’s point of view of dealing with the harshness of life, including poverty, anger, sadness, racism and death. The fact that her family also has to move from place to place so much during this period of time in her life is a hard adjustment alone for her and her brother, much less having to deal with the other things.

The cast does a great job of portraying a family who truly loves each other and does everything they can to stay together. What I like about this film is that is touches on these things witnessed and experienced by a child/children but in a subtle way. You get the meaning and message and point of the film but not in a harsh, ugly way. That's not to say that it's trying to ‘sugarcoat’ anything, but the point comes across without any brutal or violent scenes. The prejudice is there and that's bad enough. Also, the scene where Anna learns her beloved Uncle Julius is killed by the Nazis is hard as well.

Very well made film that shows the strong will this family had to survive and which fortunately allowed them to move on to a better life in London, England. This is where Ms. Kerr would spend the rest of her life and become a very successful author.

#cinemafiends
#fullycinematic
#whenhitlerstolepinkrabbit
#hitlerstolepinkrabbitfilm

"Profile" is Not a Pleasant Film to Watch

 

by John Zenoni

Why in the world a movie director would think of making a film completely on a computer screen is beyond me but that's the format of ‘Profile.’ The whole film plays out with the central character being seen on Skype. Just a very odd, sometimes ok but most of the times annoying, way to film a movie.

The storyline itself is great and it would have been a very intense, suspenseful movie if filmed the ‘regular’ way. The story is about a journalist who catfishes an ISIS member in Syria to see if she can figure out how they're recruiting young women to join them. As she begins to learn more about and get closer to Bilel, who keeps insisting they get married right away, you begin to wonder is she truly falling for him and going to give up her life in London and join him? Or not? Some of the insights and real-life images displayed are pretty intense and scary.

But I truly cannot recommend this one just because of how it was filmed. Not a pleasant movie to watch, not for close to two hours anyway.

#cinemafiends
#fullycinematic
#profilemovie
#profilesyriamovie

"In the Heights" Early Review

 

After the massive success of Hamilton, Hollywood has given the big-screen treatment to playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda's first stage musical, In the Heights.

Named after the Manhattan neighborhood in which it's set, Washington Heights, which happens to be the most prominent Dominican community in the U.S., In the Heights doubles as a celebration of the various Latin nationalities that make up its population (Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Chileans and Mexicans get shotouts) as well as a story about the area's forced demographic changes due to gentrification and how they affect several of the residents. 

The movie's headliner, Usnavi de la Vega, dreams of moving back to the Dominican Republic, from which he emigrated at just eight-years-old, and rebuilding his father's bar on the beach. It's since been leveled by a hurricane and left to rust. Being a musical, there's plenty of romance in the air; the apple of Navi's eye is one of the regular customers in his family-owned bodega, Vanessa. Vanessa has dreams of her own -- she wants to establish her own fashion line in Manhattan. Vanessa's boss, Daniela, has no choice but to move her hair salon out of the neighborhood because rent increases (gentrification) have priced her out. Navi's best friend, Benny, who's African-American, plans to stay in New York and make it in big business. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend and the daughter of his employer, Nina Rosario (Puerto Rican), has just come back to town on her summer break from Stanford. And though Nina's father, Kevin, is a successful business owner, she's the first member of her family to attend college. Miranda himself shows up as the local piraguero (a purveyor of shaved ice desserts).

As though the personality clashes, financial pressures and amorous sparks weren't enough, everyone is soon plunged into the dark -- and the heat -- by a blackout. But the music doesn't stop for long.

The cast is filled with actors who have musical backgrounds worth bragging about. But surprisingly, one particular performer, a Grammy-winner who boasts a 30-year singing career, doesn't utter a single note in the entire film (if you've got LeBron James on your squad, you don't keep him on the bench). Another head-scratcher is the decision to reveal one of the twists well before the end of the movie. There is one particularly impressive scene though. It features two people who spend most of the film skirting around a relationship together dancing in a way that harkens (Yep, I said "harken") back to the musicals of old Hollywood that you might've skipped past on TCM while flipping channels.

If you're not into musicals (I know I'm not), In the Heights probably isn't for you. I made an exception for Hamilton because it's...exceptional (see what I did there). The cast is great and the subject matter is worthy of a movie but hopefully we'll get more films that are closer to Hamilton than Cats. This ain't it. Maybe next time. 

In theaters and streaming on HBO Max June 11.

"Pray Obey Kill" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Talk about an intriguing and unbelievable documentary! Wow! This latest from HBO is just crazy and I couldn't pull my eyes way from it. It's called, ‘Pray Obey Kill’, and just makes we wonder why some people are ‘prone’ or perhaps ‘willing’ (I'm trying to find the correct words without insulting people who join these sects or cults) to allow themselves to fall under the ‘spell’ of the leader of a group, even going so far as to give up their marriage and/or kids based on the direction of the ‘Chosen’ one or, in this case, the ‘Bride of Christ.’

This 5-episode docu-series is about a murder in a Swedish religious sect and the conviction of one of the pastors who was to have been the instigator behind the killing of his wife and attempted murder of the husband of his mistress. That's just the opening of the series and what is initially investigated. But it then goes into the backstory of the pastor and other members of the 97-year-old church and things get even more interesting. I've never heard of this particular group but it really is fascinating to listen to the members talk about their involvement, what happened to them and how things evolved to the point of murder and finally ending up with assault charges being filed against Asa, the ‘Bride of Christ’, and dissolution of the church by the remaining members.

The story is directed, in my opinion, at a good pace and I like how it's investigated by two journalists who give what I feel like are recaps of each segment and what they're investigating so that helps to explain things along the way. It's a story that in a way really has no final conclusion but it's one that will mesmerize you and make you wonder what these people were thinking.

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#prayobeykill

#prayobeykillfilm

"Duty Free" Movie Review

 

by John Zenoni

I managed to screen a wonderful documentary just in time for Mother’s Day and it's one that I definitely recommend. There were a few moments that were hard for me to watch, considering my mother won’t be here for Mother’s Day this year, having passed back in December, but the message and story about 75-year-old Rebecca Danigelis was still inspiring and touching and I'm so glad I watched it.

What I especially loved about the film is that it was directed by her son, Sian-Pierre Regis. After his mother loses her job as head of housekeeping after 40 years she's distraught and scared about her losing a job she genuinely loved but even more so, she's worried about how she's going to survive without an income. Her son asks her point-blank one time how much she has in her bank account and with her response you can understand why she's so nervous about losing her job. While the film could have focused on her despair and anxiety, instead her son decides to have his mother write down a bucket list of things she has always wanted to do but was unable to pull off due to her being a single mother raising two boys - she was married at one and there's story there that I won’t spoil - and films her doing these activities.

During this period of filming, you can tell the son truly loves his mother but he manages to focus on her as a person who's having to deal with ageism, the care of our seniors in America and economic concerns. He does a very good job, I feel, of balancing the story and yes, at moments there are some sentiments expressed, it's not overkill at all.

If you want to spend time with your mother this weekend watching a film, this is a good one. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, including mine. You may not be here this year in person mom but I'll always love you and keep you in my heart!

#cinemafiends

#fullycinematic

#dutyfree

#momfilm

#dutyfreefilm

"Things Heard & Seen" Movie Review

 

by John Zenoni

Definitely watch ‘Things Heard & Seen’ if you want a suspenseful and creepy film that has one of the most memorable seance scenes I've seen in a long time. The 5-minutes of that scene alone make the film worth watching.

Amanda Seyfried plays Catherine, a young artist married to George, played by James Norton, who I must say plays this role to perfection as you cannot stand him - at least I hope one doesn’t - by the end of the film. George has taken a job as an assistant professor at a college in the New England area and moves Catherine and their daughter- against what Catherine really wants - to an old home that has a history. What he fails to tell Catherine is the background and what happened at the house. Catherine is a believer in spirits and actually feels for them and wants to try and help them. George cannot tolerate her belief in this and tries to cover it up, purposely avoiding the discussion with her or others.

Early on in the story you begin to sense not only some tension between Catherine and George but the sense of the supernatural in the house. Catherine finds old memorabilia and soon begins to investigate the story of the house. But it's not until she finds out the true story from the realtor by accident one night at a party that Catherine really begins to see the true George. The tension and suspense gradually builds until the unexpected happens but it falls in line with the history of the house.

This is an eerie film that I will admit does have a ‘head scratching’ ending but after reading up on what happened after watching, I realized it makes perfect sense.