The Fair Anne Hathaway
The Fair Anne Hathaway Read More »
Anne Hathaway
First Look – Mothers’ Instinct
Here’s a look at Mothers’ Instinct set for release sometime later this year.
…
First Look – Mothers’ Instinct Read More »
Coming Soon – She Came to Me
Here’s a look at She Came to Me scheduled for release on September 29th.
…
Coming Soon – She Came to Me Read More »
Dark Waters
- Title: Dark Waters
- IMDb: link
Dark Waters is an interesting story that isn’t always told in an interesting way. Based on real events, Mark Ruffalo stars as corporate lawyer Robert Bilott who gets roped into taking on the kind of client his firm usually argues against when a farmer shows up in his offices with a story to tell how his land is being poisoned by the small town’s main employer, DuPont. Much like the court case itself, the film drags on as any movement in events happens at a glacial pace over decades (eventually the movie begins to increase the rapidness of its fast-forwards to alleviate some of the on-screen stagnation).
The script by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Mario Correa showcases how a big corporation flaunts its wealth and privilege, while ignoring any responsibility, even when solid proof of their wrongdoing is exposed. The other aspect to the film, not as well explored, is how the case changes Bilott’s life, both professionally and at home, when he decides to take on a case that eventually becomes more of a crusade he feels obligated to see through. The film’s set-up reminded me of 1998’s A Civil Action (among other films) which explores many of the same themes.
…
Ocean’s 8
- Title: Ocean’s 8
- IMDb: link
I love heist films, and I love the Ocean’s 11 franchise. Admitting this, I may be willing to cut the latest film more slack than the average viewer. Without a doubt, Ocean’s 8 is the weakest of any of the four films. It lacks the style and pace of director Steven Soderbergh‘s 2001 film as Gary Ross drags out scenes far more than necessary. It also doesn’t help that the script lacks the wit of the original, often struggling to put its charismatic stars in the best situations.
Borrowing quite a bit from the 2001 film, Ocean’s 8 begins with Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) getting out of prison and immediately putting together a crew of old friends (Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, and Mindy Kaling) and some new acquaintances (Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter) for a score she’s been planning for years. The cast is great, and they work well together. However, the script struggles early in offering much of interest for them to do together on-screen. The fact that the heist is far more straightforward, and lacks the last-second surprises of the previous films, also is a bit of a disappointment. That said, once the set-up is complete and the heist planning begins, things pick up.
…