He’s an After-Mathematician. He’s the…
Vidiot
Week of September 9, 2016
The most expensive back-to-school item is
body armour. First up…
Money Monster
First-time investors feel more comfortable
with an in-your-face financial advisor.
Case in in point: the abrasive on-air
expert in this thriller.
Known for his unorthodox delivery, Money
Monster host Lee Gates (George Clooney) is no stranger to audience uproar. It’s
not until an incensed investor (Jack O'Connell) enters his studio with a bomb,
however, does Lee feel the effect of his advice firsthand.
Now, it’s up to him and his producer (Julia
Roberts) to defuse the situation live, whilst authenticating the strapped
stakeholder’s claim that a CEO (Dominic West) manipulated their company’s
stock. Costing shareholders millions.
Ripped from today’s headlines and featuring
a seasoned cast of actors, this Jodie Foster helmed hostage situation is ripe
with potential. Unfortunately, the zealous bomber and evil capitalist
characters come off as stock, while the script is overly convoluted.
Meanwhile, this constant corporate
corruption is proof you should buy stock in cushy white-collar prisons. Yellow Light
Nina
The worst part about being a talented
vocalist is you’re the only one who has to sing Happy Birthday solo.
However, the songstress in this biography
would likely charge for that performance.
Financially strapped jazz singer Nina
Simone (Zoe Saldana) is committed after threatening her lawyer with a firearm.
Under observation she befriends an orderly, Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo),
who she later employs as her aide.
Servitude under Simone, however, is more
torturous than expected: Clifton is put in charge of obtaining the booze and
the boys needed to keep Nina entertained. When she does perform, her songs
always end under duress.
Strictly focused on the soloist’s
lowlights, this unauthorized and unflattering interpretation of the radical
artist offers little in the way of sympathy or exposition on Miss. Simone’s
cultural contributions, or career high notes.
Besides, everyone already knows that
playing jazz music is just a gradual form of suicide. Red Light
Love & Friendship
A best friend during Victorian times was
someone who could write copious letters without hand cramps.
Fortunately, the friends in this
romantic-comedy meet face-to-face on occasion.
Unable to obtain her deceased husband’s
fortunes due to previous liaisons, Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale) must find her
daughter (Morfydd Clark) a prosperous suitor to keep their high society
standings.
Her plan plays out at her brother’s country
estate – and through correspondence with her American friend (Chloë Sevigny) –
where she hopes to pawn off her first-born on dimwitted Sir James (Tom
Bennett), and claim her brother’s friend (Xavier Samuel) for herself.
But her past indiscretions and an unplanned
pregnancy threaten her plot.
One of very few period comedies around,
this adaptation of communiqués composed by Jane Austen is quite cheeky, whilst
remaining rather proper. More surprising is Beckinsale’s performance as the
coquettish countess.
Thankfully, nowadays, daughters can pick
their own rich husband to marry. Green
Light
***First National Bark***
Dog Day Afternoon
The reason dogs aren’t allowed into banks
is that they chew on the exploding dye packs.
Thankfully, the canine reference in the
title of this crime-thriller is seasonal.
During the dog days of summer 1972,
first-time felon Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) and his equally inexperienced
partner Sal Naturale (John Cazale) hold up a Brooklyn bank.
But the easy in–and-out gets complicated
right off the bat as their third gunman bails, the depository's coffers are
depleted, and an impromptu fire alerts authorities.
Now, the hapless hostage-takers must
negotiate with Sergeant Moretti (Charles Durning) in order to get the funding
for Sal’s girlfriend’s transgender surgery.
A tense, but tongue-in-cheek, hostage
situation movie inspired by actual events, this unusually timely caper
redefined the dog-eared genre through its use of plausible characters motived
by plausible, yet peculiar, means.
Incidentally, the old acting adage about
working with kids and dogs is the opposite for terrorists.
He’s a Sharp-Curve Negotiator. He’s the…
Vidiot
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