Quick takes on 5 films

Masterminds is goofy, stupid comedy, but it is decent goofy, stupid comedy. It has an all-star cast of SNL alums and other familiar faces. Based on the true story of the robbery of a cash holding company (Loomis Fargo) by an armored car driver, its characters bumble through the theft and subsequent hide-out from the authorities. The team behind the movie obviously took the somewhat humorous truth (basically some hicks rob the place and start throwing around cash immediately afterwards, not really thinking about getting caught) and make the characters even dumber. I’ll admit you’ll have to be in the mood for mind-numbing dumb comedic dialogue, but if you are, there are a lot worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

Beauty and the Beast is the newest in the live-action remakes of beloved Disney cartoons. So far, the ones I have seen have been done very well, and that stays true for this one. If you aren’t a fan of the Disney cartoon, you won’t like the film, but fans will enjoy it heartely. There’s nothing I can tell you about the film you probably don’t all ready know. Casting was done very well, and yes, Hermione Granger makes a great Belle. Great cast, great songs (some new ones as well), and outstanding, colorful cinematography all produce an enjoyable family film.

I really liked Hacksaw Ridge, I really REALLY liked Arrival, but The Edge of Seventeen may be the best I’ve seen recently, and I’m not sure why this one didn’t get more Oscar love. My only guess is generally, coming-of-age films don’t mix well with awards, but this film is not your typical movie of this genre. Nadine is a, you guessed it, 17 year old who has spent her entire life feeling outcast from society, and rather than being depressed or angry at her situation, she has embraced it. However, her one and only friend starts to date her arch enemy (her older brother), and it leaves her feeling truly alone for the first time in her life. I can’t say more than that for fear of giving away what makes this film great, but take my advice on this one. It is a beautiful film, with the lead Hailee Steinfeld truly remarkable as Nadine. See this one, it is worth your time. This film will make you laugh, make you cry, and sometimes both at the same time.

Moonlight earns my vote for most overrated film of 2016. Not to say it is a bad film, it is actually quite good, but certainly not the best film of last year. It is the story of a gay black man growing up in the inner city, as seen at three moments in his life. First we see him as a young boy, not knowing himself as gay obviously, but he is targetted by his peers for being different. This continues in the second act when he is a teenager. As an adult in the denouement, he has embraced the thug life and has respect in the street, but he has never acted on his sexual preference so as to stay safe and keep his tough persona. He has to reevaluate though when a lost love comes back in to his life. It’s a new spin on the secret lives people have to live to survive. The film has a strong cast and is moving, but everything from the videography to the soundtrack makes it seem like it is trying to reach the awards podium more than the at-home viewer. Again, its a good, moving film, but be prepared to be let down after all the hype.

Manchester by the Sea is however a film that lives up to the hype, and by hype I mean the running jokes that it may be the most depressing film you see. The film starts with Lee (Casey Affleck, in a deserving-of-praise role) living a quiet, obviously troubled life by himself. He drags himself through each day and is obviously suffering from some deep depression, but we don’t know why. He gets the call that his brother has died and with no wife, Lee has to come take care of all the of the details and now look after his nephew. We learn through flashbacks what has driven Lee to this state, and these tidbits over time make the film even more depressing. The movie is brilliantly acted by Affleck and worth seeing for his skill, but don’t expect a big happy ending.