The Night Before

First Hit:  A few sparse funny scenes in this uninteresting poorly scripted film.

There are some out-loud funny scenes but I cannot recall any of them the day after – I just remember laughing, however, most of the time I spent wondering who thought up this stuff. Low grade attempts at humor mixed in with a few heart driven points.

One of the heart felt moments was when Chris Roberts' (Anthony Mackie) mother, Mrs. Roberts (Lorraine Toussaint), tells Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to seize the moment for love if it arises and to not be afraid.

The scenes I disliked the most were with Isaac (Seth Rogen) as I didn’t find him funny – mostly low brow high-school humor. The mushroom trip he was on was not effectively shared and was not accurate to a "shroom" experience. The wearing of a large black Star of David woven into his light-blue and white Christmas sweater – was poorly contrived. His running out of the church yelling “we didn’t kill Jesus” was stupid and no one in the theater thought it funny – as there were audible groans.

The film's premise was reasonable in that Ethan’s friends, Chris and Isaac, supported him through each holiday season because his parents died early, but the execution just didn’t seem well thought out. The best part of the film were the scenes with Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) the long time drug/pot dealer.

Gordon-Levitt was fair in this poorly constructed role. Mackie was one of the better parts of the film in that he was believable. Rogen wasn’t believable stoned or otherwise and his annoying laugh made it worse. Shannon was the best part of the film, scary, insightful and thoughtful all at the same time. Kyle Hunter, Ariel Shaffir, and Evan Goldberg wrote a non-cohesive, sophomoric, mostly unfunny script – it felt like it was developed and agreed upon by committee. Jonathan Levine did little to enhance the poor script although a few of the sets were well crafted.

Overall:  I went to this film because of the dearth of new films out this week – should of stayed home.

The Peanuts Movie - 3D

First Hit:  Uninspired and the saving grace is Snoopy and the scenes of his saving Fifi and fighting the Red Baron.

I’m not sure if it is my age or if this story is simply uninspired. Gaging by the young children around me in the theater, and the lack of excited engaged noise from them, I may not have been the only one who found this unimaginative.

The fun and amusing parts were Snoopy and his bird buddies because their scenes became the only laugh-out-loud segments. Yes the moral of Charlie Brown’s story was to speak up and talk to the Red Haired girl, but this story has been told before and lacked engagement.

Bryan Schulz wrote this script from Charles Schulz’ comic strips. Steve Martino directed this somewhat tired story which we know all too well.

Overall:  This felt like a upgraded retread of the same old story.

Our Brand Is Crisis

First Hit:  With our own elections on the horizon, Sandra Bullock carries this film with an air believability and truth although, at times, it is a lackluster film.

This story is about political strategists and how they ply their wares. I’ve no idea whether how much truth there is in the underhanded way they operate but given what gets displayed in our US elections, it isn’t too far of a stretch to imagine people behind the candidates doing battle in this way.

Here Jane (Calamity Jane) as played by Bullock has been through the ringer. She has had some wins but had one huge loss because of the meanness of one of her opponents’ strategist, Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton). Candy is running a Bolivian presidential campaign for Rivera (Louis Arcella) and Ben (Anthony Mackie) and Nell (Ann Dowd) bring Jane out of retirement to beat Candy at his own game.

They want her to be the strategist for his opponent Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida) who has numerous flaws – including integrity. There are lots of scenes where the brooding Jane is thinking about the next thing to do, but when she coalesces the idea, she barks it out and everyone pays attention. It is in those scenes that had Bullock make the film interesting.

The film’s other fireworks (about 5 of them) are when Candy drops in, unscheduled, to speak with Jane. Bullock’s slow seething on Candy’s words are great. The other part of the film I was drawn to were the scenes of Sucre (capital of Bolivia). Not sure if they actually shot there, but the feel of the street scenes were very strong.

Bullock is the strongest part of the film. She makes her scenes interesting and compelling. Thornton is very good as the protagonist strategist. His snarky nature mixed with intelligence makes his character perfect for the role. Mackie is OK as is Dowd. Almeida is strong as marginally caring for the people and mostly caring that he wins the Presidency. Zoe Kazan as LeBlanc the ultimate information finder was wonderful. Peter Straughan wrote a good screen play. David Gordon Green had some directing highlights, (the debate, protest rallies, and scenes with Jane in the campaign headquarters room), but overall it didn’t feel held together as a strong story of which this could have been.

Overall:  This was less than the sum of its parts, but worthy of watching.

Rock the Kasbah

First Hit:  This film was all over the place; intimate, touching, flat, uninteresting, and in the end survives as being very uneven and forgetful.

This film had heart and it was difficult to find.

The real story, which is revealed prior to the closing credits, is worthwhile. I also don’t mind when Bill Murray, playing music manager Richie Lanz, mixes comedy in a story that is has real merit. But when the mishmash of scenes, supposedly pivotal, are handled in such a stilted and lack luster manner, they discredit the real story and the film.

Take for instance the scene in which Lanz comes back to his hotel room to find Bombay Brian (Bruce Willis) lying on the bed threatening to kill Lanz for money that Lanz didn’t actually owe. Or worse the poor plot device to put Lanz in Kabul Afghanistan without his singer - she just leaves? Or even why Merci (Kate Hudson) is in Kabul hooking herself into a bank account large enough to fund a funky retirement. Let alone the “double-wide” mobile home inside a barbed wire compound the size of the double-wide just outside her front door.

Juxtapose these poorly created scenes with the scene of Salima (Leem Lubany) talking to Lanz on the wall of her city. How Tariq (Fahim Fazil), slowly becomes at peace with his daughter’s boldness to sing in public. I also liked many of the settings, many felt very real.

Murray was both funny and mediocre. Some of the dialogue didn’t work well and other times it was spot on funny. Willis seemed like a friend choice to play a role. He didn’t seem engaged and it felt like he was phoning it in. Hudson’s whole character didn’t seem to add much to the film except to help Lanz live up to his obligations. Lubany was very good and seemed like the only person playing it straight. I personally loved the song choices she sang. Fazil was good as the intense village leader, father and protector of their faith. Mitch Glazer wrote a mixed level script and I don’t know how much it was changed by Murray along the way. Barry Levinson has done much better films (Wag the Dog, Rain Man, or Good Morning Vietnam).

Overall:  I walked away disappointed because the whole film seemed like manufactured setup for Murray, but I’m also glad to know that a young woman did actually break a taboo about singing.

The Intern

First Hit:  Really enjoyed this film at many levels.

Having a wife that created a business and also having owned multiple small businesses, I’m very aware of the amount of work and pressure it takes to grow a business.

This film is about the relationship between Jules (Anne Hathaway), a young married mother who’s created a booming internet apparel business and Ben (Robert De Niro) who is a 70 year old intern at her company. As Jules skepticism for having an intern, let alone a senior citizen whose looking to get back into the game, grows Ben’s calm clear persistent demeanor creates space for Jules to actually appreciate his experience. Jules’ home life isn’t doing well as her husband Matt (Anders Holm) is struggling being a house husband.

Jules is interviewing possible CEOs to run her business hoping to find a way to create a better home life and to ease the pressure around herself. But as Ben continues to listen and provide guidance, Jules becomes clearer about her path forward.

I loved the way the office atmosphere emulated new smaller companies these days with a masseuse name Fiona (Rene Russo), open warehouse type floor plan where nothing is private, and overworked staff continue to do what they can with little acknowledgement from senior management. Many of scenes were compelling to watch as the tension in Jules and the clarity and calmness of Ben evolved quite well.

De Niro was very strong. His comic timing with his expressions are perfect for the part – elegant. Hathaway is very good. I enjoyed her character and she displayed the character’s strengths and weaknesses in great ways. Holm was good as the, most of the time, honorable supportive husband. Russo was fabulous as the company masseuse. Nancy Myers wrote a wonderful script and must have had a great time directing strong actors.

Overall:  I really enjoyed this film because of the story and developing business perspective.