EVEREST (2015)
This film directed by Baltasar Kormakur and based on Jon Krakauer’s book INTO THIN AIR which in turn was based on the 1996 attempt to scale Mount Everest is both exhilarating and tragic to watch. Though portions of the film were shot in Nepal adding to the authenticity of the visuals, most of the climbing sequences were shot in the Dolomites/Italian Alps to safeguard the actors and crew from near impossible filming circumstances from having to shoot at the cruising altitude o
THE INTERN (2015)
This delightful film that was directed, written and produced by Nancy Meyers and stars Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway, a luminous Rene Russo, Linda Lavin (always a pleasure to see) and Anders Holm is worth making every effort to see. What could have been a cliché ridden endeavor turns a rather predictable story into something fresh and entertaining, even though I was able to pretty much tell you where this story was headed after the first five minutes. Regardless, I could very
BLACK MASS (2015)
Scott Cooper’s biographical film based on the life James ‘Whitey’ Bolger and starring Johnny Depp in a role that will probably win him the Academy Award is a violent, highly disturbing, and all together compelling and brilliant piece of filmmaking. The screenplay by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth balances so many characters brilliantly, that it’s easy to understand why so many famous actors wanted to be and are in this picture. I was particularly impressed with Julianne Ni
GRANDMA (2015)
Paul Weitz’s film from an original screenplay that he wrote is special in that it provides Lily Tomlin with the best role she’s had in years as a misanthropic college professor and successful poet who is given an opportunity in helping her granddaughter deal with her sudden pregnancy and getting an abortion. However one may feel about the abortion issue, this is a situation that happens all too often in the world today and is dealt with in a very worldly and at times disturbi
THE VISIT (2015)
This film is another nail in the coffin as far as the directing career of M. Night Shyamalan is concerned. The story concerns two children who have been sent by their mother to visit grandparents that they have never met or even seen pictures of, so when the grandparents start exhibiting strange behavior, they really aren’t sure quite what to make of it. Yes, there is that famous twist that Mr. Shyamalan is known for, despite the fact that there are clues being thrown at you
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN (2015)
This film based on the novel of the same name by Baptist minister Don Piper, is a faithful adaption of the book and succeeds quite successfully as a film which was directed and written by Michael Polish. After surviving a near fatal accident where he was dead for approximately 90 minutes, the Reverend’s family, particularly his wife cannot understand his reasoning as to why he is not trying to get better. As the film progresses you learn that Don Piper had actually died and v
A WALK IN THE WOODS (2015)
A somewhat amiable movie that I fully enjoyed, though did not love, has a pleasant cast headed by Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as old friends who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail to try and reinvigorate their somewhat moribund lives. This film directed by Ken Kwapis and based on a book by Bill Bryson was originally meant to pair up Robert Redford and Paul Newman, who in 2000 felt he was not physically capable of handling the rigors that this film would have required. Mr.