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You know how you go to the movies and then have to
sit there for half an hour watching the previews? I always turn to
whoever I'm with and say yes or no to each one. Mainly I've been saying
NO quite a lot. I guess it's because I'm old.
LaLa Land ***
reviewed by the Phantom
I really wanted to like this movie a lot because apparently
everybody else does. It's starts off with a great musical number on the
LA freeway. It's a big wow. But that big long song and dance number
doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story that follows. It's
essentially a boy meets girl musical that starts well enough and then
falls apart. There is a formula for Hollywood musicals, and this one
didn't follow it, and to me, that's not a good thing. The acting was
good, the music was just fine, but the story, rather disjointed, and
sometimes way too out there. It was like the director and crew didn't know what to do
next so they just ad libbed some stuff. But tucked in here and there are
some fine scenes. That's why I gave it 3 stars. But finally, the title.
I don't care for the label La La land for LA to begin with. LA is filled
with creative, talented, hard working folks who don't seem to get the
kind of recognition they deserve. Lala is a descriptor for loopy. I'm
thinking that this movie is going to be a serious Oscar contender and
there isn't one loopy scene in it, except maybe the opening. I think
Hollywood can do better.
Sing! ****
reviewed by the Phantom
It's animated, but who cares. It's not really for kids, but they
will laugh at it. Adults will love it. I did and I'm usually not too
interested in animated movies. But this one has the heart and soul of
Hollywood at its center. It's the show must go on plot that we've seen
hundreds of times. But not this way. It's a talent show, and all the
contestants are animals. I loved every frame of it, and yes,
there are laugh out loud moments. The animals are all so quirky. Good work
by all cast members as well as the animators. Fun!
Allied *
This film pretends that it is bigger and better than it actually is.
It tries to be Casa Blanca but instead it's just a huge dud from every
angle. There are so called iconic scenes, which fall flat or are so over
the top that we groan. Like the assassination scene at the opening.
Assassinations
just don't happen that way. Or the camera circling around while the
actors have sex in the car. Please. It's just not that dramatic. But the
worst was the story itself. Spy films are generally sort of
morality plays. Good overcoming evil. This one has it all backwards. And WWII takes a back
seat to the private lives of the spy couple during the heat of the war
in Britain. Another huge mistake. I think the audience agrees with me on
this one. I'm not even sure it's worth your Netflix dollars.
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