‘Movie Corner’ Archives
Snowden
*** out of 5 stars Oliver Stone is the ideal director for “Snowden”, the man I”'ve admired who back in the 1980s and the early 1990s would willingly step into controversial subject matter such as his films “Platoon” (1986), “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989) and “JFK” (1991). “Snowden” is one of those controversial men who for most Americans are shaped in a binary cup: either hero or traitor. Oliver Stone”'s entire cast give solid performances though I must say compared to Laura Poitras”' 2014 documentary “Citizenfour”, Stone”'s biography of Edward Snowden , roughly over a ten year period”“c2004-2013”“seizes on some of the same talking points with less gusto. The story starts (in some flashbacks) with Snowden in the Army Reserves and being rewarded by hired with the CIA as a brainy nerd sur-passing his colleagues in scores. While working for the CIA, Snowden (Joseph [...]
Hell or High Water
(Left to right) Ben Foster and Chris Pine in HELL OR HIGH WATER. ***** Crime/Drama/Quasi-Modern Western R-Rated “Hell or High Water” is the real deal as far as a solid heist film that is reminiscent of the 1960s and early 1970s heist films such as the late director Michael Cimino”'s heist film “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974) starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. (Jeff Bridges stars in “Hell or High Water” as well.) Taking place in sultry small-towns in Texas, towns that have seen better days, but are now just mere shadows of their former times. Picture perfect scenes ripe for a heist just waiting around the corner. Two men, Tanner (Ben Foster) and Toby (Chris Pine) Howard, brothers, rob the bank early in the morning when the first teller arrives for work. They are just beginning to go on a litany of bank robberies with Midland Texas Bank a main target. While the duo is robbing bank after bank in torrid town after another, Texas [...]
The Secret Lives of Pets
*** 1/2 out of 5 Animation/Adventure/Comedy “The Secret Lives of Pets” although not perfect is a wholesome family affair. What do humans and pets do? Well, Humans go to work; pets come to play. When the coast is clear and the pets”' owners have gone to work or school in Manhattan, it”'s play time for dogs, cats, parakeets, guinea pigs and parrots. They find all kinds of mischief to get into together when their owners assume they are asleep or eating their pet foods. This owner (Elle Kemper) at the door only to see her bring home a big, burly dog, a rescue dog named Duke (Eric Stonestreet). At first, the two dogs do not get along, but after a few tricks by Max, the two mend their ways. What happens next Max and Duke get accidentally left behind by the dog walker and soon to be napped by Animal Control. From there, the film takes off like a race horse. There”'s the fluffy little dog named Gidget (Jenny Slate), who she loves Max and organizes a search [...]
