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Movie Review: Black Or White (2015)

March 30, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

First I must apologise in advance for what is going to be a slightly shorter review than my usual but this rainbeau diva needs some sleep and I want to get the out quickly!

Now, What Works:

Black or White stars Octavia Spencer (Grandmum WeWe), Kevin Costner (Poppa Anderson), Anthony MacKie (Brother of Grandmum WeWe), and a FAVOURITE new up and comer that also did a brilliant job with Selma, André Holland (As Eloise’s Father Reggie)! Then of course there is another young super star in Jillian who plays the core at the centre, Eloise.

The connection, the link between Eloise and her Poppa is tested when Eloise’s Grandmum (Carol) is suddenly killed in a horrific accident. You watch these two, their banter, their forced re-connection back and forward for nearly the entire film. And they both do a fantastic job of maintaining that bond despite all the obstacles that appear out of NOWHERE.

Let me just say Octavia Spencer’s version of Grandmum WeWe is a RIOT! She is the epitome of your stereotypical Grandmum BUT with exceptions like owning six businesses including a real estate company she runs from her garage.

It’s obvious that she likes Poppa Anderson (Kevin Costner) but she’s no doubt armed to the teeth when it comes to what should be done about Eloise after Carol’s untimely death. Octavia is nearly always fun to watch and her attitude towards her son (Holland) and his truly troubled life (which she wears blinders when it comes to him, CLEARLY) plays out SO well and you find yourself empathising with her as Eloise’ paternal GrandMum.

You also find yourself empathising with Reggie (Holland) as well just for being HER son. They come from a great family that has high expectations and is prosperous, and he’s so much more than your typical black sheep. He’s more like a BLACK HOLE coloured sheep, you can’t even SEE him!

There’s a foil in this film that most people aren’t expecting which I will NOT discuss here because it is a bit of a spoiler, but I will say this, there’s an excellent addition about 25% into the film that serves one purpose.

Eloise and Poppa Anderson are like mirrors in so many ways. and because of that reflection it’s very difficult for them to have a stressor in life and NOT have the other immediately feel that stressor and NOT be simultaneously affected by it.

They both have a tendency to wear their hearts on their sleeve and you realise from the beginning that one would indeed perish without the other. This foil has such a profound impact on the relationship of these two and the growth they both have to experience in order to begin to heal.

What Does Not Work:

Mostly semantics. Things like litigators do NOT handle family court cases. And the forced epiphanies from both Poppa Anderson and Reggie. They feel disingenuous and even contrived. The screenplay is a bit too formulaic at times. Too many moments are clearly set up as plot devices and with a bit more tweaking, said devices are redundant, irrelevant, and simply unnecessary.

With that in mind, I recommend my SWIRL Family see this film because it makes excellent use and reference of MANY of the situations (Clichés or not) that blended IR families go through. And THAT, I think, is the most awesome part of a good film.

It’s 2015, and there are far more swirl families like the one in Black Or White, it’s time to discuss these things and moved forward instead of letting socioeconomic differences break or provide a huge wedge in families such as these.

#SheCritiques #WhatWorksWhatDoesNot

Joyll Cambridge hails from Manchester, United Kingdom and currently lives in New York, New York. She loves all things movies, fitness and swirling. To read Joyll’s personal blog at The Humanist Exec, click here.

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. Look for more movie reviews from Joyll!

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, All rights reserved. Photo of Joyll Cambridge used with permission. Movie poster from the movie “Black or White” obtained from Movie Newz.

Movie Review: Chappie (2015)

March 23, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

First let me say that almost THREE months ago to the day, I wasn’t sure if I would EVER be able to screen and review another film, but gratefully, I AM STILL HERE and still able to do what I love so here goes…..

Chappie is not your typical artificial intelligence story. In fact there are so many layers to the story that I recommend screening it only after you have taken a few deep breaths to relax and calm yourself so you can be prepared for what’s to come.

https://youtu.be/6CYYywePBz8

Let me first say I plan on seeing this film AGAIN IN IMAX. Why? Because it WORKS. And because not only is it a truly enjoyable cinematic experience but it GENUINELY makes you contemplate!

What Works:

Chappie is a happy accident of sorts. In other words he’s been planned but not exactly in the way that most people think. And because of that you consistently find yourself going back to points of reference earlier in the film because you are connecting development with consciousness, and learning with environment and emotion.

The connection between Deon (Chappie’s MAKER-and yes that’s in CAPS for a reason) played masterfully by Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire fame, and Chappie are a teacher and student paradigm. And these two sell that connection EMPHATICALLY well.

When we first meet Chappie, he is indeed A CHILD. As such, he has a Mum and a Dad. You literally have to think of Chappie and his relationship with his ‘parents’ played brilliantly by Ninja and Yolandi, as THAT of a HUMAN child with his parents. That is LITERALLY the way the relationship is SUPPOSED to play out. And it does, just NOT in the way that MOST parents choose to educate their children.

Let me just stop right here and say that Sharlto Copley is utterly MESMERISING as Chappie! You are drawn in from the beginning and he will NOT allow you to let go EVER. And because your connection as a viewer to Chappie is so strong, you empathise with him quite easily as you watch him, grow, learn, mature, endure, and FIGHT. And not just a physical fight but an internal metaphysical one.

Again, this film has MANY layers. The characters nearly all of them (well, except Vincent played by Hugh Jackman) have frequent internal battles with emotions and consciousness on a level most human beings simply cannot handle on such a scale.

What Does NOT Work:

Vincent (again played wonderfully solid by Hugh Jackman) is a character that no matter what he does in the beginning of the story, you don’t get the empathy necessary to genuinely CARE about what happens to him as a character. Literally from the VERY beginning there’s nothing redeeming, nothing that makes you want things to work for him in ANY WAY.

You literally DESPISE him from minute one and as such, he’s not the antagonist most will need to ensure they are on the right side, of history so to speak, as this film plays out. I have a feeling it comes down to editing for time because as such, Jackman’s performance is SOLID. He is a fantastic antagonist!!! But in comparison to Chappie, well there’s simply no comparison.

I absolutely DO NOT want you to think that makes Chappie ANY less of a fantastic film because it does NOT. There’s no way to assess this film other than an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE and if it’s playing IN IMAX where you are, I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

The cinematography is amazing, the robotics and animatronics are absolutely MIND-BLOWING and the interactions between Chappie and the “REAL” world will leave you with more than a few tears.

It’s amazing when you’re watching a film about robotics and you suddenly realize that the character whom is the most HUMAN, that you connect with on the deepest levels, is metal, plug and play, and UTTERLY cosmic in his footprint!

#SheCritiques #WhatWorksWhatDoesNot

Joyll Cambridge hails from Manchester, United Kingdom and currently lives in New York, New York. She loves all things movies, fitness and swirling. To read Joyll’s personal blog at The Humanist Exec, click here.

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. Look for more movie reviews from Joyll!

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

She Critques-The Imitation Game

December 28, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

The Imitation Game (2014)

“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of that do the things no one can imagine,”

I open with this line directly from the film, because it reminds me so much of why we do the great things we’re capable of doing, although others may be blind to our greatness. I’m not the type of person who gets up after a film has begun, usually because I’m too enthralled, or too afraid of missing some of the magic. This is one of those films. You will sit through the magic, and you will want to experience it over and over. You see, this film is very much about not only living our best lives, but also about being our most authentic selves. It’s about friendship, loyalty, and to an even greater extent, LOVE in all its variations and forms. Now….

What Works:

Can I just say I’m SPEECHLESS (at first anyway) with how perfect and how strong of an ensemble cast this is?!?! There are no weak roles, no false notes, no strange voices or pairings where they should not be. No one feels like a fish out of water. Knowing the history of Alan Turing (hello, he’s the Father of Modern computing for chrissakes look him UP!!) as I did, I wasn’t surprised when Benedict Cumberbatch was chosen to play Turing.

In fact, what I was expecting was for him to be pompous. I wholeheartedly expected him to OVERDO this role because it would be so easy to do just that. I expected him to over emote, I expected him to apply his own personal aura to Alan’s idiosyncrasies.

Unequivocally, I bow before him, because not only did he give Alan his due diligence, but it’s clear that not only him being chosen, but his masterful performance, encouraged the REST of the cast to bring their own sort of brilliance onto the silver screen.

From beginning to end of this marvel of a film, you are completely lost in each character, completely lost in the enigma (ironically enough) that is cinema. Not a single person makes you regret them being cast. The façade of the actor is gone, consumed solely by the integral part they are playing. There are films that do this but are usually focused on the lead and maybe a supporting cast. It’s very rare to find an entire ensemble cast that can do this, as has been done here. Such a rare gem, from such a rare group.

This brings me to the connections between players. The chemistry and how it’s essential to a great film to find what works, and make every attempt to minimise what does not.

The relationships in this film are SO very important. Alan and Christopher (both digital and not), Alan and Joan, Alan and Hugh, Alan and Stewart, and Alan and John. As you can see by this listings, it was absolutely essential that Alan (played fantastically by Benedict) have a sort of cosmic chemistry with nearly all in the film, because he is the black hole at the centre.

You find yourself having moments where you envision having a conversation with someone in your life EXACTLY like the one being had on screen and there are moments when that frighten you even though it should not!

You are watching these people and you can literally see the puppetry lines that connect each character in such a way to the others. It really is like watching a puppet show. This move brings about this moment, pull that strings and the others begin to dance. You even see the pangs of regret or shame as each person makes the decisions in every case they are forced to make, and there is no false equivalency here. You know how and you most certainly know WHY.

I must tip my hat to the people responsible for the sets, cinematography, and COSTUMES for this film. It’s genuinely NOT easy to fit a period piece. There are subtle nuances in fabrics where you realise that one costume is made of a material that no longer exists or is no longer used.

It’s amazing what the mind can create, when this level of creativity and levity is allowed. Something as simple as Joan’s earlier dresses which were a lighter material because her family was solely responsible for her wardrobe, later changes to a much more luxurious, fashion forward material and style. Things like Alan’s earlier versions of Christopher.

Yes, these are props but in their own way, they tell a story in a way that only a visual aid can. It’s like, where someone hands you something that you have NO idea what it is, you enquire, and they tell the tale. Every single piece has its own story, shines its own light, and carves its own path.

Up until I believe 1967 there was a sort of Salem Witch Hunt that occurred in the United Kingdom for LGBTQ persons. More so often than not, men whom were gay, were unjustly prosecuted, and sentenced to things like Prison, Chemical Castration, and worse still were blacklisted, unable to work, and thus unable to live.

One of the things The Imitation Game does EXTREMELY well, is to make brilliant social commentary on the hypocrisy that was this witch hunt. Here we have Alan, one of the world’s most brilliant people, at such a young age showing promise and sharing a gift as only he could. And yet he can’t even live his life as the man that he is because of bigotry.

This film shows you the great horrors that men like Alan were forced to endure, and it also showcases that while this was the law in the UK, it was a very unpopular law, and had far too many casualties. In a sense, a war within a war. Lives lost both theoretically and physically. Far too many paid the ultimate price on both battlefields.

What Does NOT Work:

After a performance like that? I’m supposed to find a flaw? To be honest? There are NONE. Is a film being too short, a flaw? Is a film so real, so connecting, so enriching that it leaves it mark for life upon you, a flaw?!?! Is a performance so brilliant and enigmatic that you find yourself finishing the characters sentences before they do (and no NOT because the screenplay is predictable, ironically enough, it is not) a flaw?!?!

I wanted to find fault with this film. I wanted to find a reason to knock off a star, to have a negative opinion, to have an off the cuff point of view to say what doesn’t work. What does not seem like it fits in such a setting, such an important topic as the Father of Modern Computing and all he endured. I did NOT find that. It should scare me a little, but honestly it’s freeing. It’s exhilarating. It’s the power of a 1000 suns. It’s magic from the very 1st opening scene until the closing act. And THAT how it should because as all my readers should know by now…The Magic NEVER Ends!

#MUSTSEE #SheCritiques #WhatWorksWhatDoesNot

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review of a specific movie, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Copyright ©2014 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, All rights reserved. Photo of Joyll Cambridge used with permission. Movie poster from the movie “The Imitation Game” obtained from IMDB.

She Critiques-Night At The Museum, Secret Of The Tomb (2014)

December 28, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Night At The Museum: The Secret Of The Tomb (2014)

First, very fitting tributes to Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney, two greats of the silver screen and the grey screen. May they rest in eternal power and may others come to appreciate all they put into their art as I do! The Magic NEVER Ends!

This is actually my favourite of the Night At The Museum series because it brings the magic in such way that it’s constant throughout the film but it doesn’t take away from the dialogue and the message behind it all. So here we go.

What Works:

The connection between Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Nick Daley (Skylar Gisondo)!!! These two do a fantastic job of taking the typical connection between a Father and his teenage son and making it, well, ATYPICAL. Their banter is solid and genuinely believable and enjoyable!

I love the supporting cast in this film including the monkey!!! Teddy, Akmenrah, Atillia, Sacajawea, Ovtavious, Jeddediah and more?!?! Absolute fun on the run!!! Even a welcome addition in Rebel Wilson who brings her own brand of humour and realism!!!

The effects?!?! You literally feel like you can reach out and touch them! Why they didn’t bring this film out in 3D I will never know. The journey they take through the British Museum, is such a master class in realism and history, it’s well worth the price of admission for that section alone!

What Does Not Work:

Honestly? NOTHING. I think if you go into this film with the expectation that it’s just a fun, family oriented film, as well as one of Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney’s last films, you really will enjoy yourself. The MAGIC NEVER ENDS.

#SheCritiques #WhatWorksWhatDoesNot

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review of a specific movie, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

She Critiques-WILD (2014)

December 28, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

WILD (2014)

“Denying her wounds came from the same source, as her power!!!!”

WILD is an introspective and retrospective look into the life on a young woman who’s lost her way, no more like, she’s lost HERSELF. The above should really give you an idea of why this film is an absolute personal cinematic achievement for Reese Witherspoon, and also why this film could not be more timely. First let’s talk about:

What Works

I had my doubts when I heard Reese Witherspoon had been cast initially because I wasn’t certain if she could perform strongly enough to be in nearly EVERY SINGLE frame of a film. I can say happily, I was indeed incorrect in my assumption.

Cheryl Strayed’s journey and the people she encounters is so poignant, so moving, so scary and yet, you can’t imagine this wasn’t the place and moment in time that she was destined to be. There are so many times during this film, when Cheryl’s situation and how she’s come to be where she is, is an immediate reflection upon our own lives in some way. It’s so much more about living just for the sake of actually LIVING as opposed to existing for the sake of dying.

You’re moved, the earth moves, you’re pulled in my this enormous black hole of guilt and yet you find yourself being redeemed in ways you never even began to imagine. The physicality of this role and the strength both physical and emotional that Reese Witherspoon had to endure in order to give us Cheryl Strayed? Method yes, but mind-blowing all the more so!!!!

Another example of a near perfect casting? Laura Dern as Cheryl’s Mum Bobbi. I can’t even begin to describe how key it was to GET IT RIGHT. The connection between Cheryl and Bobbi is so strong you can almost see the physical manifestation of the lines between them.

The parallels in how each Mother and Daughter lived their own broken lines is absolutely frightening. “I was never me…” Bobbi tells her children and yet even in that simple and short statement there is such a triumphant story. Why Mums are the way they are, why they make the ultimate sacrifices for their children, why they endure the things they do, all to give their legacy the brightest future possible.

The contacts, the connections, the random people out on the trails with Cheryl, some who add to her life, her experiences, and some who solely exist to take something away. They’re not merely ships, they ports of call, they’re antagonist, protagonists. They’re reminders of humanity and how key it is not only to be true to yourself, but always to present your best self to others especially if they mean something to you.

Cheryl’s connection to her ex-husband Paul, who sanctions her journey and yet doesn’t initially feel she has what it takes to go the distance. He’s a motivator and a skeptic all in once played nearly perfectly by Thomas Sadoski. The people who are helping her along her journey are just as lost as she is in many ways and yet there she is, not necessarily looking for guidance, so much as beacons to light things up when the darkness overwhelms her.

What Does Not Work
Honestly? If I could find something, I would tell you but alas I am unable to do so. There are some minor issues with the flashing from past to current day, but they’re not so much flaws as they are wake up calls or sorts, to remind you what’s holding you down and lifting you up all at the same time.

I leave you with another quote from this film that has stuck with me from the very moment I heard it and will become a permanent fixture in my life as I live and breathe:
“I Found My Own Way Out Of The Woods….”

Yes Cheryl, you did indeed, and I know a few more people you helped find they own way out of the woods, TOO.

#MUSTSEE
#SheCritiques
#WhatWorksWhatDoesNot

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review of a specific movie, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

She Critiques- Top Five (2014)

December 27, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Top Five (2014)

Ordinarily this is the part where I use my opening sentence to give you guys a quick summation of what makes Top Five special, but truthfully, there’s so much that makes this film special that it deserves better than that so here we go.

This is a story of a successful comedic actor Andre Allen (played superbly by Chris Rock), who happens to have a few issues that have derailed his mojo and hence his career and he’s trying to straighten all that out and get back on top. He has a beautiful fiancée (who just happens to have a reality show) and a staff whose sole job it is to keep him OUT of trouble. The thing is, he’s headlining a new film that’s a DRAMA instead of the comedies he’s known for and people aren’t warming up to this new Andre, and not believing that a tiger can ever change his stripes. He meets this beautiful reporter for the NYT Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson) who wants to follow him around for a day as press for the movie and as press for his rapidly approaching wedding to the aforementioned fiancée.

What Works:

The insane chemistry and back and forth between Andre and Chelsea. He’s not a willing participant in this interview solely because he’s been burned by the NYT before regarding his OTHER films which are absolute trash. And Chelsea (played by the perfect partner in Rosario Dawson) isn’t exactly the type to NOT get what she wants and she wants an exclusive entrance into the Andre who started from the bottom and now he’s here (and yes that’s corny but trust me when you see it, it WILL make sense).

There’s a vibrancy and electricity that you can visibly see flowing back and forth between these two and no I don’t mean romantically, they’re not yin and yang, more like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers whose steps mirror each other so perfectly and so intensely it would creep an unappreciative person out! It works and it works brilliantly. There’s so much more to this pairing, just like there’s so much more to this film.

Another thing that works extremely well is the beautiful use of New York City as a backdrop. Not only are we gifted with the wondrous sights and sounds, but we also share in the magic spells that were cast not only to create these two characters, but also we are privy to racial and socioeconomic commentary that is linked to key parts and characters in the film (and no not just these two) and you realize just how essential those things are, and how ones culture manifest itself in who we’ve become. We meet Andre’s family, people from his past-some who had just as much influence on who he became as whom he did NOT. (This is KEY-remember this)

Silk, (J.B Smoove who handled that I must say) is Andre’s handler and childhood friend who keeps him focused and out of trouble. But don’t minimize him to being Andre’s bodyguard because he’s so much more than that. He brings a sense of warmth and nuance to the relationship between he and Andre and yet his sense of loyalty and devotion that others might give a negative assessment to, really is an about the understanding of Andre’s biggest desires and goals, and even more so his greatest fears. Silk is an anchor, a link not so much to the past, but to the truth which is oftentimes the only ground we have left to stand upon when all else fails.

What Does Not Work:

Houston, we have a problem is all I’m going to say and leave it at that. (You have to SEE it to believe it!)

The relationship between Andre and his fiancée Erica (played enjoyably by Gabrielle Union-Wade). Why? Because we don’t really get an opportunity to see WHY these two are together. It’s implied, but it’s a hard sell because there just isn’t enough screen time, connection, and momentum in the limited scenes between these two. Andre tells you WHY there together, but telling us is not the same as making us SEE why and it comes across as forced and underdeveloped.

Another thing that just seems out of place is the relationship between Chelsea and her boyfriend Brad. From the moment we first meet Chelsea there isn’t ANYTHING about her that screams, I have a boyfriend or significant other. She’s a bit star struck from the time she first encounters Andre and that pretty much continues in one way or another to the very end of the film.

Make no mistake, Top Five isn’t a RomCom. It’s very much a comedy with romantic thematic elements. There’s not much missing from the gem of a film, and there are so many wonderful and unexpected cameos that are just so much fun and add a bit of depth that we weren’t expecting.

I highly recommend it, and it earns a well-deserved #MUSTSEE from me! Have fun and enjoy!

#WhatWorksWhatDoesNot #SheCritiques

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review of a specific movie, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

She Critiques-The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies (2014)

December 27, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

The Hobbit

The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies

I’ve literally just walked out of the theatre and simply had to get this out because while there are moments you want to shout to the mountaintops about, there are also a few moments where you cover your eyes with shame.

What Does NOT Work: nearly the entire first act. There’s no transition from scene to scene and some of the acting in the 1st act leaves you feeling like you’re looking at Monty Python instead of the inhabitants of Middle Earth.

The screenplay in this act is HIGHLY irregular and you find yourself shaking your head so much you might endure w bit of a migraine before it’s all over. Remember we’re still dealing with not only Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) wreaking havoc upon the people of Laketown and there’s that small matter of Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) being entrapped in the darkness by Sauron. I just don’t feel like these two important pieces of the puzzle were handled like they should have been. It felt campy UGGGH. I will say that Luke Evans does a masterful job in this act and leave it at that as I remind myself no spoilers for such a new film.

NOW…WHAT DOES WORK: Bard (Luke Evans) and his children have a connection that you feel throughout the entire film and their bond only seems to grow stronger as the film progresses. Bain (John Bell) is no longer a little boy but truly a man and you see these bits of the torch from his Father being passed to him and yet you still see the fear and thus the youth in him as it should be.

The connection between Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and Thorin (Richard Armitage) is tested repeatedly and seems to hold firm until that moment you realise much of an illusion outward appearances can create. No man among the dwarves has the will to counter Thorin and we again find ourselves owing a Baggins our lives and thus our loyalty in his fortitude.

Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangiline Lily), at moments appear to tiptoe around each other until they nearly simultaneously come to the realisation that that is NOT the appropriate behaviour for the situation they find themselves in and an interesting segue, another branch if you will, sprouts and provides us with a testament of their faith, love, and loyalty that they have for each other although Tauriel’s heart clearly belongs to Kili. (The Dwarven Prince)

I have to stop here for a second because I must acknowledge something, Kili (Aidan Turner) and Tauriel are in a place so few find themselves willingly, but once there few people want to be anywhere else. Aiden Turner and Evangeline Lilly do such a superb job of bringing the viewer into that place with them and then almost immediately making you regret that you followed their tracks. And no, this is NOT to be taken as a negative critique. In fact it is the very opposite and once you see the film yourself, it will become quite clearly exactly what I mean.

Legolas and Thraundil (Lee Pace), in a word or two, beautifully awkward. These two dance, they battle, the have an simultaneous epiphany and then they acquiesce. Is it beautiful? YES. Is it awkward? YES. But is it fulfilling in someway leaving you as the viewer satisfied? For me personally, initially, NO. But upon having time to genuinely consider how it plays out on screen and what comes next, I’m satisfied that all is resolved.

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review of a specific movie, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Beyond The Lights-Extended Movie Review

December 27, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Beyond The Lights (2014)

Let’s file this under: Why on EARTH haven’t more people seen this film!!

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Fantastic music, a solid screenplay, sexy smoldering performances by the leads, and a supporting cast that does EXACTLY what they’re supposed to and best of all MESSAGED received!

This is indeed the description belonging to the new Gina Prince-Bythewood film Beyond The Lights. Having screened this film several times because I always recruit someone else who wants to go see it based off my words alone, I can say without ANY hesitation that the latest time is just as enjoyable at the first! It puzzles me greatly why more people haven’t seen this film but I think after my latest screening I finally figured out WHY which I will get to in a moment.

First the cast: The enigmatic up and coming superstar Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Charismatic Nate Parker, the treasure Minnie Driver, and the brilliantly seasoned Danny Glover. This cast is an absolute joy to watch and the chemistry between them that we’re seeing on screen is a GIFT that one should SAVOR. I for one am extremely proud of the performance of Nate Parker as a leading man. Having watched him mature from film to film (I think most of us remember him from The Great Debaters and The Secret Life Of Bees to the mastery that is Red Tails and in the suspense thriller Non-Stop) his growth very much on display as Kaz the hero police officer soon to be politician (a path that’s been very well seeded by his Father, endearingly played by Danny Glover) who is thrust into the wild world that is the music business. I’ve gushed about Gugu’s brilliant performance as Nino Jean over and over to as many people as I can but the truth is she makes it easy to do that, she’s such a constellation on screen that those around her can’t help but be drawn in and are forced to up their game and shine in their own way.

The premise is simple, Noni Jean (Mbatha-Raw) and her Momager (owned by Minnie Driver) have spent their entire lives trying to live out their dreams (err or maybe one living her dreams through the other) of being at the very top of the music business and have done pretty much whatever it takes to get there. Including quite a few things Noni doesn’t feel align with who she truly is. It comes to a head almost immediately in the film and this is when Noni and Kaz’s paths cross. Once they meet, you cannot imagine one without the other but there’s a reason FOR that. They’re not star-crossed lovers, they aren’t ying and yang. They’re literally like two halves of a very fractured globe.

Gina Prince-Bythewood does a marvelous job of showcasing what makes these two beautiful (internally and externally) people superstars in their own right. Kaz is indeed a stand up sort of guy and Noni Jean is indeed having taken a long walk on the wild side and yet they couldn’t be clearer mirrors of each other if they tried. And that is showcased so well on screen that you find yourself smiling, harking back to a time you remember when. Now make no mistake Noni Jean is no damsel in distress, she’s very much the epitome of strength and will but she needed that little, subtle push that we all need from time to time. A dose of reality if you will. It’s not difficult to see how she might have strayed, after all the music business is so very much about FANTASY and the one who has the IT factor at the moment. And that brings me to the point I mentioned earlier about why more people haven’t rushed to theatres and seen this gem of a film.

You see, this film does a brilliant job of showing you the hypocrisy and insanity that is the music business. The out of control songs, videos, the basically sex on a stick costumes, and the fire fanned by social media and the connection that ‘fans’ now have to their idols. See I think that far too many people are afraid of seeing the hellish cyclone the music business has become. People are afraid of seeing the naked truth about the people they idolize, the lives they lead, the constant sacrifices they make, and the humanity they give up in order to be the IT person of the moment. There’s a line in the film that I will paraphrase because I think it nails it right on the head. Noni Jean to Momager Macy Jean-“You know there would be times in photo shoots when they would ask me to take off more and more clothing and I would look to you to see if it was OK and it was ALWAYS OK!!!”

And THAT’S EXACTLY what this gem of a film does. It peels the layers of the music entertainment industry back and shows you just how insane it all really is, and just how so very DEEP the rabbit hole goes.

I absolutely recommend this film. It’s another #MUSTSEE that your commands attention from start to finish almost effortlessly!!!

Joyll joined our team as our resident movie reviewer. To contact Joyll or request a review, email her at SheCritiques@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Joyll’s Movie Review: Fury

December 20, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Let’s file this under: This film WILL indeed break your heart (and that’s ok, really it is).

I’ve had the true pleasure of seeing this film twice, and each time brought more tears – and in a way, more hope. Fury stars a phenomenal ensemble cast featuring Brad Pitt, Michael Penã, Shia LeBouf, Jon Bernthal and Logan Lerman.

Fury is the type of film that if you’re human, it will stay with you long after the curtain is drawn and I have to admit the cast is a big reason why.

http://youtu.be/-OGvZoIrXpg

Fury is the story of a tank unit in WWII who has been together a VERY long time because of the intelligence and skills of the group’s leader, Don “Wardaddy” Collier, played masterfully by Brad Pitt. The group has also lasted because of quite a bit of divine intervention helped along by Boyd “Bible” Swan, who is portrayed masterfully by Shia LeBouf.

The story focuses on WWII, specifically the period when the allies have surged into Germany and imminent surrender by the Germans is an “any day now” sort of event.

The film draws first blood immediately, and from the very beginning shows the harsh reality that is war. It reveals the decisions that those who fight are required to make in an instant because any sort of delay and a soldier or an entire platoon may not see the sun, their families, or the country they’re fighting to protect AGAIN.

A great portion of the first act centres on the introduction of Logan’s Lerman’s character Norman Ellison, an extremely young clerk typist who suddenly finds himself in the heart of the conflict that I’m almost certain he had thought to be a fairy tale or maybe even something that he role-played with his toy soldiers at home.

Wardaddy (as in top person in charge) realises that this charge he has been sent is far too young, far too green and far too saintly to be a member of Fury’s crew. Both Pitt and Lerman do a phenomenal job of the push-pull that is a huge part of this film.

Wardaddy has sadly seen it all, Norman not nearly enough, and there is the beautiful battle between the two of them that plays like a tug of war accompanied by a symphony. This plays through the film, and as a film goer you are grateful because it helps the film flow very strongly. It also allows it to stay true to its main premise, and it does so magnificently.

Jon Bernthal and Michael Penâ, two of my absolutely favourite, highly underrated actors, do an exceptional job of providing the film with comic relief. Now, I don’t mean that they make a mockery of their situation, what I’m implying is that their sense of humour and sense of connection is much-needed in such a time when people die daily, and thus hearts are broken daily. The ways that these two choose to cope, are not all that unusual in this type of scenario, and give us a much-needed realistic sense of how these soldiers deal with the everyday realities that they alone must face.

Now to my FAVOURITE character in this film. Bible, played brilliantly by Shia LeBouf. Bible is the Fury’s link to their Creator, but also their sense of duty and their sense of responsibility. Bible grounds them in a way only he can do. His faith is strong but even more so, his HUMANITY is unwavering. Humanity, in a WAR ZONE.

Bible doesn’t just throw bible verses at you, he speaks the words you need to hear to tether yourself to your humanism. He reminds you that above all else a little internal strength goes a LONG way towards preparing you for the horrors of war, and yet reminding you that you are indeed in hell on earth.

It’s ironic that Bible is the Fury’s primary large-caliber gunner, simply because of whom he is and what he believes. And you see the internal struggle which Shia nails so hard, it scares you at times. He delivers an absolutely brilliant performance that I hope we see from him again, because when he’s given the right material, he leaves you NO doubt who he is within the context of the story, and WHY he’s an integral part of it.

I don’t think I have enough adjectives to describe how much I really enjoyed him in this film, but I do know he’s a huge reason why I chose to screen the film twice. It’s just that powerful and moving of a performance.

Remember the name WARDADDY. Why? Because you would never want to meet a guy on the street with that sort of nickname. Is he lethal? Absolutely. Is he ruthless? Absolutely. Is he HUMAN? At times you find yourself wondering. I don’t think I’ve seen a performance like this from Pitt since his role in Se7en.

In a word, ETHEREAL. SUBLIME. MAGNIFICENT. Wardaddy is the only member of the Fury’s crew who speaks German fluently and this particular skill is used extremely well throughout the entire film. You find yourself wondering not only is he human, but is there anything Wardaddy is a failure at.

And no, I don’t mean he’s without flaws, but flaws and failures are two very different things and Mr. Pitt does a brilliant job of making those differences sing out loud. There is a humanity, a sense of calm that Wardaddy possesses and at first one might find it odd or out-of-place in such a setting, but Mr. Pitt not only makes it work, he does it in such a way that your very soul is warmed and yet burns from the ache you feel as he weaves in and out of the nuances of his character.

Fury is a masterpiece, an instant classic that despite all the sadness, the blood, the horrors, the soul-stirring heartbreak, leaves you with a sense of WILL, HOPE, and AWAKENING that very few films have the power to do.

I HIGHLY recommend that you head to a theatre near you and check this beauty of a film out, it will leave its mark on you, just as it did with me. #SheCritiques

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. Look for more movie reviews from Joyll!

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

Joyll’s Movie Review: Annie (2014)

December 20, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Something I don’t say very often: this is going to be QUICK.

The new instant classic known as Annie in the hands of Will Glück, Emma Thompson, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Caleb Pinkett, Shawn Jay-Z Carter, and original songs by Sia, is an absolute instant classic that you’re going to LOVE! (Well, most of you anyway!)

You know how my reviews go by now so….

What Works:

From the very beginning you find yourself toe tapping and dancing in your seat!!! The opening number and opening scene are great introductions to this fun film.

You meet this enigmatic little girl named Annie being the belle of the ball in her classroom, so to speak. She sucks you in from the beginning and does not let you go!!!

You also find yourself easily bonding with the four other girls in Ms. Hannigan’s (Cameron Diãz) care. You feel their pain and sorrow and yet this isn’t a sad or depressing moment at all. There’s hope; they certainly make you see that and you carry that with you throughout the film.

Selecting Oscar nominated star Quevanzhané Wallis as Annie and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks? There really could NOT have been a better-selected pair for these two. They mesh, they have genuine chemistry, and more important, they have the ability to showcase that marvelous connection on screen! You even feel a Father/daughter relationship as soon as they meet, even though Will is still quite aloof and stuffy as the looming loner that he is.

And Cameron Diãz as Ms. Hannigan? Let me just say at first I was a bit apprehensive about the choice because similar roles I had seen her in did not work for me. Yet she pulls this off. You see this sad, dejected, loser of a creature before you, and you soon realize that watching the layers of her life as they peel away is going to be enjoyable – and indeed it is!!!

Rose Byrne’s version of Grace (Will Stacks’ executive assistant) and Adewale as Nash, his head of security and driver, enjoy such a chemistry with Annie that you find yourself longing for their scenes with her to be a little bit longer. You feel the family dynamic coming together so smoothly that they almost make it look too easy, when it couldn’t be further from the truth.

This film has two key players that not only add to its appeal, but are themselves their own roles, their own actors that you will find yourself keen on and grateful for. The beautiful city that is New York City, both remakes of the classics like It’s A Hard Knock Life and the great original songs like “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” by Sia. Yes, this is a musical, and yes the players do a lot of singing and dancing but the dialogue is on par with the musical numbers and the transitions are relatively smooth and work as they should.

Now, it takes a tremendous amount of skill and vision to film a musical that’s NOT on a stage. There’s movement, there are wild camera angles, there are transitions, and queues. There’s framing and actual in motion scenery both those you can control, and those you cannot. The cinematography group that filmed Annie did such a wonderful job of allowing the city that is New York, to play the role is was selected to play. They made the backdrop just as relevant as the foreground.

On a live motion film not only do you have scenes occurring in frame that you have dominion over, but you also have LIFE going on out of frame that you have absolutely NO control over. And there’s an element in this film that reminds you just how magical those out of frame parts are.

When the production team was scouting locations for this film, you can almost imagine yourself there with them. You find yourself with a great understanding of just WHAT the gifts are that the individual location is capable of giving, and why the production team selected that very spot. You can honestly say you would not be able to imagine Annie being shot anywhere else. Too many things add to the formula here that just don’t appear in any other setting.

What Does Not Work:

Bobby Cannavale as Guy (Will Stacks’ campaign manager) is supposed to be a cutthroat, end all, be all, do whatever it takes to win sort of guy. But even he has far too much warmth and connection to Annie to sell that here.

Yes you do find yourself angry with him when you’re supposed to be but, while you see it coming, you still do not believe you’re eyes even when it’s right in front of you. Now make no mistake, Bobby does what he should with what he was given. Still, just a few minor screenplay changes could fix that and then we’d find ourselves in the moment of truth, relishing it and casting our stones in anger at the right moment. It just wasn’t there for me and I really wanted it to be.

Even with that I still absolutely enjoyed this wonderful instant classic. Children and adults alike will find themselves chanting and singing to the rooftops, Annie, Annie, ANNIE!!! An absolute #MUSTSEE and a film the whole family young and not will enjoy indeed!!!

Joyll joined our team as our Resident Movie Reviewer. Look for more movie reviews from Joyll!

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

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