ENOUGH SAID

Enough Said--Directed and written by Nicole Holofcener/starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette/93 mins/PG-13

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der, Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR): There was no way I would have missed James Gandolfini’s final film. I just love the guy. Another favorite of mine is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. How refreshing it is to see a normal couple portrayed on the big screen in a relationship that is realistic. We can put the glamour on the back burner in this movie to get a glimpse about how relationships really work in the world. There is very clever dialogue, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is at her very best with her physical comedy, that was given many opportunities to bloom. She plays a mobile-masseuse, for instance, and at one repeat customer’s home she is forced to carry her heavy table up a narrow flight of stairs. No one does it like her. I don’t want to give away a twist towards the end of the movie, which really completes the tale, but I just want to say that it worked for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but will always remember that this is the last time I will see Gandolfini perform new material. I miss him already. I give this one three out of four binoculars.

(OG): Once again, the beauty of Bifocals is revealed. For, Barbara and I just don’t see eye-to-eye on this one. I find it head-achingly confusing as to how a reasonable woman would find this film realistic. Though, I have to say, like most men I at least am self-aware enough to know that I don’t understand women at all. That said, I too will miss having an opportunity to see James Gandolfini perform. He was very natural, no matter what the character. However, I don’t think this was his best, though it was good. To me he looked a little tired. Another male friend said to me after viewing the film, “He looked like a heart-attack waiting to happen.” As for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she was always straining, even in a smile. That, I assume was acting the character, but it still made me uncomfortable to watch. Finally, the story turned on a conceit that was completely UN-believable for me. Barbara doesn’t want me to give away what she deems a twist, but I have to say again: Men and women apparently look at everything differently. For me, the drama of the movie was completely contrived and therefore not that interesting. I am giving this one two binoculars, out of respect for the actors.

RUSH--The Movie

Rush--directed by Ron Howard/ written by Peter Morgan/starring Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde/123 minutes/rated R

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der, Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR): This film is based on a true story of a legendary racing rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The fact that it was a true story was what drew me to the film in the first place, not to mention the devilishly handsome Chris Hemsworth. With the exception of a few spectacular crash scenes, the storyline fell short of my anticipations. Hemsworth played a believable part of the womanizing, playboy-daredevil well enough, while Bruhl was much more cautious and intense in his approach to racing and to acting the character. Ironically, the highlight of the movie was the fiery crash that left the Niki Lauda character severely burned and disfigured. Niki Lauda, in real life (and in this film) tenaciously fought back from his injuries, to return to the racetrack,--probably before he should have--to compete with James Hunt. It was the rivalry that sustained him. For me, it might have been the dialogue, but something was just not as exciting as it could have been. I don’t find fault with the performances. It’s just that this kind of story had the potential for much more substance. There are only so many car crashes and racing scenes that I can stand, and the love interest was bland by comparison. If the chemistry exploded on the screen like some of the formula cars did, I may have upped my rating. As is, I give this one 2 and ½ binoculars.

(OG): Throughout the viewing of this film, I had two nagging problems. First (and I am a big Ron Howard fan, usually) every cinematic scene seemed completely staged and self-conscious. I never got the feeling that the characters thought they were doing anything else but acting in a movie. People did not move naturally, always aware of the camera and their lines. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s how I feel. Second, even though I knew this was based upon a true story, my mind kept going back to Le Mans, the Steve McQueen movie that focused on a rivalry between two drivers and the playboy lifestyle that often accompanies the fast-paced, death defying occupation of racecar driving.  I’m glad Barbara (and apparently many young people) enjoyed the eye-candy (Hemsworth and Wilde) and appreciated the intense acting of Bruhl, but I was often bored. I give this one only a 1 and ½. It just never grabbed me.

Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine--Directed and written by Woody Allen/starring Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K., Annie McNamara/98 mins/ PG-13

Bifocal Review written by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(B) This film is about a sophisticated socialite, played by Cate Blanchett, who has lost her fortune (ala the Bernie Maddoff scandal). She is forced to move in with her sister (a step down socially). Watching Blanchett unravel, is electrifying as she tries desperately to cope with her new lifestyle while trying to recreate herself. This is the first Woody Allen movie where so much emotion was involved. It could be because he’s older, but I thoroughly appreciated this side of his complex mind. The co-stars are cast well, but Blanchett’s tour-de-force really drove the movie for me. As a woman, I related, even though I’ve never come close to that world of wealth. Somehow, I totally understood her crises, and the story certainly proves that money isn’t everything. The characters who are most happy are the ones who have values that are not measured in dollars and cents. I give this film three and a half binoculars and say, in advance, Cate Blanchette’s performance (and Woody Allen’s brilliant writing) deserve nods in the coming awards season.

(OG) This is one of the finest, most taut Woody Allen scripts that I’ve ever seen, and I love the Woodsman. There is nothing wasted here. Every character, every line, every cinematic direction, every camera angle is finely drawn to create an image with a corresponding feeling. Is the movie about images? Is it about family? Is it about creating oneself? Is it about relationships, love, sex, desire, fulfillment of human needs as opposed to making money, or the importance of telling the truth and about trust? Is this a primer for storytelling in the modern age, or a vehicle for great actors and actresses to show their chops? The answer in all cases is “Yes.” The more I think about this movie, the better I like it, because I realize how nicely the whole package fits together. Barbara said it all above about Ms. Blanchett, and I agree. This is another four binocular film and an indication of the makings of another rip-roaring awards season.

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The Butler

The Butler—Produced and directed by Lee Daniels/ starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda (and a host of others)/ written by Danny Strong from an article “A Butler Well Served by This Election,” written by Wil Haygood/2hrs 12 mins/ rated PG-13

Bifocal Review written by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR) This is based on a true story (and character) about a butler who served 30 years in the White House, starting with the Eisenhower administration through the Reagan years with a star-studded cast supporting some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Academy Award winners, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey are surrounded by other Oscar winners and nominees, telling the tale of Cecil Gaines, the butler in question (played by Whitaker) and his wife (Gloria) played by Oprah Winfrey. Cecil struggles with the fact that he has a pride in his position of service, while at the same time the black community is struggling for civil rights and basic equality.  I hate to repeat myself, but I feel the same way about this movie as I did about Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. The supporting actors, indeed did their jobs in support of Forest Whitaker, but make no mistake he is the central driving force of this film, in more than the title implies. His diverse skill as an actor (after portraying dictator Idi Amin, for instance) surely makes him a candidate for an already crowded award season. I give this film three and a half binoculars.

(OG) I was born in the early fifties, when The Butler’s main character first started to work for the White House, so maybe that’s why I felt a deep connection to this film and was very moved by it, almost to tears at points. I felt this was the most honest depiction of the Civil Rights struggles this country has faced that has ever been portrayed in film. It pulls no punches and comes from the perspective of those Americans who have been mostly affected by prejudice, discrimination, inequality, and ignorance: the African American community who were not considered human by a large segment of our white population, even after the Civil War had long since, supposedly settled the question. The film presents a broad and balanced view of Black America, as every human is complex and beautiful, and doesn’t try to disguise this complexity by “white washing” it. The complexity, the struggles, the pain and the triumphs are all from the perspective of those who have been so long oppressed, and to such a degree that many literally cannot understand. I give this film four binoculars. Why not? I know I won’t have to compare this movie to any other.

See more Bifocal Reviews and share your views about this film at L&L Magazine.

25th Anniversary of the Classic Martial Arts Film, Bloodsport

Bloodsport-- Directed by Newt Arnold/starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, Norman Burton/screenplay written by Sheldon Lettich, Christopher Cosby and Mel Friedman, from a story by Sheldon Lettich—based on the true life story of martial artist, Frank Dux/ rated R/92 mins.

Bifocal Review

by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(B) This type of action film is not my usual cup of tea. I honestly have not ever watched the entire film, from beginning to end, though I have viewed most of it, in pieces. However, I love a great “against all odds” story and am aware of and appreciate certain important elements in this movie, and the impact that it has had on the martial arts genre. This is basically a Rocky or Karate Kid story, with an important difference. While we all appreciate a story of hard work overcoming obstacles to accomplish great feats, this story is slightly different because I know the real Frank Dux, and I think that reality element has made all the difference in how people view this movie. I also saw, by comparison that this film did not rely much on special effects--like the two movies I mentioned above and unlike most other martial arts films. My favorite scenes are not in the fights themselves, but are those that show interaction between the young boy and his teacher, or the concern of the fighters for one another. We don’t often grade an older film by today’s standards, but since this is the 25^th anniversary of the release of this film, I’m going to give it two binoculars.

(OG) Naturally, I have a personal love of this film because I know and have worked closely with Frank Dux. That is not usually the case for me when reviewing a film. Frank Dux is a great person, ahead of his time in many ways. Even this story (which takes some liberties as it strayed from the facts in several aspects) was ahead of its time in a sense, because it melded reality and fiction into an inspirational film that was the catalyst for many young boys and girls to get involved in martial arts. Since I know from first hand experience how being involved in martial arts can often change the lives of individuals from all walks of life for the better, I am glad that I was there to see the positive effect this film has had on many. People everywhere I go, know the name Frank Dux and the film Bloodsport, even though 25 years have passed. He has inspired many to try new things and achieve at a high level, so for that I thank the filmmakers. I give the film three binoculars and put it in the same category as Enter The Dragon, Karate Kid, and Billy Jack, they are not great, but they are memorable.

To read the entire transcript of Barbara’s Bifocal Reviews Podcast of Frank Dux, the namesake of the Jean-Claude Van Damme character in the classic martial arts film, Bloodsport, and to hear, in his own words why the Variety story about a remake will not be happening without his input,

GO TO THE FULL TEXT AND VIDEO AT:

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