The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight—3 hrs 7 mins/written and directed by Quentin Tarantino/ starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Demián Bichir, James Parks/rated R

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR): Like so many films this year, much of what made it to the screen should have spent more time on the cutting room floor. It took too long to get this film started. If I was laying in bed, resting, I probably would have enjoyed the scenery more; I just didn’t like sitting up for that long, watching horse hooves and snowy hillsides. The only part of this movie I liked was when the “mystery” started to unfold in a flashback sequence. Then, however, I started thinking, “Maybe he should have started the movie right here, near the end.” At the end, as expected, there was the signature Tarantino blood bath. I can only give this movie two binoculars.

(OG): Twenty minutes into this movie, when all that had happened was that a few of the main characters had met one another and boarded a stagecoach (in a snowstorm) together, I said to Barbara, “This is why this film is going to be more than three hours.” There was no reason for this movie to be this long. At the end, I realized that this was kind of like Kill Bill, western style with a slight homage to Cat Ballou…and in the unpolished style of Tarantino. Kill Bill was a saga that was told in two films. Hateful Eight tried to get the job done in one. In addition to the usual bloody carnage, this film also had more than it’s share of other gory tissue splatters and bodily function sprays, stretching the length of the movie even further for no good reason. Naturally, Samuel L. Jackson was great. With lots of practice, he knows how to make the most of a Tarantino character…same for Michael Madsen, and really, all the rest of the actors especially Jennifer Jason Leigh. I didn’t hate the Hateful Eight, but I’m sure I didn’t enjoy watching it, as much as Quentin enjoyed writing, directing, or profiting from it. I give this film two binoculars.

Concussion

Concussion—directed and screenplay by Peter Landesman/from a story by Jeanne Marie Laskas/starring Will Smith (as Dr. Bennet Omalu), Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, David Morse/2hr 3 min/rated PG-13

Bifocal Reviews written by Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR) I’m a big football fan. This movie upset me, when I realized one of my most treasured pastimes is enjoyed at the expense of the players possibly suffering serious, brain injury. The performances were all excellent, but for me the most outstanding was that of Albert Brooks and Alec Baldwin. In this competition, I give the slight edge to Albert Brooks. Will Smith had the accent of Doctor Bennet Omalu, spot on. However, with all the star power, he was the only one who I felt was just a great actor doing his job. Brooks and Baldwin never appeared to be acting at all. Gugu was good too, and so easy on the eyes. Though I’m sorry about the overall, important message of the film, I’m glad that this information has come to light. Let’s make the game as safe for the players as it is enjoyable for us fans. I give this film 3-and-a-half binoculars.

(OG) I don’t have much experience with football. It’s not my sport, but I do have an interest in TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and related problems, as they are spotlighted in this movie. About 15 years ago I was rear-ended while at a stop on the freeway. As a martial artist of about 40 years experience at the time—where people had been trying to knock me out for decades, but no one ever had—I could not understand why I could not remember the fender-bender, or how what seemed a little bump could cause such big problems in my life. Again, at the time, TBI was not something that was in the national (medical or general) consciousness. When I had severe mood swings (both crying and laughing uncontrollably) and told my doctors that I couldn’t think properly, they thought I was lying or that I had a more severe concussion than first believed. One doctor who did some scans of my brain finally said, “You have the brain of a person who is twice your age.” This movie very accurately depicts the brain injury syndrome eventually discovered by Doctor Bennet Omalu. The acting is absolutely excellent, from Will Smith, to Albert Brooks, to Alec Baldwin, to Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Let’s add a special thanks to Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Matthew Wilig, and especially David Morse for bringing back to lfe those football heroes who had to suffer and die prior to Dr. Omalu’s discovery. I give this film 3 ½ binoculars.

See all our reviews and watch our BIFOCALS broadcasts at L&L Magazine.

The Big Short

The Big Short—Directed by Adam McKay/screenplay by Charles Randolph & Adam McKay from a book by Michael Lewis/ starring Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt/rated R/2hr10min

Bifocal Reviews written by Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR) I will be as brief, and polite, as possible.  I never saw a movie I liked less. I have walked out of movies that I liked more.  I would like to apologize to all the actors for their hard work. If I could give negative binoculars in my reviews, this movie would have earned a minus one. As it is, zero will have to suffice.

(OG) Once again we see the beauty of the Bifocal Review, where two people, sitting side-by-side in the same theater, watching the same movie have very different experiences. While I am certain that there are far more entertaining films in the pack this year, THE BIG SHORT is not on the bottom of the heap for me, far from it. Christian Bale’s performance in portrayal of Michael Burry is absolutely brilliant, and Steve Carell surprised me as well. The character of Mark Baum (actually, a representation of the real life Steve Eisman) fit Carell well with the actor’s seeming discomfort with the process of acting, something that has always bothered me about most of Carell’s other performances. In fact, actor-wise, this film is spot-on. Unfortunately, unless you are really, really interested in deciphering the minute complexities of the monumental banking fraud that we allowed to transpire in this country, then there is not much here for you. There is no real character development, no love interests and no real humor that is not at the expense of probably the person sitting beside you in the theater. I am not sure why this film has gotten so many award nominations. Perhaps I’m missing something. I give this movie 2 and ½ binoculars.

Don't forget to look for ALL our reviews and Channel 6 Bifocals segments on L&L Magazine.

The Danish Girl

The Danish Girl—Directed by Tom Hooper/Story by David Ebershoff/Music Composed by Alexandre Desplat/starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander/2 hrs/rated R

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR): My initial reaction to this film was that it was too long. After getting past the barbaric and primitive way that transgender people were viewed in this time period, it reminded me of Benedict Cumberbatch and his plight as depicted, as a homosexual in The Imitation Game. However, after a day or so I realized the real story was one of unconditional love. Both Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander’s characters portrayed two very important sides of this tale. Their performances left me genuinely moved, as they evolved from a happily married heterosexual couple into a relationship that transcended sexuality. I was so impressed with their performances that I was shocked to see the credits of some of the others actors who were, apparently, in this film. They all complemented the lead performances, which were, naturally the meat of the story. The seasonings blended well, making for a memorable main course. I still think they could have cut, at least ten minutes from this film. I loved the setting and the panorama of the scenery. I give this film a solid four binoculars.

(OG): This film was too long and left me feeling unsatisfied…even though I came into the theater with nothing but high hopes and positive expectations. Vikander is a very skilled actress. I don’t believe she’s being given enough credit for the wachability (hey, I made up a new word!)…the watchability of The Danish Girl. Without her, I don’t think I could have tolerated this movie for the full two hours. To me, Eddie Redmayne seemed like he was acting the whole time. If he didn’t believe his own performance 100%, then how am I supposed to believe it? True, The Danish Girl shed light on a persistent, human character-flaw…that of prejudice and ignorance being allowed to perpetuate the repression of a segment of our sexual society that happens to not meet primitive and barbaric standards…but in a movie, intentions count for little. I don’t want to pay good money for a “nice try.” I did enjoy the scenery though, so I’ll go with two and one half binoculars out of five.

NOTE: Please go to Legends-Legacies.com to see all our reviews and other "Adventures in Entertainment."

YOUTH--the movie

Youth—Directed and screenplay by Paolo Sorrentino/starring Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda, Paul Dano/1hr58min/rated R

Bifocal Reviews written by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR): There are just not enough Oscars and other awards this year, when performances like Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel are not even mentioned. They also have to contend with each other in the same movie. Then, there is the Jane Fonda performance. She was nominated for a Golden Globe, yet her part was essentially minimal, not that it wasn’t good, but certainly not better than either of the lead actors. In this film Harvey Keitel and Michael Caine are at their finest, knowing well they didn’t jump out of planes, or off of buildings, or blow up anything, or use heavy make-up or special effects of any kind. I hope this doesn’t make the competition more difficult for them, when in fact it’s the “acting” that should be the primary consideration for any of these awards. There are awards for special effects. The European flavor was very evident in this film, both in the way the director/writer took special care to frame every scene, and put memorable words in the mouths of his characters. I came away from this movie totally immersed in its content, reliving several scenes on the car ride home, even though, I felt it a bit slow at the outset. I give this film four binoculars out of five.

(OG): Honestly, I was almost lulled to sleep in the first 15 minutes of this film. It sneaks up on you. The presentation is so unusual for the U.S. market, very Italian in my opinion, that without the usual explosions, murders, or wild chases I was tricked into thinking that nothing was happening. By the time I realized that this was indeed my kind of movie (great scenery, detail to staging and incredible dialogue) I had missed some of what I used to love going to the movies to see. The director/writer steers his actors (I’m using the generic term here) exactly where he wants them to go. Every syllable is written and delivered with purpose. There is not an ounce of fat. I can still relive many of the scenes in my head, and already want to see this film again, so that I don’t miss anything in the opening scenes. It is a very beautiful film, reminiscent (in my mind) Francis Ford Coppola’s very underappreciated masterpiece, TEATRO, with of dash of Fellini. There was only one scene that seemed forced to me, and that was when a character explained the title, YOUTH. For that, I’ll deduct a monocle and give this film four-and-a-half binoculars.

For all other movie reviews, travel features and special segments, go to:
Legends-Legacies.com.