Stronger (2017)

Director: David Gordon Green

Cast:

Jake Gyllenhaal – Jeff Bauman

Tatiana Maslany – Erin Hurley

Miranda Richardson – Patty Bauman

Clancy Brown – Big Jeff

Verdict:

“Stronger is the story of Jeff Bauman, and how he survived the Boston Bombing from 2013 and how he dealt with the repercussions from losing both of his legs. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the title’s character and he was fantastic as Bauman, as he perfectly times his emotional and dramatic cues to a tee that he tugs you by the heart strings. Just as good was Tatiana Maslany that portrayed his on/off girlfriend Erin Hurley, who helped Jeff through his recovery. These two played off each other incredibly well that their chemistry was vibing. The film details specific points in Jeff’s life including waving the Bruins flag at a hockey game and throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park. Going through these events, Jeff became emotional as the spotlight was on him when he didn’t want it. Jeff isn’t the only one who is going through a rough patch. Erin has sacrificed her work and personal life to help her boyfriend through these drastic circumstances. There is a feud between Erin and Jeff’s mother Patty (Richardson) that boils to the point where Erin loses it and walks out on both Patty and Jeff which showcased Maslany’s incredible acting ability. It’s not just the main cast that does a great job but the people of Boston really made an impact on the film. Gyllenhaal has some scenes that establish the immense strength of the Boston community. People come up to Jeff and thank him for inspiring them that they can go against the odds and come out strong. Those specific heart to heart moments in the film made me weep with tears and had a tremendous impact on my well being. David Gordon Green’s tight direction helped accomplish the more dramatic and emotional wrenching scenes that the actors perfectly captured. “Stronger” is a film that once again showcases Gyllenhaal’s tremendous ability to act and how a tragedy to one man can inspire others to be strong.

Score: 4.75/5

Mother! (2017)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Cast:

Jennifer Lawrence – Mother

Javier Bardem – Him

Ed Harris – Man

Michelle Pfeiffer – Woman

Verdict:

“Mother!” is the latest film from Darren Aronofsky and has polarized critics and fans alike for its unnerving storytelling. The film takes place singularly in a house that resides Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem’s characters. Now, this is no ordinary house as it has a life of its own, literally. The house has a heart, a pulse and even sometimes bleeds. This is where people will be questioning the film as we become curious as to what this house really is. Strangers come uninvited and are allowed to stay at the house particularly with Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffers’s characters. They are an older married couple and in some ways represent the opposite marriage lifestyle that Lawrence and Bardem showcase. There marriage seems to be healthy and full of life whereas Bardem and Lawrence have this isolation to them. This is shown when Lawrence says to Bardem “you won’t even fuck me.” These powerful words trigger the animalistic nature of Bardem’s character and he in turn shows his sexual side to her and they have sex and this inhibits a pregnant Lawrence. Nine months pass and the baby is born and they are both filled with joy and Bardem sees this as sign to finally conjure up a compelling story to write and his publishing brings the attention of the whole town to their house. Lawrence finally realizes that she is nothing in the eyes of her husband and that the attention of their newborn baby breathes life into his house and this sets her off. This film has a lot of strange allegories and meanings that are difficult to comprehend as Aronofsky throws many different scenes and signs at your face. Like for instance, during Bardem’s meet and greet he sets up after his book becomes a hit, Lawrence finds herself lost and confused in the array of paranoia that is occurring all around the house. There are riots going on between the police and folk who are there for Bardem, women are being locked in cages and eventually being used for sex trafficking and to top it all off, Kristen Wiig makes an appearance as Bardem’s publisher, only to find out that she is having people being executed. These acts of violence make the audience as well as Lawrence confused as we try to piece it all together, WTF. It shouldn’t be left out but Jennifer Lawrence is terrific throughout as she sells the hysteria that ensues and gives us the perfect scope of the audience’s perspective as we to have no clue what is happening. To what end do all of these acts mean, it is difficult to understand and the ending doesn’t justify the means.

Score: 2.5/5

It (2017)

Director: Andy Muschietti

Cast:

Jaeden Lieberher – Bill

Jeremy Ray Taylor – Ben

Sophia Lillis – Beverly

Finn Wolfhard – Richie

Chosen Jacobs – Mike

Jack Dylan Grazer – Eddie

Wyatt Oleff – Stanley

Bill Skarsgard – Pennywise

Verdict:

“It” is directed by Andy Muschietti and is the big screen adaptation of one of the most beloved novels of Stephen King of the same name. The film follows seven kids known as the “Losers Club” in the town of Derry as they attempt to uncover the missing kids of the town. The seven kids themselves did a terrific job as they were given so much to do and they pulled it off with tremendous force. Jaeden Lieberher plays Bill and he is the one that leads this Club as he becomes consumed by the fact that there is a sinister presence involved with the missing kids. This is due in part because his brother Georgie went missing without a trace and the authorities and adults alike just come to the conclusion that he’s dead and that’s the end of it. Bill doesn’t believe it and one by one, children start going missing left and right with no worry in sight. After convincing his friends that there is an evil force at hand, Pennywise (Skarsgard) begins to show himself to each member of the Club and he does so through each child’s fear. It all comes to a head when the Losers discover where Pennywise is hiding and they confront him all at once to take him down once and for all. As I’ve said, the group of kids were terrific as they each brought their own sense of humanity to the film. I will say though, at times some of the kids were acting differently than the others, but it could be that, that was each kids way of coping with the reality that this clown is real. Bill Skarsgard was fantastic as Pennywise as he completely transformed into something I have never witnessed before. For instance, the infamous Georgie scene shows Pennywise presenting himself as a friend to Georgie as he is giddy and fun, but once he convinces Georgie to go for the paper boat, he changes into a demonic force of nature and it scarred me. The scares were set up incredibly well as the build up for each scary scene was met with tremendous dread and fear. The movie however, was heavily reliant on CGI and it worked about half of the time. Also, Wolfhard’s character of Richie was funny for the majority, but when the movie shed its more dramatic lights of inspiration, Wolfhard shoots it down with some joke and that is due in part to the writing of the film. “It” is a tremendous Stephen King adaptation that took the shining moments from the miniseries of 1990 and incorporated it with some of the sources tremendous material and it made for one great package.

Grade: A-