The movie "The Shack" had such a profound affect on me. Even though I'd read the book many years ago and knew what the story was about and knew what was going to happen, the movie still gut-punched me. I think part of the reason was because the actors made the characters come alive, and the location scenery was so beautiful. I smiled when the Multnomah Falls highway sign was shown & they stopped there because I have been there. I especially liked the actor they chose to portray Jesus (Israeli actor Avaham Aviv Alish) because he personified what Jesus probably looked like, rather than the long-haired, blue-eyed white man that is traditionally portrayed in Western cultures. But he also had the kindest eyes & a most beautiful smile. And Sam Worthington--what can I say? I felt his pain and his anger and I understood his doubt. Sam Worthington was just terrific!
Reviews
3 Reviews
Hidden Figures
(2016)
I Highly Recommend This Movie
16 January 2017
A friend who is a part of the entertainment industry once told me that when the audience applauds after a movie is over, that's a really good sign that a movie is good. And that's what happened when "Hidden Figures" ended--the audience applauded.
"Hidden Figures" is based on the true story of, principally, three African-American women (in the 1960s, when the story takes place, they were known as Negroes or coloreds) who worked for NASA, just at the beginning of the space race.
Taraji P. Henson, of "Empire" fame, plays the leading character, Katherine G. Johnson, a math genius; Octavia Spencer (nominated for a supporting actress in any motion picture Golden Globe for her role in this movie) portrays Dorothy Vaughn, who ends up becoming proficient in computer coding languages such as FORTRAN; and Mary Jackson, NASA's first black female engineer, is portrayed by Janelle Monae.
All the main characters and all the supporting cast of characters face discrimination (the movie does take place in the 1960s), but they plod on with their lives and their mission to prove themselves and the worthiness of their race. White co-workers. of course, look down on them--not only are they women, they're also Negroes. It might be hard for some to accept that this was the "normal" back in the '60s, and it grates on us that this was allowed to happen, but it was and did.
Kevin Costner, who plays Al Harrison, a fictional composite of NACA (the precursor to NASA) and NASA directors, is intended to be the reasonable and unprejudiced head honcho, and I would like to think that he truthfully portrays how these men thought and behaved, but I'm doubtful because that's just not the way things were back then.
There is lots of good dialogue in this movie, which provided many a giggle, but the story is not intended to be a comedy, nor is it. And the archival footage reminds those, who lived during this time and experienced first hand the space race, what a magical and marvelous time it was.
It is a movie I highly recommend seeing.
"Hidden Figures" is based on the true story of, principally, three African-American women (in the 1960s, when the story takes place, they were known as Negroes or coloreds) who worked for NASA, just at the beginning of the space race.
Taraji P. Henson, of "Empire" fame, plays the leading character, Katherine G. Johnson, a math genius; Octavia Spencer (nominated for a supporting actress in any motion picture Golden Globe for her role in this movie) portrays Dorothy Vaughn, who ends up becoming proficient in computer coding languages such as FORTRAN; and Mary Jackson, NASA's first black female engineer, is portrayed by Janelle Monae.
All the main characters and all the supporting cast of characters face discrimination (the movie does take place in the 1960s), but they plod on with their lives and their mission to prove themselves and the worthiness of their race. White co-workers. of course, look down on them--not only are they women, they're also Negroes. It might be hard for some to accept that this was the "normal" back in the '60s, and it grates on us that this was allowed to happen, but it was and did.
Kevin Costner, who plays Al Harrison, a fictional composite of NACA (the precursor to NASA) and NASA directors, is intended to be the reasonable and unprejudiced head honcho, and I would like to think that he truthfully portrays how these men thought and behaved, but I'm doubtful because that's just not the way things were back then.
There is lots of good dialogue in this movie, which provided many a giggle, but the story is not intended to be a comedy, nor is it. And the archival footage reminds those, who lived during this time and experienced first hand the space race, what a magical and marvelous time it was.
It is a movie I highly recommend seeing.
Live by Night
(2016)
Save Your Money & Do a Red Box Rental
14 January 2017
I'm a long-time Affleck fan, & I like it when I can review his movies favorably (as I did with "The Accountant").
Unfortunately, that is not the case this time. It's not that the movie is bad--it isn't--it just isn't that good either. It's a period piece, taking place in the 1920s & 1930s when rival mobs fought over the illegal booze trade among other illicit activities. It takes place in Boston & Florida, but mostly in Florida.
The acting was good (Chris Cooper was especially good), and the period costumes & sets were amazing, but the movie's plot was thin. And of course, considering the theme of the movie, there's lots of violence & blood.
The movie is an adaptation (the screenplay was written by Affleck) of a Dennis Lehane novel. (Lehane & Affleck are long-time collaborators, with the two of them collaborating on at least three projects that I know of, and I'm beginning to wonder if Affleck bought the rights to all Lehane's novels, including future books.)
Because I am such a big Affleck fan, I try to see all of his movies on the opening weekend, hoping to contribute to his movies winning the opening weekend box office, which is so important in the entertainment business. As much as I would like to see this movie win the opening weekend's box office because it is an Affleck movie, I'm afraid I'd recommend that you save your money & do a Red Box rental or wait for it to be offered on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Unfortunately, that is not the case this time. It's not that the movie is bad--it isn't--it just isn't that good either. It's a period piece, taking place in the 1920s & 1930s when rival mobs fought over the illegal booze trade among other illicit activities. It takes place in Boston & Florida, but mostly in Florida.
The acting was good (Chris Cooper was especially good), and the period costumes & sets were amazing, but the movie's plot was thin. And of course, considering the theme of the movie, there's lots of violence & blood.
The movie is an adaptation (the screenplay was written by Affleck) of a Dennis Lehane novel. (Lehane & Affleck are long-time collaborators, with the two of them collaborating on at least three projects that I know of, and I'm beginning to wonder if Affleck bought the rights to all Lehane's novels, including future books.)
Because I am such a big Affleck fan, I try to see all of his movies on the opening weekend, hoping to contribute to his movies winning the opening weekend box office, which is so important in the entertainment business. As much as I would like to see this movie win the opening weekend's box office because it is an Affleck movie, I'm afraid I'd recommend that you save your money & do a Red Box rental or wait for it to be offered on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Tell Your Friends