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The Book of Henry (2017)
I'm willing to believe this movie which makes it work for me
In general people did not like this movie. And I can see why. The first act is depressing. Then the second act feels contrived; you can hardly believe what you're watching; and finally, in the third act, there are tense action scenes that belong in a different movie all together. Not one with quirky cute kids and scatter brained mom. I understand its faults, it defies incredulity; but if you're willing to believe that gifted 11 year old children sometimes overdo it and can come up with crazy schemes, whose parents should not follow, and then if you're willing to believe that grieving parents sometimes do incredibly insane things instead of facing reality and their grief - then I think you will like this film. I loved it.
Candy Jar (2018)
Not worth your time and unsure what it's trying to say
The only bright spot in the movie is that Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks and Uzo Aduba act very well in it. But the script isn't very good, and the message is very muddled. During the debate tournaments, they debate the question, is college worth it; turns out, the writer and director of this movie don't know the answer to that, and don't even try to adequately face it. The same thing with the emotional, anecdotal sanctimonious speeches about race, poverty, and privilege. Is the message of the movie that debates should not be technical fact-based sporting events? This isn't a question of a movie posing a challenging question that doesn't have easy answers; but rather a movie that seems to be saying one thing, and then suddenly saying the opposite in the third act, but without committing to anything anyway. You can easily decide to skip this one. You won't miss a thing.
8: The Mormon Proposition (2010)
Nothing new, but might still shock the viewer
"The Mormon Proposition" gives us nothing the news haven't already: in an effort to defeat the gay equality in California, the Mormon Church spent millions and millions of dollars and helped pass Prop. 8. Aside from a short clip at the beginning, showing that the church did something similar in Hawaii, but was more successful in hiding it, the movie provides no journalistic integrity to its narrative. It is merely the (often tearful) testimonials of gays, ex-Mormons, and gay ex-Mormons, of the persecution against gays and the homophobia the church spreads. They make a powerful statement, but provide no insight, no solution, and no interesting perspective. It will not convince those that aren't already convinced, and it's a shame the church did not feel oblige to respond to it.
The War Boys (2009)
Interesting subject, not enough movie
This movie has a lofty goal: take on the subject of boundaries. Boundaries of race, of nationality, of sexuality, even generations. It pits father against son, American-born Mexican against an immigrant, an adopted sister against her older brother, and for one brief moment, a strong friendship versus romance.
What it doesn't do, is try to make anything of these juicy ingredients. This movie might have worked better as a 4-hour long TV drama with more characters, perhaps expending on the ambivalent wealthy white man, who both helps illegal immigrants and uses them; explain how two best friends become lovers with such ease, with no confusion or bafflement; why an older Mexican woman would break her own rules and succumb to the romantic approaches of a younger man?
None of those subjects is approached; instead, the movie hurls us forward with the speed of a stolen truck, hits us with great remorseless tragedy, and ends, as abruptly as it began.
If you have nothing better to do that afternoon, you could watch it, but I wouldn't make a special effort just on account of this movie.