With Summer winding down, here are mini-reviews of three films released earlier this year that I recently caught-up with:
“Eye in the Sky” focuses on the popular usage of drones as high-tech military surveilance. Helen Mirren stars a British military Colonel who oversees global activities and, on this particular day, seeks the opportunity to take-out three of the U.S. 10 Most Wanted List members, who are meeting in Kenya, planning a terrorist attack. But when complications arise, she and a Lieutenant General (played by the late Alan Rickman), a drone pilot (Aaron Paul) and a field agent (“Captain Phillips” Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi) must work together to figure out how they can complete the mission, legally and morally, without “too much” collateral damage.
Once we know where the story is headed, this consistently tense thriller could’ve been taken in corny directions, but director Gavin Hood avoids all temptation and keeps his focus on the target. This film is gripping without being over-dramatic and emotional without feeling fake. Mirren’s is the juicy, showcase role, but Rickman, in one of his final on-screen appearances, and Paul have some strong scenes. A-
Indiewire hailed “Life, Animated” as “The Best Disney Movie Disney Didn’t Make”, and I completely agree. This little-seen documentary tells the powerful story of Owen Suskind, who at the age of 3, suddenly lost most of his communication skills and many motor skills and was eventually diagnosed with autism. No longer able to talk or communicate, Owens seemed lost and his parents thought they were losing him for good. But, as a family, they still watched the classic Disney films that Owen always loved (such as “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Lion King” and “Bambi”) and, amazingly, his passion and obsession with these movies and their characters would slowly bring Owen back to the real world, using the dialogue and song lyrics from the films to carry on conversations with his parents and older brother and become a successul and productive young man.
“Life, Animated” celebrates the impact that movies can have on anyone’s life. Appearances by “Aladdin” voice actors Jonathan Freeman and Gilbert Gottfried enhance Owen’s love for not just that movie but all the Disney animated classics. It takes a little while to get going, but the combination of enthralling, home video footage, remarkable artwork masterfully used throughout, and a central figure you’re rooting for with all your heart, makes this a very special film. B+
And finally, writer/director John Carney’s “Sing Street” shoots right to the top of my best movies of the year (so far) list. His latest music-based, slice-of-life story is set in the 80s in Dublin. 15-year old Conor, struggling to fit in at a new school, decides to start-up a band in order to impress Raphina, the beautiful and mysterious “older woman” (she’s 16).
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and Lucy Boynton are absolutely delightful as Conor and Raphina. They will contend for the Best On-Screen Couple of 2016. Jack Reynor (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”) is outstanding as Conor’s older brother, Brendan, a former rocker himself, and the other supporting performaces are all spot-on. Carney makes every right decision when it comes to the script, which is, at times, intense, but also really, really funny. And all the original songs are catchy and memorable, in particular “Go Now” (performed by Adam Levine) and “Drive It Like You Stole It”. Look for at least one of them to grab an Oscar nomination. A