Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Winchester Mystery House

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

I was really interested in seeing this movie because I have toured the actual Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California!   During the years around the turning of the 20th Century, Sarah Winchester inherited a fortune from her husband, who was the majority stock holder in the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.  She feels guilty that these rifles caused so much death and pain, and believes she has been cursed as a result.  She thinks the ghosts of those hurt by the rifles are haunting her, and begins adding rooms to her house to keep them confined.  She has construction going on around the clock, seven days a week. All in all, her house ended up with 161 rooms. There are strange things  in this house (to go along with the strange goings on!).  Stairways that go nowhere, doors that open into nothing, cabinets that open to other rooms.  All of this is true and fascinating to see in person.  The movie speculates about what might be the reason for all of the construction and what Sarah thinks it will accomplish.  Helen Mirren brings her considerable acting chops  to the role, ably supported by Jason Clarke and Sarah Snook;  but even her prestige can’t hide the fact that this it is really an old fashioned  ghost story.  There are apparitions, mysterious noises, moving objects and a few scares.  I would recommend this movie just so you can  see what the real house looks like as they actually had permission to film in and around it.  Go for the ghosts, stay for the house!!

I, Tonya

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Director Craig Gillespie uses a fake documentary style to illustrate the Tonya Harding story that I quite enjoyed.  There are mock  interviews with a variety of people who played a part in her life.   Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding is a tough-as-nails skater whose horrible childhood feeds her competitive nature.  Allison Janney plays her mother in one of the great supporting performances as an abusive mother who abysmally maltreats her daughter, then has the audacity to declare she should be thanked for giving her the drive to succeed.  For those of you unfamiliar with Tonya Harding, the basic plot line leads up to the time that her ex husband hired someone to break Nancy Kerrigan’s knee, thus allowing Tonya to have a better shot at an Olympic medal.  Poor Tonya was used and abused by family, husband, and even Olympic judges.  I came away with a new respect for Margot Robbie’s acting talents as well as Tonya Harding herself.  If  you are interested in the world of figure skating or have always wondered about this dark event in Olympic history, I recommend you check out this movie.

The Post

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Are you looking for a powerful, riveting movie that will give you a historical perspective of the ’70s and yet is very relevant to today’s influx of fake news and assaults on the First Amendment?  If you answered ‘yes’ to that question, ‘The Post’ is the movie for you.  I was a teenager when Nixon was president, and I had heard of The Pentagon Papers; but really didn’t know what all the fuss was about.  This movie schooled me, that’s for sure.  Steven Spielberg directs this timely story that defends freedom of the press even when what is published could embarrass or even implicate those in authority and in the public eye.  Meryl Streep plays Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, while Tom Hanks plays Ben Bradlee, her editor-in-chief.  The basic plot involves how the Pentagon Papers, which outlined how every president since World War II lied to the American public about our involvement the Vietnam War,  were acquired by several major newspapers – and the basic Constitutional issue of whether they should be allowed to publish them or not.  President Nixon tries to use his power to stifle the publication (sound familiar?)  of the papers, citing national security.  The Post’s, and press in general’s, contention is that a free press, particularly when the government is lying to its people, is a critical protection as established in the Bill of Rights.  I think you know what happened!  The large supporting cast are all pros and really help to make this movie exciting.  I especially enjoyed Bob Odenkirk whose character, Bob Bagdikian, has a key role to play in the shenanigans.  I really think everyone, Republicans, Democrats and anyone with concerns about our country  alike should see this movie and take a look at how real news is made!

The Shape of Water

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Lonely Elisa, a mute janitor, works in a high-security government lab whose purposes are some what sketchy.  Sally Hawkins is so expressive as  Elisa that I almost forgot that she never speaks, her acting is that good.  Elisa discovers that  an unusual creature has been captured and is being secretly housed, and cruelly experimented on.  Because she is mute, and the creature can not  speak, they communicate on a different level, and they form a bond that eventually turns into love.  This heartwarming story is sort of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and X-Files.  There are powerful supporting roles wonderfully accomplished by Octavia Spencer and Michael Shannon.   And a final flourish – Richard Jenkins is unforgettable as Elisa’s gay neighbor who overcomes a feeling of inferiority to take up the challenge of helping Elisa rescue her “Monster.”  I admit, I had  a few tears at the end, but director Guillermo del Toro’s wonderful directing never makes the movie seem sentimental or fake.  I highly recommend this very grown-up and compelling movie to all lovers of unusual fantasy.

Molly’s Game

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Anyone who likes to watch the World Series of Poker on television, has ever played in a live poker game or is curious to learn how the other half lives, will enjoy this movie.  Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom.  Molly, as played by Jessica Chastain, was a world-class skier on the fast track to the Olympics. Sidelined by a freak accident, Molly uses her drive and smarts to turn a secretary jog into an exclusive high stakes poker game.  When one of her players ruins her game in California, she simply moves to New York and re-establishes her very exclusive set up! But…before long, she finds herself under arrest by the FBI on federal charges. Why? It’s complex, you will need to see the movie to understand! The movie doesn’t use any of her customers’ real names, but according to a little  internet research, they included Toby McGuire, Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio as well as professional poker player Phil Ivy.   Idris Elba plays the lawyer who helps Molly when she is arrested by the F.B.I. (apparently, some of her clients turned out to be members of the Russian mafia).    Kevin Costner, Michael Cera and Graham Greene round out the cast.  I have heard there is some Oscar buzz for Ms. Chastain in this movie,  I am afraid I would not go that far, although she does give a good performance.  However, the movie gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of high stakes gambling and the kind of people who are involved.