Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

The Shape of Water

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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.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

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I loved the duo of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in the very funny ‘Central Intelligence.’  However, I admit I wasn’t expecting much out of their latest pairing in this updated version of ‘Jumanji.’  I have to admit, though, that I laughed quite heartily through most of this movie.  Jack Black and Karen Gillan were fine too.  In a shift from the unwilling participants of the original movie,  there are now four teenagers who stumble across an old video game called ‘Jumanji,’ while cleaning an old school storeroom (they have all been assigned detention for various reasons). They start the game, and choose avatars before things begin to go in an odd direction and they stop playing.  However, in that inexplicable magic that only happens in the movies, they are whisked into the game anyway, where they are turned into the avatars they chose.  How they cope with their new bodies (one female is now in a male  body) and complete their mission makes for  interesting comedy and some good old out loud laughs.  No, it’s not Oscar material in any way, it’s not a deep or edge pushing show.  But, if  you are looking for a fun movie for a few laughs and a good time, look no further!

Molly’s Game

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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.

Darkest Hour

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I predict an Oscar nomination for Gary Oldman in a riveting tour-de-force playing Winston Churchill in ‘The Darkest Hour.’   The movie depicts a few key weeks right before and immediately after Churchill became prime minister in 1940.  He was a flawed man, cantankerous and opinionated, but the right man at the right time to lead his country into a war against the seemingly unstoppable Nazi war machine.  Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ took us through what happened through the eyes of people who were there.  Joe Wright’s ‘Darkest Hour’ demonstrates the strategy and politics of how Churchill, with practically his whole party against him, the party leaders still seeking appeasement, remained steadfast in the defense of good against evil, and came up with the plan given the code name  Operation Dynamo.  We also get to see Churchill’s humanity as he banters with his wife (played by Kristin Scott Thomas, who should have had more screen time) and rides the underground to get a feeling of what the ordinary people think.  This movie is a good introduction to this tumultuous time  and might make people research the reasons and background of how Churchill led the British and their Commonwealth at a time they truly ‘stood alone’ against what seemed impossible odds (the United States wouldn’t send aid to the British at this stage of the war, as they faced their “Darkest Hour,’ because of our isolationism and neutrality. It is almost saddening seeing Oldman, as Churchill, reacting to Roosevelt’s inability to send help).  Another thing I loved about this movie was the use of some of Churchill’s speeches. He was a top rate orator and wrote his own, unlike most politicians today. Because he wrote them, they sound honest, powerful and inspiring.  I highly recommend this movie to people who like to see the behind the scenes history of great leaders – warts and all!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

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Are you a fan of the Star Wars movies?  You can bet I am and I was eager and excited to see this latest installment.  All the characters we loved from the last installment like Rey, Poe, Finn BB-8,  and Kylo Ren, are back as well as old favorites like Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, R2D2, and C3PO.  What a cast! This movie also boasts a great script, spot on direction and wonderful and sweeping scenery.  In a nutshell:  The Last Jedi has everything I want to see in a Star Wars movie.  If you are like me, someone who loves and watches tons of movies, it is hard to come up with something new and inventive that actually surprises me.  “The Last Jedi” did it though, and how!  Once it gets going, the action is fast paced and shifts from story line to story line fluidly, keeping the viewer interested and looking forward to the next scene. Scenes between Luke (Mark Hamill) and Rey (Dasiy Ridely) evoke those between Luke and his teacher,Yoda.  Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey continue to have some kind of a connection through the Force that we all know will  not end well for one of them, but adds exposition and a dimension to the Force that hitherto has been unexploited, in the movies at least .   Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Issac) continue to shine in their supporting roles.  New comer Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico was surprisingly poignant as a maintenance worker who has a key role in helping the Resistance.  There are too many minor characters to name, but Benecio del Toro and Laura Dern are just two of the many standouts.  Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t end up wanting to own an “ice fox.”  Porgs aside, the ice foxes are absolutely cute and cool. Director and writer Rian Johnson has done a masterful job of respecting the episodes that came before and at the same injecting new life and humor into the eighth episode in a saga that happens in a galaxy far, far away!