Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Inferno

By 2 Comments

Apple Rating:

The DaVinci code was a smart, riveting book that was made into an exceptional movie.  The rest of his books/movies may not  be quite as good, but they are still entertaining.    There are a lot of plot holes in this one, and if you haven’t read the book I think you will be confused by the story a bit. But that shouldn’t get in the way of having an enjoyable movie experience.  Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbologist whose expertise is needed to help the CDC stop a world-wide pandemic from happening.  As always, Langdon uses his brains, rather than his brawn, to solve the mystery.   I enjoyed Irrfan Khan’s ( you have seen him in Life of Pi and Jurassic World) performance as Harry Sims, even though I am not sure exactly what his character was all about.  Also, Felicity Jones gives a decent performance as a doctor who joins forces with Langdon after he is grazed by a bullet and sent to the emergency room. I do relish the way these movies feature art and literature and take us to famous landmarks and museums.  This one takes you to Venice, Florence and Istanbul among others.  The Da Vinci Code inspired my husband and I to make a trip to Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.  Perhaps when we visit Italy, we may have to visit the Palazzo Vecchio to check out Dante’s death mask!

Sully

By 2 Comments

Apple Rating:

Clint Eastwood has come a long way.  Whatever you think about him as a person, you have to admit he knows what he is doing.  This is a well made and very informative movie.  It tells the story of Chesley Sullenburger, the heroic airline pilot who made an emergency landing on the Hudson River.  The fact that eveyone survived this water landing is well known.  What is not common knowledge ( at least to me) is the scruntity Sully was under while his actions were investigated.  Did he recklessly endanger the passengers on this plane or were his actions indeed heroic?  As always, Tom Hanks is excellent as this stoic, unassuming man who feels he was just doing his job and is uncomfortable with the media attention.  Aaron Eckhart was a surprise in the role of a co-pilot who sticks by his captain and never second guesses his decisions.  This is the kind of movie some people are going to feel is too boring, and that would be a shame.  I think everyone shoould see this movie about an ordinary man who does an extraordinary thing.