Three for all

This week I had the chance to see three films. 42: The True Story of an American Legend, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Trance.

I was extremely excited for all three and was very surprised, and pleased with all of the performances throughout each production. 

Let's start with 42. 

I love movies like this. A true story with a great message; a piece of American history-you can't go wrong, you just can't! The acting was sensational and I was really pleased to see Andre Holland (1600 Penn) playing the role of sports writer, Wendell Smith, who followed Jackie's career from the very beginning. Chadwick Boseman, our Jackie, was absolutely brilliant and, I feel, did his legend justice in this role. Not a lot of people know Boseman because the majority of his work is in television but you can rest assured he's going to do big things in Hollywood after this performance! 

I was also pleasantly surprised by Harrison Ford's performance. I know, he's a huge Hollywood heavyweight and all, but most of the time I find I could take him or leave him. But I must give credit where credit is due, if Mr. Ford does not get an Oscar nomination at the very least, it would be a real shame. His performance was outstanding! Not bad for a guy who was discovered while cleaning floors! 

I heard one, super famous, film critic talking about this picture a few days after I had seen it and the only comment he made was that it wasn't "heavy" enough. As we all know, this is the story of how one man helped bridge the color gap in a major league sport. And while in the film there was definitely some crude language and intense drama, there wasn't anything outwardly disturbing. It was all presented in a very neat, almost casual package. But then again, I think the fact that we all grew up knowing the history of the Civil Rights movement, makes us a little desensitized when we're presented with basically a replay of events so bred into our upbringing. But see it for yourself and tell me if you think it was controversial enough. 

Very touching and wonderfully made. Please, go see 42, and bring your kids.

And now for something completely different:

The Place Beyond the Pines.

Lock, stock, and full of famous folk! This indy piece was interesting to say the least. Never before have I seen a film in which the trailer only gives you half of the story! 

The big focus, in the trailer at least, was on Ryan Gosling's character. Well, spoiler alert, if you're going to see this film solely because of him: you'll be very disappointed before the things even half over. That being said, I did enjoy it. It did drag in certain areas but at the same time, I feel the writers and director did a wonderful job piecing each individual characters story together through a series of almost seamless transitions.

This movie starts when Ryan Gosling, a traveling carnival performer, pays a visit to a woman he met the last time he was in the area. Only when he sees her again does he learn he is the father of her three month old son. Unfortunately, his "ex", played by Eva Mendes, has since moved on and his son is now being raised and provided for by another man. 

Gosling decides that he would quit the traveling circus then and there and make camp in town so that he may help raise and provide for his son. Sadly, he has a hard time finding work and befriends a guy who convinces him to rob some local banks. Gosling, believing this is the only way he'll ever be able to make cash quick enough, goes rogue and starts holding up banks left and right against the advice of his new friend. 

Here is where we meet Bradley Cooper's character. Cooper plays a rookie cop who's only been on patrol for a few months. He majored in law but felt he could do more good on the streets then behind a desk. His father is a respected city official and he tries everything he can to do the right thing and make his father proud. He ends up in a chase with Gosling after Gosling's latest robbery goes bad and from there we transition into Cooper's tale. And we're only halfway through!

All in all I felt this one was good. Would I immediately rush out and see it again? No. Would a recommend it it, sure. But it isn't one that anyone could watch over and over again. Like I said, it's very long and drags at times, but the performances are fantastic. Check it out if you've got the time.

And last but not least:

Trance.

I was looking forward to this one because I love the big stars in the top billing. James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson delivered stellar, and surprising, performances in this psychological thriller. 

We start off in an auction house and James McAvoy is explaining the rules and procedures carried out by the house should a robbery ever occur during an auction. Then, the robbery takes place and we see everything his character has just dictated, unfold. Only none of those practices helps in the end and a major painting is stolen. 

We find out later on, that McAvoy's character played a key role in the robbery and was responsible for getting the priceless masterpiece into the hands of a group of Euro-thugs, led by Cassel. Unfortunately for the thugs, McAvoy is knocked out during the robbery and forgets what he had done with the painting they all tried so damn hard to steal. 

Cassel's character then decides that rather than simply kill McAvoy, they must first try and find the painting. They decide to try hypnotherapy and end up in the office of Dawson's character. Dawson then begins trying to extract the location of the painting from McAvoy by putting him in trance-like states. 

From there we are taken on a confusing, twisted ride through the mind of a deranged and lost individual and for a while you can't figure out what is real and what is fantasy. Thankfully the whole thing gets explained in the end (don't you hate it when films leave you hanging?) and the painting is discovered but you're left feeling like you've just run a marathon getting there.

I must point out, this is NOT one for kids! Unless, of course, you'd like to give them an anatomy lesson in less under two hours.....Just sayin'.....Lots of vagina....A surprising amount of vagina actually....Almost, no definitely, an unnecessary amount of vagina.....Again, just sayin'.

This is another one that I liked but wouldn't see again anytime soon, if ever again at all if I'm honest. I thought the concept was fantastic, but all the vag business really bugged me. 

See it at your own discretion. If you're a perv, then this one's for you. If you have small children you can't hide anything from, you might want to pass on this film.