Movie Review - The Brothers Grimsby

Friday night is date night and we needed a laugh. Dan and I headed to Hollywood for sushi, record shopping, and to see The Brothers Grimsby at the Arclight.

PLOT- Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Sebastian (Mark Strong) are brothers who lost their parents and were separated as children. Younger Brother, Sebastian, was adopted by a wealthy London couple and has been working as a secret agent. Nobby, never left their home town of Grimsby, possibly the most depressing town in England. Nobby has nine children, adores his wife (Rebel Wilson), and spends most of his time at the pub, drinking beer and watching football. Even though it has been twenty-eight years, Nobby has never lost hope that he would be reunited with Sebastian. 

As luck would have it, one of Nobby's friends, a fellow citizen of Grimsby, has a cousin who has located Sebastian and steals a ticket for Nobby to attend a fancy event where Sebastian will be in attendance. Sebastian's attendance is really part of a secret mission and when the brothers are united, his cover is blown. Sebastian must now rely on Nobby to hide him, until he has a chance to fix the situation. 

LIKE- Sacha Baron Cohen films are polarizing. Either you love him or you hate him. I happen to think he's outrageous and funny, The Brothers Grimsby being no exception. Unlike his other recent films, this is not Cohen interacting with unsuspecting real people, this is 100% fiction. However, like his other films, Cohen has created a very strong, outlandish character and he owns it.

From a writing standpoint, I was impressed with the way that The Brothers Grimsby doesn't drop details. If they introduce an element, it's not superfluous. The gags are not for a quick laugh, they always move the story forward. This film is plot heavy and every thing has a pay-off. The plot is clever and the dialogue often had me laughing out-loud. Admittedly our theatre only had a handful of people, but everyone was laughing. 

Something I didn't expect was the sentimental element to the film involving the bond between the brothers, especially as children. In particular, the kid who plays the younger Sebastian (Gabriel Chay Palmer) has a gut wrenching scene on a train. I almost cried in a Sacha Baron Cohen movie: true story.

Donald Trump makes an appearance and if you're not a fan of Trump, you'll like the moment. 

DISLIKE- It went a touch overboard with the gross humor. It's quite shocking actually, especially a scene with an elephant. Less might have been more. 

RECOMMEND- Yes, if you're a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen films. If not, you'll probably want to skip The Brothers Grimsby. This does not need to be seen on the big screen either.

One more note, Grimsby is a real town and the town was not happy with their portrayal in the film. It's not flattering. The mayor had a promotional video made to counter the film and show Grimsby in a positive light. I found it on Youtube, take a look -

Movie Review- Hail, Caesar!

As a Valentine's treat, Dan took me to the Arclight Hollywood to see the latest Coen brother's film, Hail, Caesar!

PLOT- Set in the 1950's, Hail, Caesar!, is the story of studio fixer, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), who struggles to keep sane and get the job done. His primary problem is the disappearance of mega star, Baird Whitlock ( Brad Clooney), who is just a few scenes shy of wrapping one of the biggest films of the year, "Hail, Caesar!". Mannix receives a ransom note from an organization calling themselves "The Future", asking for a hundred thousand dollars for Whitlock's safe return. While trying to deal with the Whitlock situation, Mannix must contend with twin-sister gossip columnists ( Tilda Swinton), an out-of-wedlock pregnant actress ( Scarlett Johansson), and cowboy/turned actor (Alden Ehrenreich). 

LIKE- Hail, Caesar!, had genuinely unexpected plot twists. It's very clever. So much so, that I don't want to go into detail in this review, as to prevent spoilage. The unexpected is what makes this film really shine.

Hail Caesar! is hilarious. I can't remember the last film that made me laugh this much. The comedy is a double-punch, derived from both the plot and the characters, and filled with snappy dialogue. The Coen brothers have created memorable characters and the casting is perfect.

Although everyone is wonderful, two actors steal the show. Channing Tatum got the biggest laughs during his ode to the 1950's musical. Tatum plays an actor, playing a sailor, who is about to ship out and is bemoaning the lack of dames at sea. The song is appropriately named, "No Dames." Hobie Doyle (Ehrenrich) cracked me up. One of the best moments in the film, happens when Doyle is given a serious acting role, that is well beyond his talent of being a stunt cowboy. Ehrenrich plays the role with such innocence and gullibility, that you just have to root for him to get it right. Doyle is definitely not cut out for a Hollywood career. 

DISLIKE- Nothing. Normally the Jan/Feb movie releases are awful, but Hail, Caesar! is a real gem. 

RECOMMEND- If you're a fan of Coen brother films, Hail Caesar! is a must. Although, there is no need to see this on the big screen. 

SIDE NOTE- It's misleading that Jonah Hill is on the poster and has top billing. He is in the film for no more than five minutes. His part is funny, but in the grand scheme of the larger film, he is forgettable. 

Movie Review- The Hateful Eight

Last weekend Dan and I headed to the Arclight Hollywood for a sold-out screening of Quentin Tarantino's latest film, The Hateful Eight. 

PLOT-  Set shortly after the Civil War in Wyoming, a bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) is transporting a murderer (Jennifer Jason Leigh), when their journey is delayed due to a blizzard. They take shelter in Minnie's Haberdashery, where they find Minnie missing and a suspicious group of strangers in her place. 

LIKE- The Hateful Eight is a typical Quentin Tarantino film; hyper-violent, snappy dialogue, and rich characters. It's often hilarious and completely entertaining. Appealing to my love of theatre, the film feels very much like a stage play. Most of the story takes place in two locations; Minnie's Haberdashery, and a stage coach. Dialogue and character development are king, with action kept to a minimal. I enjoyed the film, but I could equally see this making an awesome live show. I hope that someday someone takes up the challenge. Flying fake blood and guts, ponchos for those sitting in the front row...it would rock!

Also echoing a theatre experience, The Hateful Eight has a twelve-minute intermission for the 70mm screenings. The audience was overwhelmingly male and all of us women in the audience were laughing during the break. In an unusual reversal, the women had no line for the bathroom, while the line for the men reached the concessions. They panicked as the twelve minutes rushed by!

Tarantino has assembled an excellent cast to bring to life his characters, including many Tarantino regulars, like Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth. Jennifer Jason Leigh steals the show. She's feisty and raw. Plus, start to finish, she definitely got the most beat-up. I don't think that there is a moment where she doesn't sport a bloody lip. 

DISLIKE- We saw the movie in 70mm. Meh. Totally unnecessary.

Also, me being picky asks- why did all of the characters have such nice teeth? This seemed like an oversight with all of the grimy costumes and make-up going on. The Hateful Eight is a story with no clean, pretty characters and it's set in an era where dental hygiene is virtually non-existent. Pearly whites? I don't think so. It was one of those things that I noticed and it became a distraction that took me out of the world of the story.

RECOMMEND- Yes, if you're a Tarantino fan. His films are definitely not for everyone, but if you like his stuff, you'll enjoy The Hateful Eight. Great storytelling and a fun ride.