It is all About LIVING

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Oliver Hermanus and Sony Picture Classics is the story of coming to life to learn about LIVING.

Mr. Williams (Bill Nighy) is a quiet man living in the 1950’s working in a bureaucratic role. Once a week he would take time to go see a film at the local cinema but life becomes awakened when it is discovered that Mr. Williams is ill.

Also, in the office working with Mr. Williams is Miss Margaret Harris (Aimee Lou Wood), a young woman who sees that moving ahead is not going to work so she decides to move on. The only thing stopping her is needing a reference from her boss Mr. Williams who seems to be absent from work.

Mr. Williams discovers that there is a life outside the office and away from the son Michael who means well. There is song, drink and discovering that sharing feelings with someone else is never too late to experience. It is in this grand opportunity of opening up does Mr. Williams discover what he has been afraid of, what he has been missing and the chance to embrace the time left of his life.

Nighy as Mr. Williams is so charming, eloquent and poignant in this role. He is a man that has been stuck in one place to the point of not even realizing it until the word ‘terminal’ is put into his life. Confused about what to do and how to feel, life shows Mr. Williams a path he never expects to be on and it is subtly beautiful in the hands of Nighy. Honestly, I’d expect nothing less from this fine actor.

Wood as Miss Harris is equally charming in that she gets to see a different Mr. Williams than everyone else gets to see. She wants to find her own place in the world and once she enters the into his new open world, she also sees the possibilities herself. Wood is the life breeze in a room full of stale air.

Other cast include Barney Fishwick as Michael Williams, Nichola McAuliffe as Mrs. Blake, Patsy Ferran as Fiona Williams, Jessica Flood as Mrs. Porter, Anant Varman as Mr. Singh, Lia Williams as Mrs. Smith, Zoe Boyle as Mrs. McMasters, Adrian Rawlins as Mr. Middleton, Oliver Chris as Mr. Hart, Michael Cochrane as Sir James, Hubert Burton as Mr. Rusbridger, and Alex Sharp as Mr. Peter Wakeling.

Sony Pictures Classics brings television, digital content, new entertainment services, independent films and technologies to viewers. Such films as GREED, THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY, THE CLIMB, CHARM CITY KINGS, I CARRY YOU WITH ME and THE FATHER are just a few of the current and upcoming releases. For more information on what Sony Pictures Classics has to offer please visit www.sonyclassics.com. 

LIVING is actually a remake of IKIRU written by novelist and Nobel Laureate Akira Kurosawa. It is the story of postwar Japan and a family moving from Nagasaki to England and their struggle to rebuild their lives after war.

The film has always been given nods from the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, British Independent Film Awards, National Board of Review, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, Dallas-Ford Worth Film Critics Association, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, National Society of Film Critics, San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, London Film Critics’ Circle, Satellite Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

LIVING moves slowly and deliberately in the life of Mr. Williams. He has one final chance to feel, live, remember and explore the possibilities of life. He sees the opportunities to be something more, anything more than he has been and Nighy lights up the screen with his blossoming portrayal of this man.

Director Hermanus keeps the story so simple and that keeps my eye on Mr. Williams’ exploration. It gives the viewer pause when Nighy speaks bringing a reaction of thoughtfulness and awakening to the reasons for having a purpose in this life. It is a marvel and beauty to see and experience this film.

In the end – an ordinary man discovers the extraordinary key to life!

 

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS Plays onto Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and DVD from director Ty Roberts and Sony Picture Classics comes the story of young boys about to become young men with 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS.

Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson) is a football coach and teacher along with wife Juanita (Vinessa Shaw) and young daughters, they have come to a Fort Worth orphanage to teach and coach. Upon arrival they meet Frank (Wayne Knight) who introduces them a bit and takes them to their dilapidated new home. New arrival Hardy Brown (Jake Austin Walker) is brought in and taken to Doc E.P. Hall (Martin Sheen).

Russell was a former coach at Temple wanting to come to the orphanage to make a difference. Trying to get the boys to become interested in creating a team, he discovers that there are more roadblocks than there are rocks in his field. He also discovers that Frank mistreats the boys at every turn.

Russell starts to make headway with the boys but at the same time tries to get through his own traumas of childhood and time of war. Being a fighter will come in handy as he is met with constant obstacles by those who do not want the orphan boys to play in Division A. In September of 1938, the boys start to prove what they are made of even with the bumps and bruises along the way.

Coming together is not easy but when it happens, it is a sight to see!

Wilson as Rusty Russell is a coach and teacher with a past of his own. Relating to the orphans, he has the opportunity to speak and treat them the way the boys had never known. Then again that is the pattern of Wilson, playing roles that are understanding, insightful and reaches through thoughtfulness.

Sheen as Doc is a father figure to most of the boys and sees exactly what Russell is trying to do for the boys. Doc also has his own demons he is fighting but when Russell influences him as well giving him a chance to be part of the team.

Walker as Hardy Brown is a young man who is full of anger and resentment, but it slowly starts to fade when with Russell. He brings the team together and also turns out to be one of the strongest players the team has and the strongest advocates for the boys have.  

Shaw as Juanita is supportive of her husband on the field and off reminding him that football is only part of what he needs to be teaching these boys. She also works with the kids to teach them how it is possible to become something more than the word ‘orphan’.

Other cast include Natasha Bassett as Opal, Jacob Lofland as Snoggs, Lane Garrison as Luther, Scott Haze as Rodney Kidd, Kelly Frye as Mary Jane, Sampley Barinaga as Chicken, Levi Dylan as Fairbanks, Slade Monroe as Wheatie, Lucy Faust as Wanda, Treat Williams as Amon Carter and Robert Duvall as Mason Hawk.

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS includes Deleted Scenes.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

The story is based on the book Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Rules Texas Football by Jim Dent.

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS is a lovely story at the time when there were no electronics, no television, barely a radio and orphanages were always full. These characters have all been through their own personal struggles and the pain is one that is not of their own making.

During the depression, people were looking for anything to take them away from problems that the brought them such hardships. This team slowly became the focus of everyday people who wanted to root for the underdog. What they did not see was the turmoil these boys faces personally and the emotions that come from feeling abandoned.

It was their coach Rusty Russell who came up with amazing changes in the way football was played bringing his boys the opportunity to win – but more than just football. Off the field there are outside obstacles but inside the orphanage there is just one – the heinously abusive Frank Wynn.

When people begin writing from all over explaining how what the boys are going through brings them hope and courage, it means something to the coach and the boys.

In the end – winning lies within the heart!

They are Young VOYAGERS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Neil Burger and Lionsgate is the story of being raised in isolation and being sent into space being the next VOYAGERS.

It is time to look for other places to live in the universe and Richard (Colin Farrell) is part of a space program that is creating children in isolation for a journey across space. The idea is to raise the children into young men and women who will take the ship across the vastness of space to a specified distant planet.

Richard decides that he must go with them in order to monitor them. He has come to care for the young people being sent up and is given permission to go. Christopher (Tye Sheridan) and friend Zac (Fionn Whitehead) are curious about everything and spend their time getting into harmless mischief. That is until they uncover information that had only been known to Richard and they are not happy.

This is the time where the two young men make a decision to either follow the plan or rebel in a way that could be dangerous for them all. Christopher tells Sela (Lily-Rose Depp) what is happening and begins to see a change in Zac who is collecting others to his side. When an accident on the ship makes it clear that it is time to choose a leader, two that were once friends become rivals for good and evil.

If any of them are to survive, each person will have to decide for themselves how they want their confined world to be – working together or total destruction.

Sheridan as Christopher has a grasp on what their mission is and even when he discovers that not everything is as he believed, even then he understood there were serious implications for the entire crew. He could have easily chosen the road of narcissism but instead, when the truth comes slowly forward, it gives him options of survival. Sheridan does a fantastic job playing Christopher and if there were ever such a voyage, I would hope there were many Christopher’s on the ship. Sheridan gives his character a sharpness that kept me silently cheering every move his character makes.

Whitehead as Zac has a friendship with Christopher that one would expect since they were raised together. As their trip gets deeper into space, it is Zac that gets deeper into a place that is dangerous for everyone. There is a rage that just lies underneath the surface and Whitehead’s performance lets you know that every moment his character is on screen is scary because there is no place to run! Whitehead has the unique ability to give a frightening stare that can fill the viewer with anxiety beyond belief.

Depp as Sela of course has the look of her very famous father. In her role as Sela, she is a straightforward ‘we have a job to do’ ship mate. When Christopher fills her in on everything that has been happening and his suspicions, Sela wants to do everything possible to stop the chaos just waiting around every corner. Constantly feeling the very stalker-like behavior of Zac, she is not a young woman to be trifled with either. Depp gives us a look at a strong, intelligent and capable space traveler who knows what it is going to take to survive.

Farrell as Richard decides to take this one-way trip with the young crew to keep an eye on their progress and how they handle space. He is also there to dole out advice should his young wards need it. As Richard, Farrell gives his character a soft spoken but stern leader model yet there is one of the crew that does not take to kindly to anyone telling him what to do. Farrell has given us so many unique characters (one of my latest favorites is from the film THE GENTLEMEN) in films so I expect nothing less from any film he does.

Other cast include Chante Adams as Phoebe, Quintessa Swindell as Julie, Archie Madekwe as Kai, Isaac Wright as Edward, Viveik Kalra as Peter, Madison Hu as Anda, Archie Renaux as Alex, Wern Lee as Tayo, Veronica Falcon as Marianne and April Grace as the Mission Director.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK.

Writer/director Burger says of his film about the 80-year voyage, “It’s about human nature in a vacuum – who we are at our core and about a group of extraordinary young people waking up to sensual desires, to freedom, to power, and the thrilling euphoria that goes with that experience.” He also explains that he wanted everything in the film based in reality, “VOYAGERS is not a fantasy. The spacecraft is purely utilitarian and functional based on actual proposals within NANA studying space travel outside our solar system.”

Because of that, the viewer will feel totally drawn into what is happening knowing full well there is no where to go. These individuals are confined to a place where they either work out their problems or fall but if they fall, they fall totally. The ship is very practical and is very much like those aboard – to frilled and very plain to look at. I believe that is what makes these characters stand out as there is nothing else to distract the viewer.

When there is division among the young voyagers, again, there is no place to hide the rage and emotional turmoil which is frightening in the sense that one wrong move….  Buckle up because this is going to be a bumpy ride into space!

In the end – what does it feel like?

 

WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? Questions Life on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from director writer/director Richard Linklater, Anna Purna Pictures and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is best seller by Maria Semple come to screen with WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?

Wife and Mom Bernadette (Cate Blanchett) is having a bit of a problem. First, she hates people with the exception of husband Elgin (Billy Crudup) and daughter Bee (Emma Nelson) which causes problems for everyone around her. Second, she hates to leave the house being perfectly happy staying away from said other human beings. The one person who seems to test both of these is neighbor Audrey (Kristen Wiig).

From bushes to mothers talking behind her back to blaming Seattle for her erratic emotions, Bernadette learns Bee wants a family trip to Antarctica. Seeing that husband Elgin is emotionally away, a plan is thrust into action to try and keep the family moving forward. The problem is Elgin has already decided that Bernadette needs an intervention after discovering she has been using a virtual assistant that is actually wanted by the FBI.

Informing her that he will be taking Bee on the family trip, Bernadette finds a way to escape the situation and heads for the snow by herself. From making a friend to being a stow away, Bee and Elgin are hot on her trail realizing that all they want is Bernadette to be happy!

Blanchett as Bernadette is comical yet I understand her. Her grouchiness with people keeps her creativity flowing in how to irritate them more than they irritate her. Although I wouldn't go so far as the sign she posted, I get it, I totally get it. Perhaps that is why I went on this journey with the character, when she discovers that life has been keeping her weighed down in the most twisted of ways, we cheer her ability to recognize and jump outside her comfort zone. I'm not sure I need to go to Antarctica but far away where there is warm beaches is a thought. That is the brilliance of Blanchett, she has always made her characters relatable and Bernadette, although slightly off kilter, is what I have come to expect.

Nelson as Bee has an attachment to her mother that is both loving and protective. She knows Mom isn't exactly like all the other Moms but then again, it's her Mom and no one, and she means NO ONE is going to change the life they have. Loving her father, she also realizes that he is partially responsible for the slipshod way the family is being handled. Nelson is such a delight to watch and even when she stands up for the situation, who could ever help but do whatever she needs to make her world right.

Crudup as Elgin is a husband who is basically moving on autopilot when it comes to his wife and daughter. Knowing that Bernadette was always different, it is the same story that what was adorable at the beginning of a relationship is no longer so adorable. Trying to sustain and shrug off his wife's behavior as 'oh well' isn't working for him so he turns to an intervention. Even daughter Bee knows the way he handled it was nothing short of a bone head plan. It takes extremely cold temperatures for Crudup's character to snap back into reality.

Wiig as Audrey is hilarious in a really gotta-hate-that-neighbor sort of way but there is another side that is revealed and very touching. Fishburne stops by as Jellinek is someone who knows Bernadette and after a five minute quick rant realizes what we all do, that she needs to get her butt back to work!

Other cast include James Urbaniak as Marcus, Judy Greer as Dr. Kurtz, Troian Bellisario as Becky Claudia Doumit as Iris, Katelyn Statton as Vivian and Laurence Fishburne as Paul Jellinek.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

Annapurna,  founded  by  Megan  Ellison  in  2011,  focuses  on  creating  sophisticated,  high-quality content that is critically and commercially conscious while still appealing to a diverse audience. Authentic creative voices no matter the genre or medium, has garnered a total of 52 Academy Award nominations, including five Best Picture nods for American Hustle, Her, Zero Dark Thirty, Phantom Thread and Vice.

Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing  consumers  to  access  their  favorite  digital  movies  in  one  place  when  purchased  or redeemed  through  participating  digital  retailers.  Movies  Anywhere  brings  together  the  movies from  Sony  Pictures  Entertainment,  Twentieth  Century  Fox  Film,  Universal  Pictures , The Walt Disney Studios, and  Warner  Bros.  Participating  digital  retailers  are  iTunes.

The Bluray, DVD and Digital Special Features include Bringing Bernadette to Life, Who is Bernadette? and Gallery.

WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? is a film that doesn't give a moment to rest up between scenes because that is not who Bernadette is. Her brain and mouth are going light speed and everyone around her is exhausted trying to keep up. She doesn't see it because that would mean accepting that she has fallen into a hole that she can't build her way out of.

That is the sad part of the film, that she doesn't recognize what has been happening to her life. It takes a few slaps to wake her up and wanting to fix it becomes her new fixation. The problem is everyone around her has already had enough, unfortunately that includes husband Elgin.

So, this is a film that carries so many themes and it is Blanchett that carries the weight of it all. Nelson and Crudup do their character best to keep up but I'm giving this one to Blanchett. There are times in the film that are so genuinely relatable to so many people in that sometimes it all gets away from us. We all feel the effects of warp speed living and this film gives us a chance to understand that slowing down and making time to do the things we love for those we love is imperative.

And - remember that it's absolutely acceptable to love ourselves as well. Those around us are perfectly capable of seeing when we don't so let's not fool ourselves any longer. You don't have to go to Antarctica to bring happiness to life so pick a spot on the map and go for it.

In the end - disappearances can be deceiving!