They Fight with DUMB MONEY: The GameStop Story

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from director Craig Gillespie and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of the underdog taking on Wall Street with DUMB MONEY: The GameStop Story.

It is 2020 and Keith Gill (Paul Dano) spends his spare time as Roaring Kitty on YouTube talking about the stock market. His day job is a financial analyst and husband to Caroline (Shailene Woodley) while dealing with brother Kevin (Pete Davidson) who still lives with his parents. Covid is running rampant when Keith notices that stock in his favorite place is falling.

GameStop is a place for all those who play games and Keith buys stock telling his viewers on YouTube all about it. He believes that hedge fun firms like Melvin Capital founded by Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen) have been short selling the stock. Listening to Roaring Kitty is Jennifer (America Ferrera) and she buys into the stock as well. Joining the ranks are college students Riri (Myha’la Herrold) and Harmony (Talia Ryder) and GameStop employee Marcos (Anthony Ramos).

They aren’t the only ones as people start aggressively buying stock and begin really following Roaring Kitty. Using the trading site Robinhood co-owned by Vald Tenev (Sebastian Stan), there is a huge surge of stocks and people begin to see they can make real money. Plotkin realizes he is in trouble when Ken Griffin (Nick Offerman) of Citadel finds a way to turn things around. That is when the United States House Committee on Financial Services decides to step in and find out what is truly going on and who is responsible.

Those who invested are stunned at what is happening and Keith stands firm in his belief only to discover there are those who stand with him, no matter what it takes.

Dano as Keith is a very quiet man who tries not to rock the boat in his life. Spending time on his YouTube just allows him a chance to talk about what he is interested in and that is the pattern of what happens on Wall Street. GameStop is, as for a lot of gamers, a place that brings them the joy of gaming so owing stock seemed the right thing. Dano gives his character the complexities of a man trying to take care of his family, working a straight job and having a few moments of online fun who never expected it to blow up. I enjoyed his portrayal and it is believable down to its core.

Davidson as Kevin looked like he was having so much fun because this role is not, in any way, a far-reaching stretch. Most of Davidson’s roles are like this but Kevin stands out as the brother who just likes to be a pain – and it works! Woodley as Caroline stands behind her husband, even when things get strange and believes in him. There really isn’t huge chemistry between the two characters but it doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of the story.

Rogen as Plotkin spends most of the film running, with a phone stuck to his ear and sweating – a lot. I mean I would too if I was losing billions (yes, millions with a b). Rogen has the unique ability to play nervous and he does it so well. Ferrera as Jennifer is a nurse that just wants a financial break, not the world, just a small break and her nerves are just as intense as Plotkin’s but for different reasons.

Herrold as Riri, Ryder as Harmony and Ramos as Marcos are people who believed in the Roaring Kitty and are willing to hold as long as he does. They not only hold but begin to understand the workings of Wall Street and are all in when it comes to stopping them from squashing the little guy! Stan as Tenev is a man who claims he is for the people but when a large chunk of money is thrown his way, he becomes worse than Robinhood.

Shout out to Offerman and D’Onofrio because I was watching these two giggle at each of their characters. They know they are sleazy and enjoy it with a side order of rich.

Other cast include Kate Burton as Elaine Gill, Clancy Brown as Steven Gill, Rushi Kota as Baiju Bhatt, Larry Owens as Chris, Dane DeHaan as Brad, Deniz Akdeniz as Briggsy, Olivia Thirlby as Yaara Plotkin and Vincent D’Onofrio as Steve Cohen.

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.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Special Feature include Fat Cats vs. The Roaring Kitty, Diamond Hand Ensemble, Join the Cast & Discover the Insane True Story!, Deleted Scenes and Filmmaker Commentary.

DUMB MONEY is a great way for people to learn about what happens when you don’t understand what the rich are doing on Wall Street. Just the fact that they use the term ‘dumb money’ would make me want to find a few bucks to invest with. It is a shame that Roaring Kitty isn’t still around because I’d follow him!

The cast is brilliant at keeping the intensity up for the entire film. I found myself yelling at the screen as well before I realizes I was doing it. There are relationships in the midst of the madness but what is clear is that along with the learning comes a new found understanding that life is full of chances but only to those who are willing to risk losing a little.

In the end – bank on humor!

 

 

 

Christmas is Here with LOVE ACTUALLY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from writer/director Richard Curtis and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrating its 20^th Anniversary comes the beloved new classic for the holidays with LOVE ACTUALLY.

English Rock n’ Roller Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) is making a statement for Christmas bringing his own unique version of the song Love Is All Around. He promotes it but makes it very clear that it is horrible and he doesn’t mind in the slightest. Rather than party the night away, he joins his bff Joe (Gregor Fisher) for a night of drinking.

Mark (Andrew Lincoln) is the camera man on the day of friend Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his love Juliet (Keira Knightley). Peter wonders why Mark seems to dislike his chosen bride but Mark is keeping a heartfelt and longing secret. Jamie (Colin Firth) discovers that his relationship is over, gets away to a cottage to write and meets Aurelia (Lucia Moniz). She doesn’t speak English which gives Jamie some relief except for one thing, words aren’t always necessary.

Harry (Alan Rickman) runs an agency with Mia (Heike Makatsch) as his secretary. Wife Karen (Emma Thompson) is a stay-at-home Mom who makes sure the ship runs smoothly with their two children Bernard and Daisy (Lulu Popplewell). Harry seems to have become caught in a web that Mia is spinning and Karen is the one that gets caught in it surprised by a Christmas morning present. Also at the agency is Sarah (Laura Linney) who happens to be crushing on Karl (Rodrigo Santoro) but is dealing with the issues of her brother.

David (Hugh Grant) just happens to be Prime Minister and Karen’s brother. At 10 Downing Street there are a lot of people and Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) is one of them. Together they work well until David begins to wonder if there is more and doesn’t want to be accused of any impropriety. Sometimes the heart wins.

Colin (Kris Marshall) decides he is only going to find love in America and ends up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John (Martin Freeman) works as a film stand-in and meets Judy (Joanna Page) while doing love scenes. Both seem comfortable with one another and John discovers he can say how he feels.

Daniel (Liam Neeson) is taking care of his young stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster) after the passing of his wife. Sam is going through his own heart story with the very cute school girl Joanna (Olivia Olson). Speaking with Daniel about it all, Sam wonders how best to get her attention, especially since she is moving away soon.

Neeson, Rickman, Firth, Nighy, Grant and Lincoln, Freeman, Marshall, Santoro, Ejiofor, and Fischer what can I say boys? Your storylines are wonderful and I couldn’t get enough of the wisdom from a step-father toward a boy who he sees as no step but just a wonderful son, to a PM who can shuffle with the best, to a man who will speak the language of love, to an aged rock star, to a man who should know better than to flirt with trouble and a man who knows when to hide his heart – you are all perfectly flawed human beings and we wouldn’t have you any other way.

Thompson, Page, Olson, McCutcheon, Knightley, Makatsch and Linney – ladies, just brilliant. You carry the light of family and see the frailty of husbands, to not being afraid of a powerful man, to discovering that a quiet love is closer than you think, to understanding that even though you may find love that other obligations can get in the way of the heart, to trying to take what isn’t yours, you are all women who make sacrifices in the name of dedication to love in all its forms and sometimes to the detriment.

Shout out to Rowan Atkinson as Rufus who kept me laughing the first time I saw the film and keeps me laughing still. I have never received a gift so well thought out and packaged and I’m not sure how I would react if I did however, if its Atkinson doing it – I’m all in!

Other cast include Julia Davis as Nancy, Ruby Turner as Jean, Adam Godley as Mr. Trench, Michael Fitzgerald as Michael AbdulSalis as Tony, Claudia Schiffer as Carol, Nina Sosanya as Annie, January Jones as Jeannie, Elisabeth Margoni as Eleonore, Meg Owen as Mary, Colin Coull as Gavin, Elisha Cuthbert as Carol-Anne, Ivana Milicevic as Stacey, Shannon Elizabeth as Harriet, Denise Richards as Carla, Marcus Brigstocke as Mikey, and Billy Bob Thornton as the U.S. President.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Bonus Features include Making LOVE ACTUALLY – Join writer/director Richard Curtis along with the cast and crew as they reflect on the making of the film and its legacy twenty years later, Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Richard Curtis, The Music of LOVE ACTUALLY with Introductions by Richard Curtis, The Storytellers – A featurette exploring the film’s main storylines, featuring interviews with the cast discussing their characters and the major elements within each on-screen relationship.

Also included is Kelly Clarkson “The Trouble with Love is” Music Video, Bill Mack “Christmas is All Around” Music Video and Feature Commentary with Director Richard Curtis and Actors Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy and Thomas Sangsters.

This film stole my holiday heart when I first saw it in 2003, yes it started out because Liam Neeson and Alan Rickman were in it but man, the entire cast just gave me Christmas tingles. The story is so heartfelt and sticky sweet which I usually barf over but I couldn’t help myself, I fell in ornament hook, lights line and full stocking sinker. The cast is absolutely brilliant and each character having a story of their very own is stunning still.

Look, I love me a good rom-com but LOVE ACTUALLY is so much more than that. Yes, it is on my Christmas stack of must-watch holiday movies after DIE HARD (get over it – think of it as an Alan Rickman double feature if you must). This film is about relationships, love, messiness of being a human being, whacky emotions trying to find the right places to settle, pushing the limits of the heart into places they/we are scared to go, and, of course the joy of Christmas that give us the extra push to say those three little words ‘I love you’ to someone who needs to hear it.

There is nothing, and I mean nothing that writer/director Curtis left out of this film. If anything was ever to be changed, I think I might have to throw a huge fit and Santa wouldn’t like that. It is a film of joy, love, celebration and by the end of the film, no matter how many times you watch it, the heart is just giggling with joy.

So, Happy Anniversary LOVE ACTUALLY, you have not aged a day and the world still loves you and isn’t that what it’s all about?

 

In the end – love is actually all around!

The World is in Trouble with THE WANDERING EARTH II

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/director Frant Gwo and Well Go USA is the intense story of our world when looking for THE WANDERING EARTH II.

The United Earth Government is put together when they discover the Earth is being threatened by our own sun. It is continuing to expand and the only way to save mankind is to literally move the planet. The idea is to build over ten thousand fusion engines and push the Earth to a safer place. At the same time, the Lunar Exile Project wants to push the Moon away from the Earth.

UEG decides that to continue humanity, they would create mind technologies that will allow a person to be digitally uploaded. This doesn’t sit well with people and protests begin to occur. When a terrorist attack happens hitting the place where the engines are being constructed, the fighting begins between trying to save the planet and the people trying to survive. Liu Peiqiang (Wu Jing) is able to help but not in time for the Ark Space station to be destroyed.

When countries decide to stop with the program, China attempts to finish the engines. Tu Hengyu (Andy Lau) is brought out of hibernation and has the new computer that will test the Lunar engine. He also has his daughter Yaya on a hard drive having loaded her consciousness before leaving Earth. On Earth, over the next fourteen years, the engines are built while shelters are built for Earth’s citizens. Liu Peiqiang marries fellow astronaut Han Duoduo (Wang Zhi) and the project is renamed Wandering Earth Project.

The solar radiation is out of control as the sun becomes more and more dangerous. Peiqiang wants to help rebuild the Navigator ISS. The UEG knows it must detonate nuclear weapons on the moon’s Campanus Crater and after doing so realizes that the engines on Earth are not ready to move the planet. Tu Hengyu is called upon to get things back on track or the moon’s debris will destroy the earth before it can move towards Jupiter.

It is a change that will last generation after generation!

Jing as Peiqiang is a man pushed to his technological and emotional limits. He knows what is happening around him and makes it his goal to volunteer to help. Of course, he does this for his own personal reasons as well. Jing gives us a character that is dedicated to his job but also shows his emotions and the reasons for them.

Lau as Tu Hengyu is a man with a history that involves his young daughter and technology. They are intertwined together and it is up to him to find out how to correct the mistakes that have been made. When he does, it is absolutely everything. Lau takes his character from start to finish and doesn’t let off the gas once. Well done!

Cast include Li Xuejian as Zhou Zhezhi, Sha Yi as Zhang Peng, Ning Li as Ma Zhao, Zhu Yanmanzi as Hao Ziaoxi, Khalid Ghanem as Tower Commander, Andy Friend as Mike, Vitalli Makarychev as Andre Graschnov, Clara Lee as Tony Nicholson and Daniela Dassy as the Brazilian astronaut.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

THE WANDERING EARTH II is an eye full coming in at 174 minutes but don’t let that shy you away. It is a feast for the senses filled with excitement, tension, suspense, and CGI that is nothing short of stellar on every level. From the space crafts to the planets themselves, the pictures are crisp and full of color (even if that color is moon gray).

The cast gives it their all with a script that pops back and forth between what has happened to what is going to happen and each character goes in full force. There are stories here that are filled with emotion because once people realize the world is on the verge of ending, high emotions come into play as decisions about family must be made.

It is such a large cast and they should all be congratulated for bringing such an epic story to the screen. Surrounded by so much in the way of special effects, it does not stop their performances from coming across strongly. What an amazing project to be part of and they should all be very proud of what they accomplished.

THE WANDERING EARTH II is an epic space journey of man and the solar system so prepare for disaster to happen!

In the end – their goal is to save the earth!

 

CONCRETE UTOPIA is a Look at Humanity

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Um Tae-hwa, Lotte Entertainment and 815 Pictures comes a look at disaster and the unfolding of humanity after with CONCRETE UTOPIA.

Beginning with a quiet night in Seoul, everything is about to change. A powerful earthquake is shaking so badly that houses are collapsing and apartment buildings are falling – all except for the Hwang Gung Apartments. Surrounded by piles of rubble and destruction, the day brings people trying to find loved ones and how to survive until help arrives.

It becomes clear quickly that those who live in the surviving apartment building that protecting it must happen right away. Min-seong (Park Seo-joon) is a quiet civil servant who has a good heart and loves his wife Myeong-hwa (Park Bo-young) who is a nurse. They immediately want to be of help to anyone who needs it and takes in a woman and her child.

Knowing something has to be put together, Geum-ae (Kim Sun-young) tries to bring together a group to decide how it should be done. When a fire breaks out in one of the apartments, Yeong-tak (Lee Byung-hun) springs into action and Geum-ae sees him as a natural leader. That gives the group the idea that he would be more than capable of handling decisions about the complex.

The first thing Yeong-tak decides is that if a person isn’t a resident of the complex, they must vacate immediately. Gathering supplies like food and water is difficult enough to take care of residents. Things get a big ugly when the people outside who want in decide to push back but the complex residents push even harder keeping them out.

The work begins barricading and starting some semblance of a life when they realize that no help is coming. Groups of people go out to look for anything that will help them survive. But nurse Myeong-hwa isn’t happy with the way things are going and makes it clear to Min-seong that she suspects something about their elected leader Yeon-tak.

As with all uncertainty, chaos begins to take hold as secrets are revealed and outsiders do not forget!

Byung-hun as Yeong-tak is a clever man from the very beginning. Entering as shy, it doesn’t take long for the saying ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’ comes into play. Everyone has their secrets and Byung-hun’s character is just like everybody else – or is he? What an great character to play with all the twists and turns slowly happening and the viewer is never quite sure what the truth is.

Seo-joon as Min-seong is a man who loves his wife and is not much of a boat rocker. He goes along to get along even if it makes him slightly uncomfortable. He doesn’t want to upset the status quo and yet he is upsetting his wife with every move he makes. That being said, he also wants to help as many people as he can putting himself in dangerous situations (for cake, you’ll see) to try and ease the uncertainty of survival.

Bo-young as Myeong-hwa is a woman that certainly isn’t going to be pushed around. Not loud in her opinions, she is less obvious about the moves she makes. Wanting to help those who are left behind, she is not of the same mind as her husband or Yeong-tak. Bo-young gives her character a stance that she holds on to from start to stunning finish and I was all in for her choices.

Ji-Hu as Hye-won takes the reigns from the beginning but doesn’t want the top job. She follows Yeong-tak, as does everyone else, and enjoys the benefits of cheering when things go right and backing the leader when things go wrong.

Other cast include Na Chul, Do-yoon Kim, Kim Hak-sun, Nam Jin-bok and Dong-gon Kim.

Lotte Entertainment is a fully-integrated leading entertainment company with film, distribution and production of over hundreds of films such as CATTLE RUN, STREAMING and SINGLE IN SEOUL. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.lotteent.com.

CONCRETE UTOPIA is a stripped-down look at humanity. There are no fancy sets to hide behind, no colorful costumes and zero bright bird chirping scenery. Instead, there is destruction, grey and dingy surroundings that offer no hope and little expectation of easy survival. Once that realization sets in, so does the predicament of who rules and how they rule.

Always in the midst of it all are kind hearted individuals who see the inequities and either do something that gets them in trouble or away from prying eyes. That’s what makes this cast so perfect at the story they are trying to tell. Director Tae-hwa offers faint glimpses at how humane this new world can be and then takes it all away by revealing the ugliness behind the desperation to survive.

Well told, well performed and well directed makes CONCRETE UTOPIA a worthy film to be considered on several levels in performance, casting and bringing it to the screen. Coming in at two hours and fifteen minutes, it is suspenseful from beginning to shocking end. Award season is on the horizon and this film is South Korea’s Official Oscar Submission.

In the end – obey or leave!

The Holiday Sparkle Begins with a WISH

 

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres to begin the holiday season from directors Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn and Walt Disney Studios comes a big WISH.

Asha (Ariana DeBose) is a young teen girl who lives on an island in the kingdom of Rosas. Ruled by King Magnifico (Chris Pine) and the lovely Queen Amaya (Angelique Cabral), this is no ordinary kingdom. After studying sorcery, the King is able to grant heart’s desires by collecting wishes and protecting them. He does hold ceremonies where he chooses wishes to grant.

The one thing that Asha truly wants is for her grandfather Sabino’s (Victor Garber) to have his wish granted. He has waited so long that Asha believes if she can become an apprentice of King Magnifico, he can possibly help. When Asha is interviewed, she actually sees who the King truly is and is saddens her. She feels it best to tell her grandfather and mother Sakina (Natasha Rothwell) that the wish isn’t going to happen.

Knowing the king is deceiving the people of Rosas, Asha goes to a special spot on the island and makes her own wish. Quickly, a ball of light lands causing quite a stir and upsets Magnifico! Asha names the light and Star gives the forest animals the ability to talk, along with her goat Valentino (Alan Tudyk). Magnifico sees the light as a threat and turns to a dark magic to find who is responsible for what is happening.

That’s when Asha and Star call up her friends Dahlia (Jennifer Kumiyama), Bazeema (Della Saba), Dario (Jon Rudnitsky), Hal (Niko Vargas) and Safi (Ramy Youssef), along with the people of Rosas to stand against a power that could destroy it all.

DeBose as Asha lends her voice to a strong teen character who learns that what she believes to be true is not exactly the same as what is true. Disappointed in learning that someone she looks up to is human after all, she takes it upon herself to bring the true meaning of Rosas and the people together with the help of a little ball of light.

Pine as King Magnifico starts out as quite a showman but it is what is behind the wall in the top of the castle that shows the truth. Pine gives his character the voice of a leader who isn’t all quite in favor of the good of the people. Cabral as Queen Amaya has supported her husband but becomes suspicious of what is happening when he turns Amaya away. She tries to help the King find his path and has no problem standing up for what is right.

Tudyk as Valentino is the comic relief of the animal kingdom. Once he finds his voice, he doesn’t hesitate to use it and I am all for it.  Kumiyama, Saba, Rudnitsky, Vargas and Youssef are the supporting characters who are just delightful to watch. The group shows exactly what friendship is all about and also stand up for what is right.

Other cast include Harvey Guillen as Gabo and Evan Peters as Simon.

Walt Disney Studios continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is coming from Walt Disney Studios please visit. www.movies.disney.com.   

WISH is a sweet way to start the holiday season because it is definitely the time of year when wishes are being made! The story is one of family, love, loyalty, friendship and the kind heartedness of a young girl. She wants what is best for her family and knows that she can not change things without the help of her loyal friends.

Star is the silent star of the film with the lightness, playfulness and steadfastness Disney has come to be generationally known for. There is silliness mixed into it all and a togetherness when it comes time for the final confrontation.

We saw the film as a family and really had a wonderful time together. That’s what is so much fun about the holidays, going to the theatre together to sit back and be thoroughly entertained from start to finish. I have a feeling there is going to be many a ‘star’ added to kids Christmas lists, or maybe even a few adults lists as well and there is nothing wrong with that.

In the end – be careful what you wish for!

 

 

 

 

 

AppleTV+ Brings Us THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

 

Jeri Jacquin

Streaming on AppleTV+ from director Jennifer Perrot and Rick Thiele adapted by the Margery Williams story is a story of love with THE VELVETEEN RABBIT.

William (Phoenix Laroche) is a young man who has difficulty making friends.  His parents are very worries about him but do not know how to handle the situation. For Christmas, William receives a stuffed rabbit in his stocking and he is instantly captivated and found a friend.

Almost immediately William and Rabbit (Alex Lawther) set out for adventures and his new friend is absolutely delighted. Later, in the nursery, Rabbit meets the other bedtime toys with Wise Horse (Helena Bonham Carter), the King (Paterson Joseph), Car (Lois Chimimba) and Lion (Clive Rowe). They explain what it means to be real and Rabbit wants to be seen that way by William.

Left under a tree, Rabbit begins to questions William’s feelings and by the next morning, Rabbits world is about to change. Understanding what has happened and what must be done for his best friend, Rabbit begins to understand that love has no bounds. Doing what is right and based in love is what makes someone real – even a small rabbit.

Laroche as William is just endearing and so lovely as a young boy who can not seem to find his place in the world. He does, however, find adventure and love in a stuffed rabbit who is as real and alive to the boy as anything else in the world. I was so drawn in by Laroche’s portray of the young boy who just needed one rabbit to open his world.

Lawther as the voice of Rabbit is so soothing, calm and even when he is trying to understand the new world around him, remains ever dependable. There is something to be said for the way he speaks in that its almost a ‘thinking’ voice, the voice we all have within us but in Rabbit’s case is outside for William and his toy friends to hear.

Carter, Joseph, Chimimba and Rowe are sweet as Williams other nursery toys. They are gentle with Rabbit explaining how their world works. Even when things look dire, their explanation is filled with understanding and sympathy. We should all have such friends.

Other cast include Ellie Mejia as Miss Forrester, Samantha Colley as Mother, Leonard Buckley as Father, Tilly Vosburgh as Mary, Elizabeth O’Toole as Lucy, Nathaniel Parker and Bethany Antonia as the rabbits.

AppleTV+ is a video on demand web television that debuted in 2019 viewable through the Apple TV app. CEO Tim Cook wanted original content calling it “a great opportunity for us from a creation point of view”. From THE MORNING SHOW to TRYING and THE BANKER and Jason Momoa in SEE, there is plenty of choices for everyone. Plenty of genres? That is exactly what they are bringing to viewers and to see more of what they have to offer please visit www.apple.com/tv/.

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT is a stunning mixture of cgi and animation in a story of love between a boy and his stuffed rabbit. It only has a running time of 40 minutes but personally it is probably all my emotions can take. The mixture of mediums offers an even more in-depth look at the relationship of adventure and fun for William and Rabbit which is amazing.

Bringing this story to AppleTV+ offers the opportunity for the family to not only see the story come to life once again, but perhaps invite the youngsters who have not experienced it. For those of us a little older, the story is reminiscent of childhood and, for some of us, remembering our own Rabbits (yes, I still have mine).

As the holiday season gets busy, this is the perfect film to sit back with a cup of tea for yourself and hot chocolate for the kids and cuddle together for a story of the ages. William and Rabbit have something to teach us all about friendship, loyalty and the ultimate in love.

In the end – when a child loves you with all their hearts!

 

 

 

It is the Return of the 1986 Film STAND BY ME

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming on 4K Ultra HD in a Special Edition Steelbook from director Rob Reiner and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the return of an iconic film with the story of STAND BY ME.

It is the summer of 1959 in the town of Castle Rock and Gordie (Wil Wheaton), Teddy (Corey Feldman), Chris (River Phoenix), and Vern (Jerry O’Connell) are teenage boys spending Labor Day weekend doing boy stuff. Vern tells his friends that brother Billy has discovered a body in the woods but can’t say anything because they would get in trouble.

The boy decide that they will go look for the body and become town heroes and pack up for the long walk. Chris goes as far as to take his father’s gun for protection. Much to their dismay, they run into the town bad boys led by Ace (Kiefer Sutherland), and Eyeball (Bradley Gregg) who threaten them and steal something precious to Gordie.

On the trip, the boys have a chance to bond even more. Around the campfire, Gordie tells stories of characters he has created. Chris encourages Gordie to continue becoming a writer and not let his homelife interfere with his goal. He also tells the story of what caused his reputation and the boys are shocked by what he tells them.

The next day they find what they are looking for and aren’t sure how to feel about it all. Right behind them is Ace and his gang who make demands and threaten the boys even more. By now these four young men have discovered that they are each very strong and Ace, even with his gang with Billy (Casey Siemaszko), Denny (John Cusack) and Charlie (Gary Riley), cannot change that.

When you are twelve, friendships are the memories you keep forever!

Wheaton as Gordie is such a gentle young man who was dealing with a very traumatic situation at home. The trip is something he wants to do and knows that along with his best friend, he is going to be okay. Wheaton fit the bill perfectly as Gordie. Phoenix as best friend Chris has a tough exterior but emotionally supports his friend Gordie. He also has a story that needs telling and when he does it shocks his friends to see such emotion. Phoenix was also a perfect fit to play Chris.

Feldman as Teddy is memorable, but then again anytime Feldman was on the screen in the 80’s he was memorable. He brought this character the relief it needed at times because the film without it would be so intense. O’Connell as Vern is the one person who held back and seemed the most fearful but that didn’t stop him from following his friends!

Sutherland as Ace is a ruthless teen who finds joy in being the bully to the boys. He is going to make his own mark and it will be at the expense of someone else’s’ death. Sutherland is also an 80’s star that left his mark on that era. Cusack flexes as brother Denny and knows what is happening isn’t right. Riley, Siemaszko and Gregg are definitely followers to Ace’s leadership.

Other cast include Scott Beach as Mayor Grundy, Marshall Bell as Mr. Lachance, Frances McCain as Mrs. Lachance, Jason Lipsett as Vince, Bruce Kirby as Mr. Quidacioluo, William Bronder as Milo, and Richard Dreyfuss as the writer Gordon.

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.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Bonus materials include 4K Ultra HD Disc, Feature Presented in 4K Resolution with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos +DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Mono Audio Options, along with Deleted and Alternate Scenes.

Bluray Disc Feature presented in High Definition 5.1 Audio BLU-RAY DISC Feature presented in High Definition, Special Features: Picture-in-Picture Commentary with Director Rob Reiner and Actors Wil Wheaton & Corey Feldman, “Walking the Tracks: The Summer of Stand By Me”, Audio Commentary with Director Rob Reiner and Music Video.

STAND BY ME is based off the Stephen King novella The Body with the written script by Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon.

This film is iconic in so many ways, as a coming-of-age story but also because it was, at the time, relatable to so many people. Most of us who are now in our sixties remember the days when we could take off from sun up until sun down doing goodness knows what without a parent in sight. Most of us did not have to be home until the sun was almost down.

Bike riding and exploring where everything at that age. My brother and I would go toward the hills separating us from Mexico and climb to see how far we could get before someone would yell at us. If it wasn’t the hills, then it was the winding back road to the beach, the estuary – any place where no one else wasn’t.

That’s what the film STAND BY ME came to mean for so many. It is a story of friendship, difficult times, emotions that you cannot share with anyone but your best friends, and memories we did not realize would have to last us a lifetime. We would be almost the last generation able to have such freedoms.

Now with the release of STAND BY ME, we can share in their journey once again.

In the end – it is the last summer to remember!