End of the Tour

Maybe Go
This was touted as being like My Dinner with Andre. It is not. Jesse Eisenberg is a good actor and I did not recognize Jason Segal from the Muppets, but only fair disclosure I only have eyes for Amy Adams when she is on the screen.
David Foster Wallace author of Infinite Jest is a darkly depressed young man. I can feel the sorrow as I watch this film. Suicide is never the answer.
Not much to see here, save your money.

Straight Outta Compton

Must Go
The story is of how N.W.A. emerges from the streets of Compton in Los Angeles with their music and tales that explain the life in the hood.
The one thing I have learned about these music bio pics, Straight Outta Compton and Love and Mercy, is never hire Paul Giamatti. I knew he was evil ever since he stole money from his mother in Sideways.
The film presents itself very well and it is crafted to match the tone of the story where we learn about the history of N.W.A. The five men are Ice Cube, Dr.Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren and Dj Yella. With strong acting, raw music and good history about the group that made Hip Hop like it is you will be quite surprised.
There are many dark and tense moments that almost hurt to watch but is broken up with characters that add humor/hope to these situations. Obviously this is set in the past but it also speaks to a reality people still live with: racism, abuse of power, poverty, exploitation and a lot of issues touched on in the film/music. That being said it was great I laughed/ smiled countless times.

Man from UNCLE

Go
Very good Spy movie, but why couldn’t there be a cameo with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum ? Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin are the two agents of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement.
“Your balls are on the end of a very long leash, held by a very short man.”, Illya to Solo.
I think the real strength of the movie is the comedic element. The banter is quite snappy and a few of the lines I couldn’t hear because of the laughter filling the theater. In particular Henry Cavill delivered as the slick cool spy Napoleon Solo. Armie Hammer also delivered as the Russian counterpart, Illya Kuryakin.
Go, you won’t be disappointed, except for the split screens, I hate that!

Shaun the Sheep

Go
Shaun The Sheep Movie is delightful in so many ways that it’s just easier for everyone above a certain age to give in to their inner child. The characters may be fashioned out of clay and wood and painstakingly animated at an extremely slow speed, but the film itself positively crackles with energy. The narrative pokes fun at the concepts of fashion, incarceration and going viral, even as it bounces merrily through a host of hilarious gags. The soporific effect of sheep leaping over fences is mined for plenty of laughs, while the camera checks in with a particularly crazed inmate of Animal Control and an utterly charming Baa-bershop Quintet.
Shaun is a sweetly determined hero, refusing to leave any sheep – or human, or dog – behind, even as he cleans up a mess that is (strictly speaking) of his own making. The Farmer, too, gets a storyline that spices the comedy up with a hint of drama, as he stumbles into a new career through his forgotten but deeply-ingrained skill with shearing sheep. The lack of dialogue in the film also proves to be, quite frequently, a plus. Not only does it push the story in inventive directions, it allows the incredibly expressive characters to take centre stage – their hopes, dreams and fears communicated with barely a word spoken.

This all makes for a thoroughly charming experience at the cinema – Shaun The Sheep Movie isn’t likely to make you dig deep or ponder long and hard about life, but it will almost certainly entertain you in breathtaking (and breathless!) fashion. In almost every aspect – from the deft character design to its incredibly catchy soundtrack, the film radiates a sweet, optimistic charm that will win over just about everybody who gives it a chance.

The Gift

Must Go
The Gift is Hitchcockian.
“You may be done with the past but the past isn’t done with you.”
Sometimes you walk into a theater, plop down in your seat expecting to be mildly entertained and are instead blown out of your chair. The Gift is the movie that does that this summer.
Jason Bateman, oh how woefully I doubted you. At first I didn’t think you could pull it off. But you did. He was sly and slimy as well as awkwardly funny and relatable. Rebecca Hall in many ways was the main character. She did great. Edgerton (Gordo) all I can say is WOW! Finally, since the script was so well written the viewer is left in ambiguity towards the morals of a character and I find this masterfully executed with every twist and turn being virtually unpredictable.

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

Must Go

Tom Cruise really gets it when it comes to entertaining your average moviegoer and he doesn’t disappoint. But the truth is – no one disappoints in this summer flick. All parties brought their ‘A’ game and played their part perfectly. The female lead (Rebecca Ferguson) really held her own alongside Ethan Hunt and the crew and hopefully we’ll see her in future installments.
I really like Simon Pegg, his literally perfect comic timing carries the humor in this movie. A short homage: Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Paul, Grind House, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead!! and soon in Star Wars – all great Simon Pegg movies.
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation is a start to finish thrill ride which also contained intelligent characters & plot. Don’t miss it.

p.s. does anyone else feel that they put the colon in the wrong place?

Trainwreck

No Go
Amy Schumer is no Annette Funicello.
The best way a millennial can show how “freed” they are is to be totally self-involved, unkind, use people, and abuse her body. Of course, it is all the fault of men. Since she was a little girl, it’s been drilled into Amy’s head by her rascal of a dad that monogamy isn’t realistic
Enter Mr. Right. A mild mannered man who doesn’t see Amy as a slut! I have sex with a lot of guys! I’m vulgar! I make fun of myself! Can’t girls come up with anything better than let’s bash on men? Amy can bang a 16 year old male coworker, who’s safe word is “pineapple” and not go to jail. Nothing to see here folks, just a trainwreck.
My Call is PINEAPPLE!