Midnight Special

— This film is right up my alley—a rural Texas, sci-fi, chase film “where a father named Roy and his young son Alton find themselves on the run, first from religious extremists and then, once an Amber Alert is issued, from local authorities." It’s directed by the same guy who directed “Mud”, an incredible coming of age film. “Midnight Special” has a good feeling about it with its rural settings and expanse of flat Texas roads, and it’s nicely restrained but perhaps too much so. I appreciated the unquestioning conviction of the characters and I liked the way incidents eventually came together and formed the crux of the story, but I wanted much more of the backstory. Lucky for everyone Kirsten Dunst and Michael Shannon were able to add a much appreciated parental intensity to the film. Critics seem to like this film more than I did—maybe they're more forgiving of skimpy plot lines than I am.

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[2016, 112 min., Written and directed by Jeff Nichols. Starring Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Jaeden Lieberher, and Adam Driver.]
http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/midnight-special-film-review-1201703551/

The Jungle Book

— I wasn’t sure why “The Jungle Book” was being remade until I saw it. I’ve never seen the 1994 version where none of the animals speak so my only point of reference is the original musical version. The current version is nothing like it. Instead of being transported to a jungle of animated, giddy, singing and dancing critters, we’re in a much more threatening environment among believable computer-devised wolves, cats, monkeys, and other creatures of the wild. A few of the songs are still there but this isn’t a musical by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, it’s a well-done, tight, clear tale raising all the right questions about family, environment, loyalty, the animal world, and the nature of man. It’s the kind of film Disney does well, holding our attention while tugging at our heartstrings. All the star power behind the animals’ voices pays off and Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, and Christopher Walken are particularly noteworthy. This really was fun, even if I was teary-eyed in the end.

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[2016. 105 min. Directed by Jon Favreau. Starring Neel Sethi. Featuring the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken, and Garry Shandling.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-jungle-book-2016

Chi-Raq

— I tried, really I did, and the darn Netflix disc sat on my counter day after day taunting me, questioning why I was avoiding life in a gang-ravaged Chicago with a Lysistrata plot. Well, I just didn’t want to go there and I ended up sending the disc back unwatched. Maybe I’ll be overcome with guilt and have it sent back to me a year or two from now but, in the meantime, I’m breathing a sigh of relief to have it out of my house.

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[2015. 127 min. Directed by Spike Lee. Starring Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cusack, and Jennifer Hudson.]
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/25/chi-raq-review-spike-lees-urgent-angry-and-very-sexy-midlife-masterpiece/

Hello, My Name Is Doris

— The somewhat thin plot is more than enough for an actress like Sally Field who can do comedy with flawless timing and keep things believable enough to tug at our hearts too. In the hands of a less talented actress, this could have been the creepy story of a lonely woman who lives with a cat and stalks an unsuspecting young man instead of the tender story of an older woman besotted with a much younger co-worker and taking love advice from her best friend’s teenage granddaughter. I laughed more than I expected to, even as I worried about where Doris’ life was headed. Field’s quirky character manages to get us thinking about aging, loneliness, love, and moving on. Tyne Daly, as Doris’ best friend, also helps make this more than it could have been. I had fun watching it.

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[2016. 95 min. Directed by Michael Showalter. Starring Sally Field, Max Greenfield, and Tyne Daly.]
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/hello-my-name-is-doris-20160311