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Dallas Movie Screening
Dallas Movie Screenings started out as a mailing list on Yahoo Groups to facilitate finding free screening passes in the DFW area. When Yahoo Groups shut down, we are now posting screenings on our Facebook page at http://www..facebook.com/groups/dallasmoviescreenings
Earlier Reesa's Reviews can also be found at:http://www.moviegeekfeed.com
Synopsis: After a group of friends discover that an old blind guy received a huge pay day over a tragic incident, they decide that it would be easy pickings and agree to sneak into his house to steal the money. But they soon discover that things might not be as simple as it seemed.
Review Summary: Don't Breathe is one of the most exhilarating films I have had the joy of watching in a very long time. The pacing of this film never seems to let up, and audience members might find it hard to ever catch their breath. The cast does a great job conveying the horror and suspense throughout the entire run time, and this thriller gets more shocking with every second.
(Review by Joel Hinson)
Most everyone agrees the Robert De Niro’s Raging Bull is the preeminent boxing film, so it’s interesting to see him in the role of an aging trainer to up and coming Roberto Durán. Written, directed and produced by Venezuelan Jonathan Jakubowicz, it was based on a book by Christian Giudice. It explores the life of Durán and what it took to make him into the powerhouse slugger that earned the nickname “Hands of Stone”. Well paced and edited the fight scenes are realistic as one can be in a movie without the use of CGI and slo-mo.
The movie begins with the legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel (De Niro) watching a Durán fight in Panama and seeing the hunger and determination of the natural fighter. Ray had stopped training due to pressure from “wiseguys” (John Turturro) who didn’t want Ray having a nationwide fight game. He promised to never train in New York again. At first the feisty Durán (Edgar Ramirez) doesn’t want help from the American. Through flashbacks we see Durán’s early influences with the battles of his people against the American’s to control their country and the canal zone. His father was an American soldier stationed in Panama who abandoned his mother when he was sent back. A hardscrabble kid who did what he could to help feed his mother and siblings. He was befriended by Chaflan (Oscar Jaenada) who was like a pied piper to the El Chorrillo slum kids teaching them how to take what they could get. Duran asks Plomo (Pedro Pérez) the trainer at the local gym to teach him to fight. It wasn’t until Plomo sees him in a pick up fight with another kid, that he decides to take him on.
Duran had early success and his cocky and aggressive nature wins over school girl Felicidad (Ana de Armas) who he later marries and has 5 children (and she has the same body over the years...ok). Despite not attending school and not be able to read, Duran manages to absorb Arcel’s advice and training like a sponge. His head strong attitude often causes him to lock horns with Arcel. But in the end, he see’s Arcel as a father figure to guide him and discard his advice.
The fight with Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher) surprised even Sugar Ray who claims he never loses. Duran’s success of his career brings him lots of cash and fame. He generously shares with people back home, but it also starts to cause him to divert from his discipline into indulgence. He alienates his family and friends. When he’s forced into a rematch with Sugar Ray by his promoter Carlos (Ruben Blades). He’s not ready, and is put off by the strategy by Sugar Ray to dance around him in the ring. He infamously walks out of the ring. Despite the disappointment of letting his country down, Duran had managed to win 5 different titles for the WBA and the WBC in various weight classes over his career before he retired in 2002. He had a professional record of 119 fights, 103 wins with 69 knockouts.
There are some beautiful photography of Panama (probably to boost tourism by the Panama Film Commission who partially financed the film). As well as a strong anti-American sentiment as it portrays the angry American soldiers opening fire on students and citizens who protest the U.S. presence and control of the Canal Zone. As far as fight movies go, this one was one not only stays faithful to the life of one of the worlds greatest boxer, it also gets into the head of the fighter and the motivation of what made him so great. Edgar Ramírez is effectively convenes the intensity and hunger of Duran. From his energetic youth to his more humble return to the ring after he tried to retire. Ana de Armas is a good foil as Felicidad for her exuberant husband. De Niro is often very laid back but solid as the trainer. Between bouts Arcel combs Duran’s hair, because it makes him look cool and confident to his opponent. The fight game is all in the head.
(Review by reesa)
The film Tunnel directed by Kim Seong-hoon, which opened a couple of weeks ago in South Korea has surpassed 5 million admissions. For a country that is as small as Illinois, that is quite a feat. The story which would seem kinda of a predictable formula, takes a turn from the usual disaster elements and shines a light on the public’s attitude to the catastrophe, with the news reporters, government types, corporate greed, the waiting wife, and the will of the trapped man to survive. There are no slow spots in the film. Although you can pretty much foresee what will happen in the end, it keeps your attention until you make sure you are right and feel good about it.
Ha Jung-soo plays the unlucky regular family maTn Jung-soo, a car dealer who is driving home with a birthday cake for his young daughter. When driving through a recently opened tunnel, everything around him begins to crumble. He wakes up to being covered in dust and rocks and concrete surrounding and crushing his car. He’s got about 82% battery left on his phone, so he calls for help. The emergency response was less than helpful. That is until the response team actually arrives and sees that the whole mountain has totally wiped out the tunnel. The rescue chief Dae-kyung (Oh Dal-su) talks with Jung-soo to reassure him as the man is pretty much in full panic mode at this point. He tells him that the 1 ½ bottles of water he has in the car will have to last him for the next 7 days, his estimate of what it will take to get him out.
Jung-soo’s wife Se-hyun (Doona Bae) hears about her husband on the grocery store TV. She rushes to the site being reassured that everything is being done. At this point the place is filled with news teams reporting the disaster and governments representatives are there for photo opts to show the world they are serious about saving their citizen. Jung-soo is told to turn off his phone to save his battery and he will be called every day at noon to check on him. A series of blunders turned the rescue mission to become delayed, and the weather is beginning to turn. The days go by, and the construction companies are beginning to put pressure on the government to let them resume blasting on the new tunnel. When his phone finally dies, it looks like everyone is ready to write him off. 35 days being trapped, even his wife is losing hope.
The story, pacing and editing, even the clever camera angles keeps the viewer glued to the screen. Which is an accomplishment for a film over 2 hours. It may be subtitled but the humanity of the film, be it brave, impatient, and determined speaks to everyone no matter what language. The film opens at AMC Grapevine and Cine Oasis.
(Review by reesa)
Well it is that time of year again that the kiddos go back to school. Or as for my daughter time to go back to work. I know I am so ready for the fall!
Make sure if you going to offer your tickets not to wait till the last minute. At least give people time to get in line. Sure I know sometime may come up and you may not find out until the last minute.
If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com.
Sunday Aug. 21st
Monday Aug. 22nd
Tuesday Aug. 23rd
Don't Breathe Angelika Dallas
Wednesday Aug. 24th
Morgan Angelika Dallas
Mechanic:Resurrection Cinemark 17 and AMC Northpark
Don't Breathe Cinemark 17
This insightful documentary explores the history and development of Richard Linklater as the groundbreaking filmmaker that he has become. The film fully encapsulates Linklater’s love of story-telling through film. As an audience, we are given a detailed look at why and how Linklater made the projects that he made. This man from Huntsville, Texas had no idea that he was going to put passion into projects that would move so many.
I loved the way that this documentary was shot. Many old videos spanning decades displayed Linklater collaborating with his team, growing up, and directing actors on set. We also saw old interviews that communicated the time of his life and what he felt about what was going on. In some segments, Linklater converses with a former actor in one of his films while they go through his old notes, scripts, and diaries. This peephole into the formation of such a game-changing director was so interesting to see.
Friends and former workmates share that Ric made a new world with each of his films to make sense of his own. This love and tool of film was so nice to be mentioned again. We can see that through his projects he learns and enjoys the process.
The film makes it superbly clear that Ric didn’t at all care what Hollywood thought of him. His first film that had reaching reviews was filmed in Austin of all places. As he says to the camera, he didn’t want to be caught in the studio business. I think that this way of starting is so refreshing to me as I saw that through hard work and collaboration, Linklater achieved his dream of filmmaking.
He mentions that writing was the only way that he could express himself. Once again, his passion for the art is thoroughly expressed here. The project is a great chance to explore Linklater’s mind. They went on the sets of his recent films and put out in full view the master at work. Dream is Destiny is a brilliant capturing of Linklater’s timeline. As Linklater says in some footage, he just wanted to be part of a group in his journey to story-telling. He has subsequently had the chance to make experiences that will last in our heads for years to come. After Boyhood, I felt like I had been transported for three hours to another world. A documentary about a talent like that has to be made
(Review by Wyatt Head)
Children centric movies have never been better. The recent opening of the excellent Pete’s Dragon raised the bar for quality stories and characters. Laika and Focus Features newest film is the directorial debut by Laika CEO Travis Knight. From an original story by Shannon Tindle and written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, the stop motion 3D animated feature is not only eye candy, but a story of of magic and heart. Shown recently at an advanced screening in the AMC Dolby theater, it was enhanced by the motion seats that vibrated along with the action. The film was preceded by a short presentation on the making of the film explaining the work and detail that was used to create the stop motion animation. The ending credits also brings you back stage to see what it takes to make the movie.
The story is the journey of Kubo (Art Parkinson), the son of a mysterious woman who washed ashore in a stormy sea using her 2 string lute to save her. Set in Ancient Japan, the boy cares for his sick mother in a cave who sometimes have moments of lucidity and regales him with stories. Her only rule to Kubo is to always make it back home before dark. During the day, Kubo goes to the village and tells stories using the magical lute and origami that comes to life as he plays the instruments. But one day, he doesn’t make it home before the sun set and his past comes to get him. His mother’s sisters (both voiced by Rooney Mara) from a spiritual world try to lure him wanting to take him to their world. His grandfather, Raiden the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) wants Kubo’s other eye that he stole from him as a baby.
Hence the quest begins as Kubo must find the magical samurai armor that was worn by his legendary warrior father. After the village is burned down, Kubo only has a charmed figurine that his mother told him to always keep on him. That has turned into a talking Monkey (Charlies Theron) who is protective of Kubo and a bit snarky. They later meet a giant Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) who has no memory of how he came to be, but he thinks he may have been a samurai. They become surrogate parents to Kubo as they battle various monsters in search of the various pieces of armor.
The Asian themed movie isn’t as stereotyped like the Kung-fu Panda movies. There’s a more dreamlike quality of the narrative and the artwork that will keep even the most restless child rapt with attention. Some of the darker themes, like the porcelain masked sisters and the loss of family may be a little too much for the younger ones. It’s the plucky one eyed Kubo who discovers and tames his magical powers and an ending that is emotional and right. It’s too bad they could not have used all Asian actors for the main voices for the Asian characters.
(Review by reesa)
Synopsis: David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli were grade school best friends, and when Efraim hears that David is needing a better job to provide for his family he offers him to be his business partner as an arms dealer. They start out dealing with smaller contracts, but once they land a 300 million dollar contract with the U.S government things get a little more complicated.
Review Summary: Jonah Hill and Miles Teller are an extremely charismatic duo on screen. Their performances really transport this movie to a higher level than it should be. Its not a bad story by any means, and the directing style of Todd Philips definitely fit the bill. War Dogs definitely isn't a new look at cinema, but you will have some fun going on this exhilarating ride with both Hill and Teller.
(Review by Joel Hinson)
I don't know about y'all but I have been enjoying the Olympics!
I had someone emailing me this week about what time is a good time to get in line. So for all the newbies out there you don't want to get in line at 6:30. Now if it is one everyone wants to see and hasn't been shown just yet you may want to get there before noon! If it has been shown a few times then it would be safe to get there around 4. Heck when I first started doing this you could get there at 5 and still get a great seat!
If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com
Sunday Aug. 14th
Monday Aug. 15th
Kubo and the Two Strings AMC Northpark
Hands of Stone AMC Highland Village
Tuesday Aug. 16th
Ben-Hur Angelika Dallas & Cinemark 17
War Dogs TBA
Wednesday Aug. 17th
War Dogs TBA
Bridget Jone's Baby Angelika Dallas
Kubo and the Two Strings Cinemark 17
Synopsis: Super Market food strive to be chosen by humans in order to be taken to what they think is the "Great Beyond." That reality is abruptly ripped away from them when they realize their only being chosen to be eaten.
Review Summary: This raunchy comedy will have you howling in your seat, but sometimes it is a little more raunch than comedy. Seth Rogen is known for pushing the boundaries in his film's, and in Sausage Party he takes food where no food has ever gone before. It works in scenes and at others it seems like he simply uses vulgarity to replace story telling.
(Review by Joel Hinson)
This is a modern day western with the wide open Texas plains, the dry dusty roads, the sleepy little towns with its share of colorful denizens. Directed by David Mackenzie and smartly written by Taylor Sheridan it touches on the poverty stricken West Texas where banks are foreclosing on farms, jobs are hard to find and homes are in disrepair and everyone carries a gun. It may have been filmed in Eastern New Mexico, but it’s still the dry inhospitable high desert and the tough people that have to live there.
Tanner (Ben Foster) who just got out of jail after serving eight years for the manslaughter of his abusive father, comes back to the homestead where his brother Toby (Chris Pine) had been caring for their dying mother. The bank is due to foreclose on their ranch, so the brothers make a series of early morning robberies only taking the drawer cash, no big bills, and nothing to get the FBI involved. So it falls to Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) who is due to retire in a couple of weeks. Bridges really dives into the crotchety old lawman who good naturedly verbally insults his partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) on his Native American/Mexican heritage. When the brother’s pull off two robberies in a row, it gets Hamilton’s blood hound tenacity fired up.
The cat and mouse crime caper is typical of the genre, but there’s a twist. The guys are targeting the banks that holds the lien on the farm. With the money they take, they launder the cash at the Oklahoma casinos to pay the bank the money owed. Toby is doing it for this two boys who live with their mom and are pretty much estranged from their dad. Hamilton and Alberto of course don’t know this as they try and figure out where the next bank will be targeted.
Pine shows the world that he can play a totally different kind of character than the usual good looking hero. Ben Foster is totally immersed as the out of the control brother who is deeply protective his family. And of course Jeff Bridges never fails to dominate the screen as the old codger who can still shoot a sniper rifle as well as think through the maze of a crime. The scene between Pine and Bridges just crackles with quiet threat. There is some humor in the script, but it’s also a very violent story that is grounded by the social awareness of our world and of people living on the edge. It’s a film that may not get the young crowds at the metroplex, but it’s one of those movies that is absolutely worth the price and the time.
(Review by reesa)
It’s been like forever since a child’s movie connected to its audience with so much heart. Usually they are animated with human acting animals, colored too brightly with annoyingly bouncy music. Based on the the 1977 movie of the same name, the live action story only resembles it by having a boy and his dragon. Director David Lowery wrote the script with Toby Halbrooks which opens the movie quietly with a narration regarding legends of dragons who live in the mountainous north of the small logging town of Mullhaven situated in some far northwester Pacific forest covered landscapes. (Which was filmed in New Zealand). Dark, green, thick with tall trees, a dragon could live there without anyone knowing.
The story starts out tragically with Pete (Oakes Fegley) who at 5 years old was traveling on an adventure withis parents. An accident that is fortunately not shown, leaves the little boy on his own in the middle of nowhere with wolves surrounding him. Until there is a sound that scares even them. The first thing Pete asks if it’s going to eat him, but the large CGI dragon recognizes a kindred spirit in the little boy as he too has lost his family. Cut to six years later, Pete is running around the woods with his best friend and protector who needs Elliot from the book that survived the accident. He has thrived due to Elliot’s care, running around the forest with a freedom that kids of all ages have dreamed about at one time or other. One day he see’s forest ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) who sparks a memory of his Pete’s mother. He follows her to a logging camp that is perhaps illegally cutting too far into the woods. She loses her locket/compass that Pete picks up. Curiosity brings Pete back to watch the people in the logging camp, but the daughter of Grace’s boyfriend Jack (Wes Bentley) sees Pete and follows him. Then everyone starts to look for Natalie (Oona Laurence), who is slightly older than Pete who tells her that he’s 5, since that what his age was when he got orphaned.
The most touching scene is where Grace talks quietly to Pete trying to find out who he is and why and how he is there. Not being around humans, he’s entranced by her, but the anxious others make him nervous and confused. Grace’s father (Robert Redford) has claimed in the past that he has seen the dragon when he was younger, but Grace thinks she knows the forest better than anyone and has never seen it. So she is more than surprised when Pete tells her about his friend Elliot. Not to ruin any of the surprises and excitement of the film, it’s highly recommended that you see this, with plenty of tissues. The story is told without beating one on the head with some religious dogma, and the bad guys like Jack’s brother Gavin (Karl Urban) who wants to hunt the creature are redeemed by the magic and wonder of something more precious than fame and money. It’s a story of family and finding a place to survive in happiness. (Maybe not quite so syrupy but it’s a really good movie.)
(Review by reesa)
Man it is hot outside! But what a better way to stay cooled off than to see a movie!
I went to the movies last week and got to the theater a little after 2 p.m. and ended up being at the end of the second group of lines. I was helping pass goodies out and in the first line they only had 5 people and about 20 chairs. We are not responsible if the theater takes the chairs away. The first person got to the theater at 8 a.m. and she stayed all day!
If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com
Sunday Aug. 7th
Monday Aug. 8th
Pete's Dragon AMC Northpark
Tuesday Aug. 9th
War Dogs AMC NOrthpark and Firewheel
Pete's Dragon AMC Parks Arlington
Florence Foster Jenkins TBA
Hell or High Water TBA
Wednesday Aug. 10th
Pete's Dragon Cinemark 17
Sausage Party AMC Northpark
Synopsis: U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller decides that it is about time to create a top secret spec ops group made up of highly dangerous criminals, who have nothing to loose, in order to fend off the metahumans's that could possibly invade earth.
Review Summary: In this David Ayer directed superhero movie, consisting mostly of villains, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Is this movie flawless? By no means, but it is a summer blockbuster that proves DC is still in the running game. Robbie and Leto are reason alone to go out and see this movie. I did still leave a bit disappointed, but that is because David Ayer has proven himself many a time in the past. You could blame the less than stellar script on the fact that Ayer only had 6 weeks to write the thing.
Opening:
There is nothing more human than telling a deeply emotional human story that shows the human spirit in its most powerful form and that our species can be filled with good moments amongst the bad. Let’s get reel and break this down.
Plot:
At the age of 34, Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS. Doctors gave the former NFL defensive back and New Orleans hero two to five years to live. So that is what Steve chose to do - LIVE: with purpose, for his newborn son, for his wife, and to help others with his disease.
Directing/Writing
Pros:
The raw, home movie look really adds to the relatability and humanity to Steve and everyone else around supporting him. This is an inspirational tale of never giving up and pushing through life even though life throws us curveballs and the director really insinuates that. The construction of the story brings out every single emotion and really showcasing the range we have as humans as we go through this weird thing called life.
Cons:
My only con is that the director did drag out the narrative a bit too long and you can feel the weight of the film especially since it’s so emotionally heavy.
Acting
Pros:
Obviously this is a documentary and everyone in this film isn’t acting; however, there were a few scenes where I almost broke down because of how convincing their words that they spoke were. I had to keep reminding myself these are real life people and I am watching real life events.
Cons:
None
Cinematography
Pros:
The grounded home video look really puts you in the scenes with these people making the journey worthwhile.
Cons:
None.
Editing/Special Effects
Pros:
The emotional toll throughout this film really takes you on the most human journey you will take and the inspiration alone will make this a great watch and paces the story out pretty moderately.
Cons:
Like I mentioned above, it does feel a tad too long.
Overall:
I have said what I needed to say about this wonderful film and is a great story about what it means to overcome any speed bump in life, push through, and live life with a purpose.
Like any tight group of co-workers that rely on each other, when one gets recognition for their work and rewarded, there is bound to be some envy and self reflection. In the world of stage improvisation comedy the egos are more intensified. Director, writer and actor Mike Birbiglia accurately captures the sensitive and creative quirks of the troupe The Common. Its funny in a serious way as characters come to term with growing up and moving on.
The group has a series of routines the perform with each other before getting on stage. It shows their chemistry and willingness to support each other during their performance. Birbiglia plays Miles the leader of The Common, who teaches improve on the side. He lives in a loft bed in a space with some of the other members.Handsome and charismatic Jack (Kegan--Michael Key) lives with girlfriend Samantha (Gilliam Jacobs) who just fell in with improve and has embraced the medium with an amazing talent. Everyone has unfulfilling jobs to pay the rent. It is no wonder that the closing of the theater fills them with dread. Rumor has it that some producers from an SNL like late night show called Weekend Update may be in the audience. Everyone wants to trot out their best material. But Jack who has a bad nervous habit of hogging the stage and ends up getting a call to auction puts everyone in an awkward position. As happy as the are for him to receive recognition the all long for receiving, they still wonder why him not me.
The pressure on Jack to survive his new high pressure job is not helped by his trope members wanting him to submit their material for consideration to forward to the powers to be. Sam was supposed to auction too, but missed her appointment on purpose. Mike realizes that he's missed his chance for success. Watching Jack on TV in his new gig brings scathing critiques from his former members. As they pull to keep performing without Jack, unaware that Jack is barely hanging on with his boss's constant reminder that he in easily replaceable. The ending may be a little tightly wrapped up, the troupes skits are really entertaining. The actors worked together before the film to sharpen their skills. Maybe wish they did an encore.
( Review by reesa)
