Except for one major inconsistency, this film was pure magic.
Poor Conor Lawlor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) starts a new school, thanks to his parents' money struggles. Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), the principal, is downright cruel. For whatever ridiculous reason, the school has a rule where black shoes must be worn but Conor doesn't have any and his parents have no money for new ones, so he is forced to walk barefoot. Worse, when he wears make-up to school, Brother Baxter shoves his head underneath the sink to wash it off, which is incredibly abusive. Yet, they didn't seem to care about abuse to child back then, in Ireland. Oh yes, this film takes place in Dublin in 1985, with the country in dire straights, jobs being lost left and right.
Now, while Conor is upset about his new school, something manages to brighten his day. A girl is standing across the street and it is love at first sight. Raphina (Lucy Boynton, looking like a young Felicity Jones) wants to be a model and doesn't give Conor much of her time, though when he lies and announces that he is in a band, it whets her appetite.
Which means that in order for Conor to see her again, he needs to create a band, which he manages to do. The little redhead, who befriended him, Darren (Ben Carolan) is the manager and together, they gather some musicians, including the incredibly talented Eamon (Mark McKenna). They start with covers but thanks to the advice of Conor's stoner big brother, Brendan (Jack Reynor, the real breakout star of the film), they begin to write their own songs, which are just lovely, truly.
The band uses Raphina in their music videos and she is moved by their music, and the band continues to grow and get better. Conor uses everything around for inspiration for his songs, including the nasty Brother Baxter and his parents (Aidan Gillen and Maria Doyle Kennedy, the nasty first Mrs. Bates in Downton Abbey) arguments and eventual separation, which Brendan completely predicted.
But there is a problem. Raphina is seeing someone else, who is much older and does fulfill his promise and takes her to London, though that doesn't work out. Conor is so upset that she left without saying a word to him, he barely shows emotion when Raphina admits that her ex hit her.
But when she shows up at their first gig, as they give Brother Baxter what he deserves, all is forgiven. With Brendan's help, they escape to Wales on Grandad's little boat, the waves spraying them as they sail away.
The film is truly excellent, except for the inconsistency I mentioned, Eamon's mother told him that his band couldn't practice on Saturdays because of his small weekend job, but they film their first music video on Saturday, as the film clearly states. Oh well. The talent is good and while Walsh-Peelo is great, I feel that Jack Reynor is even better though his part is smaller yet he shines as the sacrificing big brother who needs to understand that his moment to shine will never happen. Boynton is also great.
Also included is a dream sequence, something that I'm not particularly fond of, though this one works wonders, getting inside the imagination of Conor of what he really wants his music video to look like. And the song is great. While I would have liked a more solid ending, the film tells a simple story but makes it sing, and the songs are the true stars of the film. Grade: A-
Friday, October 28, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Middle: Halloween VII: The Heckoning
It is fall, almost autumn, according to April (Greer Grammer). Axl (Charlie McDermott) is still madly, hopelessly in love with her and is just the sweetest to her while he is pretty nasty to his family, telling Sue (Eden Sher) that dogs can't eat chocolate.
However, Sue has bigger problems. She is desperate to get her very own room back, but Brick (Atticus Shaffer) isn't budging. In fact, quite the opposite, he even put a chain lock on the door for even more privacy. Despite Sue's good points on why she should get her room back, Brick refuses, forcing Sue to take extreme measures which end badly for all involved. Mike (Neil Flynn) breaks down her door as the chain is latched and Brick shoves through the not-yet healed hole in Sue's room so now she has a huge hole in her wall. Mike is livid but Brick once again, pulls the pity card, saying that he has never had anything that belongs just to him. The family does feel sorry for him, though there are bigger fish to fry.
While carving pumpkins with April, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) rushes to protect her precious People magazines and Sue learns that Brad Pitt was once married to Jennifer Aniston but they divorced over the issue of children which leads to a discussion of who the Heck children would live with if Mike and Frankie ever got divorced. Needless to say, the kids say Mike without any hesitation. Frankie is hurt at the speed in which they said it.
While Frankie admits that the divorce discussion is hypotetical, her feelings were very real and so she storms out. On Halloween night Frankie is so angry that the family is just so cruel to her, making fun of her clapping visibly flinching whenever she puts her hands together that she leaves the house. But she's okay with her decision, even stopping by the Donohue's Bible-themed haunted house, a combination I never thought I would see, but it oddly works for them.
Frankie does return, only mildly reluctantly where she is greeted by April who told Axl that he should be nicer to Frankie as you only have one Mom. Mike is the only one still awake when Frankie gets in the door, with some donuts still remaining. She wonders what she is doing wrong and Mike tells her nothing, but that he wouldn't take the kids anyway in a divorce. I think he's only have joking.
The episode does end happily with Mike finding another matching chair down in the basement underneath a pile of junk and Brick is thrilled, he finally feels like he belongs in the family, and just think, it only took fourteen years.
While this episode was good and had some fun gags throughout, it lacked the emotional punch of last weeks. Still, there is never a false note when it comes to the acting or realism and the dialogue is always great. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-The episode begins by the whole family staring in amazement as Axl and April are frolicking in the fall leaves.
-Sue is still twenty percent scared of ghosts.
-Axl tells Mike that he should force Frankie to be more organized.
-When April is carrying the pumpkin into the house, she runs into the glass sliding door twice before Axl opens it for her. The looks on Frankie's and Mike's face is priceless.
-Still, while Axl thinks that Brad Pitt played Thor, April miraclously corrects him and informs him that it was Chris Hemsworth.
-Frankie thinks her job is on to her stealing toilet paper.
-As Sue is still in Axl's room, he puts on one of her shirts.
-In addition to Brick refusing to give up Sue's room, he also steals the bowl for her cereal right out from under her.
-The kids don't know who Jerry Lewis is.
-When prompted, Brick almost starts writing a list on all of his problems with Frankie, but she wasn't serious.
-Mike eats crackers with sardines on them once a week. That sounds disgusting.
-April and Axl dress up as Cinderella and Prince Charming for Halloween. Axl isn't thrilled, but April wanted to pass out candy and he sucks it up for love. But April doesn't get Frankie's joke that April's car will turn into a pumpkin at midnight.
-Brick and Cindy (Casey Burke) are a bowling ball and bowling pin, which is very creative, only Brick stands Cindy up as he is more concerned with saving Sue's room for himself.
-Brick keeps a picture of Cindy on his nightstand.
-Even Mike is reading an issue of Frankie's magazine on trick-or-treat night.
-The names of the room still stands. Sue named her room Tina while Brick thought Santiago suited it better.
-Also, a good call-back to the other baby they brought home from the hospital.
However, Sue has bigger problems. She is desperate to get her very own room back, but Brick (Atticus Shaffer) isn't budging. In fact, quite the opposite, he even put a chain lock on the door for even more privacy. Despite Sue's good points on why she should get her room back, Brick refuses, forcing Sue to take extreme measures which end badly for all involved. Mike (Neil Flynn) breaks down her door as the chain is latched and Brick shoves through the not-yet healed hole in Sue's room so now she has a huge hole in her wall. Mike is livid but Brick once again, pulls the pity card, saying that he has never had anything that belongs just to him. The family does feel sorry for him, though there are bigger fish to fry.
While carving pumpkins with April, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) rushes to protect her precious People magazines and Sue learns that Brad Pitt was once married to Jennifer Aniston but they divorced over the issue of children which leads to a discussion of who the Heck children would live with if Mike and Frankie ever got divorced. Needless to say, the kids say Mike without any hesitation. Frankie is hurt at the speed in which they said it.
While Frankie admits that the divorce discussion is hypotetical, her feelings were very real and so she storms out. On Halloween night Frankie is so angry that the family is just so cruel to her, making fun of her clapping visibly flinching whenever she puts her hands together that she leaves the house. But she's okay with her decision, even stopping by the Donohue's Bible-themed haunted house, a combination I never thought I would see, but it oddly works for them.
Frankie does return, only mildly reluctantly where she is greeted by April who told Axl that he should be nicer to Frankie as you only have one Mom. Mike is the only one still awake when Frankie gets in the door, with some donuts still remaining. She wonders what she is doing wrong and Mike tells her nothing, but that he wouldn't take the kids anyway in a divorce. I think he's only have joking.
The episode does end happily with Mike finding another matching chair down in the basement underneath a pile of junk and Brick is thrilled, he finally feels like he belongs in the family, and just think, it only took fourteen years.
While this episode was good and had some fun gags throughout, it lacked the emotional punch of last weeks. Still, there is never a false note when it comes to the acting or realism and the dialogue is always great. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-The episode begins by the whole family staring in amazement as Axl and April are frolicking in the fall leaves.
-Sue is still twenty percent scared of ghosts.
-Axl tells Mike that he should force Frankie to be more organized.
-When April is carrying the pumpkin into the house, she runs into the glass sliding door twice before Axl opens it for her. The looks on Frankie's and Mike's face is priceless.
-Still, while Axl thinks that Brad Pitt played Thor, April miraclously corrects him and informs him that it was Chris Hemsworth.
-Frankie thinks her job is on to her stealing toilet paper.
-As Sue is still in Axl's room, he puts on one of her shirts.
-In addition to Brick refusing to give up Sue's room, he also steals the bowl for her cereal right out from under her.
-The kids don't know who Jerry Lewis is.
-When prompted, Brick almost starts writing a list on all of his problems with Frankie, but she wasn't serious.
-Mike eats crackers with sardines on them once a week. That sounds disgusting.
-April and Axl dress up as Cinderella and Prince Charming for Halloween. Axl isn't thrilled, but April wanted to pass out candy and he sucks it up for love. But April doesn't get Frankie's joke that April's car will turn into a pumpkin at midnight.
-Brick and Cindy (Casey Burke) are a bowling ball and bowling pin, which is very creative, only Brick stands Cindy up as he is more concerned with saving Sue's room for himself.
-Brick keeps a picture of Cindy on his nightstand.
-Even Mike is reading an issue of Frankie's magazine on trick-or-treat night.
-The names of the room still stands. Sue named her room Tina while Brick thought Santiago suited it better.
-Also, a good call-back to the other baby they brought home from the hospital.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
The Middle: A Tough Pill to Swallow
Well, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) I understand. I can't swallow pills either and I'm a whole lot older than you. Apparently, Brick had an ear infection and now must take a pill in order to get better, but that is something he is not capable of. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) tries many tricks, even putting it in a bowl of pudding but Brick is too smart for that trick. He picks it out of the pudding, licks the pill off and lays it down beside him and gulfs down the pudding. But when Frankie must sneak out of work to pick him up from school, she is livid and tries to tell him that adults have to do stuff that they never want to do. Brick compares it to her never, ever parallel parking. To prove a point, badly, she attempts to parallel park and it goes badly, but it finally forces Brick to swallow the pill. Hopefully he'll have better luck next time.
Sue (Eden Sher) has far bigger fish to fry. She forgot to renew her financial aid and thus, is not even enrolled in college anymore. Yeah, this makes the pill look like nothing. She missed the email to re-enroll and now there is nothing that can be done unless her parents can actually pay for college, which of course they can't. Mike (Neil Flynn) even decides to charm the burser, though he warns Sue he's not proud of it. But the deadline is firm one, set by the Department of Education. Of course Mike is mad at Sue and she's so disappointed. She's the one who doesn't get to go to college anymore.
Axl's (Charlie McDermott's) problems are also petty in comparison, he merely doesn't care about his housemates by driving the Winnebago back to Orson at the drop of a hat so he can visit April. That's a lot of gas money to do so. Hutch (Alphonso McAuley) wakes up somewhere else and nearly misses his classes which makes him very angry, understandably. But, as it turns out, he is most upset that he had to find out about Axl's wonderful relationship from Kenny (Tommy Bechtold) of all people. Hutch does love love, after all. Things are hopefully better between the two of them. But Axl does need to consider his roommate's needs also. It can't be all about him. But he has always been pretty self-centered.
Sue's problems aren't as easily solved. Without her financial aid, she is packing up her bags when she gets a miraculous email. She's back in college. And she's so grateful, though it doesn't last long, as her dorm room is the worst.
Frankie is thrilled that Mike solved the financial aid problem, only he didn't. He loves Sue so much that he sold his half of the diaper business and wrote out the twenty thousand dollar check for her tuition. Frankie is shocked and even I was too. He made a huge sacrifice for his only daughter. He does have a soft spot in his heart for her. She will never know how much he truly does love her.
It is a sweet moment and adds some needed gravity to the episode as Axl's and Brick's plot lines are stupid and petty in the long run, albeit realist. I can relate to both, though I never lived in a Winnebago and woke up in another town, yet it could happen.
The acting is top-notch as this episode was especially a highlight for Flynn. It wasn't as funny as most episodes are, but it was serious and real, both of which are also very important. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie can take her bra off underneath her clothes and once that happens, she is done for the day.
-Mike can fake charming very well.
-Sue is boycotting her boyfriend, Jeremy (Will Green) as he sent the pizza delivery guy back as he didn't like where the pizza cheese came from. Color me not surprised. Sue shouldn't have been either.
-I wonder what would truly happen if you could and did harness the power of a young man in love.
-Booze is Frankie's opinion of a people treat.
-Brick can now finally be in the same room as scotch tape. There must be more to the story than just that. I would love to know more.
-April's eyes are the color of a lake and her hair smells like lemons.
-Great cut from Axl saying only losers introduce themselves to the professors to Sue explaining to the administration that she was introducing herself to all of her professors.
-Sue forwarded the email the cafeteria soup menu to her mother for whatever reason.
-Sue, you need to get another back-up plan. You are too good to work at Spudsys forever.
-Sue also loses checkers to her stuffed dog.
-Mike admits that the Hecks have no records, financially speaking.
-Mike really does suck up to the burser. We see a whole other side of him.
Sue (Eden Sher) has far bigger fish to fry. She forgot to renew her financial aid and thus, is not even enrolled in college anymore. Yeah, this makes the pill look like nothing. She missed the email to re-enroll and now there is nothing that can be done unless her parents can actually pay for college, which of course they can't. Mike (Neil Flynn) even decides to charm the burser, though he warns Sue he's not proud of it. But the deadline is firm one, set by the Department of Education. Of course Mike is mad at Sue and she's so disappointed. She's the one who doesn't get to go to college anymore.
Axl's (Charlie McDermott's) problems are also petty in comparison, he merely doesn't care about his housemates by driving the Winnebago back to Orson at the drop of a hat so he can visit April. That's a lot of gas money to do so. Hutch (Alphonso McAuley) wakes up somewhere else and nearly misses his classes which makes him very angry, understandably. But, as it turns out, he is most upset that he had to find out about Axl's wonderful relationship from Kenny (Tommy Bechtold) of all people. Hutch does love love, after all. Things are hopefully better between the two of them. But Axl does need to consider his roommate's needs also. It can't be all about him. But he has always been pretty self-centered.
Sue's problems aren't as easily solved. Without her financial aid, she is packing up her bags when she gets a miraculous email. She's back in college. And she's so grateful, though it doesn't last long, as her dorm room is the worst.
Frankie is thrilled that Mike solved the financial aid problem, only he didn't. He loves Sue so much that he sold his half of the diaper business and wrote out the twenty thousand dollar check for her tuition. Frankie is shocked and even I was too. He made a huge sacrifice for his only daughter. He does have a soft spot in his heart for her. She will never know how much he truly does love her.
It is a sweet moment and adds some needed gravity to the episode as Axl's and Brick's plot lines are stupid and petty in the long run, albeit realist. I can relate to both, though I never lived in a Winnebago and woke up in another town, yet it could happen.
The acting is top-notch as this episode was especially a highlight for Flynn. It wasn't as funny as most episodes are, but it was serious and real, both of which are also very important. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie can take her bra off underneath her clothes and once that happens, she is done for the day.
-Mike can fake charming very well.
-Sue is boycotting her boyfriend, Jeremy (Will Green) as he sent the pizza delivery guy back as he didn't like where the pizza cheese came from. Color me not surprised. Sue shouldn't have been either.
-I wonder what would truly happen if you could and did harness the power of a young man in love.
-Booze is Frankie's opinion of a people treat.
-Brick can now finally be in the same room as scotch tape. There must be more to the story than just that. I would love to know more.
-April's eyes are the color of a lake and her hair smells like lemons.
-Great cut from Axl saying only losers introduce themselves to the professors to Sue explaining to the administration that she was introducing herself to all of her professors.
-Sue forwarded the email the cafeteria soup menu to her mother for whatever reason.
-Sue, you need to get another back-up plan. You are too good to work at Spudsys forever.
-Sue also loses checkers to her stuffed dog.
-Mike admits that the Hecks have no records, financially speaking.
-Mike really does suck up to the burser. We see a whole other side of him.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
The Middle: The Core Group
Thank goodness this show is back! My favorite family is back on TV.
Sue (Eden Sher) does arrive back from Dolllyworld and Mike (Neil Flynn) is anxious waiting for her to finally arrive, but when she does, he smiles, gives her a quick hug and immediately turns on the TV, his favorite.
Sue has a major announcement of her own. She wants to change her major to acting. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shocked but says that that could be a good idea. Though I love Sue, even though she is the most naive character on TV, acting is not in her wheelhouse. She would be much better sticking with psychology. But she needs to be all in. Yet, she also feels that she needs a back-up plan.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) has started high school and miraculously has a real book bag. His plan of hanging with the cool kid (Matt Cornett) doesn't work out as the cool kids want to sit with someone even cooler so poor Brick is stuck talking to his book bag, whispering to himself and whooping.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) finally introduces his new girlfriend, April (Greer Grammer) to his parents and though he is clearly in love, she is dumber than a brick, believing that world peace is merely good. Frankie can't believe it, while Mike and Brick don't seem too concerned.
Frankie, desperate to hold on to her family, plans a nice dinner and actually makes a noodle casserole. Though it can't hot as they don't use hot pads to place it down on the table, but whatever. But Frankie's well-meant plans are shattered when April shows up and then Jeremy (Will Green) shows up after some major protesting. No feeding antacids to cows. Mike is thrilled to hear that Jeremy is from Indianapolis as that is where the Colts are from. However, Jeremy doesn't like football because of the underpaid factory workers who make the balls. Mike is livid and instantly hates Jeremy far more than Frankie dislikes April. Yes, that's right, they are rooting for Cindy (Casey Burke), who is mad that the dinner doesn't include shrimp.
Frankie manages to give her toast though she must call her family away to the fridge and snaps at them that she loves them and these moments are truly fleeting. And that these moments should be appreciated. Isn't that what life is, fleeting?
Despite meaning to tell Axl off about April, she can't as she understands and blatantly sees that he's in love and she doesn't wish to ruin that. Mike is mad that Jeremy could take away the one thing he truly loves. Not Sue, mind you, but the Colts.
While there are few minor problems, such as the inconsistency of Jeremy being from Iowa last season and now being from Indianapolis, this was still a solid episode and the kids' significant others will blend awkwardly with the Heck family so funny times are ahead. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Fall has officially arrived. Frankie removed the duck tape from the sprinkler and put it back on the rake.
-Mike really should stop staring out the windows. Frankie snaps at him saying that the baby next door is already scared of him. Great callback, by the way.
-Sue's part was incredibly small. She was the girl in the well. And yes, if a kid punches his mom, he does have serious issues.
-Axl asks April if she found the place (the Heck house) okay after she sees him and kisses him and she says that she thinks she found the house okay.
-Frankie may have been pretty upstairs but Mike was far more interested in her downstairs. Yikes.
-Mike doesn't know what Team Aniston is and Frankie bemuses on how they can even be a couple.
-Cindy's mom went to bed early so she is fending for herself and was eating apples from a neighbors tree when Brick texted her.
-Also, only three out of the five people who saw Brick talking to his backpack made fun of him, so according to him high school is better.
-Sue urges Brick to create a secret back-up plan for her and give a copy to someone else in case he dies.
-Axl can't share a glass of wine with his mother despite her breastfeeding him.
-The most awkward line of the night is when Sue decides to live for college and Jeremy says that he will strap his bike to her Earth killer four-wheeler car. I wouldn't like my boyfriend saying that about my car. He should be glad about car pooling, which cuts back on gas. Also, my car has a name. It is Max. Please call my car Max instead.
-Brick shoves almost a whole pizza in his new backpack but still gets a lunch at school. Interesting.
Sue (Eden Sher) does arrive back from Dolllyworld and Mike (Neil Flynn) is anxious waiting for her to finally arrive, but when she does, he smiles, gives her a quick hug and immediately turns on the TV, his favorite.
Sue has a major announcement of her own. She wants to change her major to acting. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shocked but says that that could be a good idea. Though I love Sue, even though she is the most naive character on TV, acting is not in her wheelhouse. She would be much better sticking with psychology. But she needs to be all in. Yet, she also feels that she needs a back-up plan.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) has started high school and miraculously has a real book bag. His plan of hanging with the cool kid (Matt Cornett) doesn't work out as the cool kids want to sit with someone even cooler so poor Brick is stuck talking to his book bag, whispering to himself and whooping.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) finally introduces his new girlfriend, April (Greer Grammer) to his parents and though he is clearly in love, she is dumber than a brick, believing that world peace is merely good. Frankie can't believe it, while Mike and Brick don't seem too concerned.
Frankie, desperate to hold on to her family, plans a nice dinner and actually makes a noodle casserole. Though it can't hot as they don't use hot pads to place it down on the table, but whatever. But Frankie's well-meant plans are shattered when April shows up and then Jeremy (Will Green) shows up after some major protesting. No feeding antacids to cows. Mike is thrilled to hear that Jeremy is from Indianapolis as that is where the Colts are from. However, Jeremy doesn't like football because of the underpaid factory workers who make the balls. Mike is livid and instantly hates Jeremy far more than Frankie dislikes April. Yes, that's right, they are rooting for Cindy (Casey Burke), who is mad that the dinner doesn't include shrimp.
Frankie manages to give her toast though she must call her family away to the fridge and snaps at them that she loves them and these moments are truly fleeting. And that these moments should be appreciated. Isn't that what life is, fleeting?
Despite meaning to tell Axl off about April, she can't as she understands and blatantly sees that he's in love and she doesn't wish to ruin that. Mike is mad that Jeremy could take away the one thing he truly loves. Not Sue, mind you, but the Colts.
While there are few minor problems, such as the inconsistency of Jeremy being from Iowa last season and now being from Indianapolis, this was still a solid episode and the kids' significant others will blend awkwardly with the Heck family so funny times are ahead. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Fall has officially arrived. Frankie removed the duck tape from the sprinkler and put it back on the rake.
-Mike really should stop staring out the windows. Frankie snaps at him saying that the baby next door is already scared of him. Great callback, by the way.
-Sue's part was incredibly small. She was the girl in the well. And yes, if a kid punches his mom, he does have serious issues.
-Axl asks April if she found the place (the Heck house) okay after she sees him and kisses him and she says that she thinks she found the house okay.
-Frankie may have been pretty upstairs but Mike was far more interested in her downstairs. Yikes.
-Mike doesn't know what Team Aniston is and Frankie bemuses on how they can even be a couple.
-Cindy's mom went to bed early so she is fending for herself and was eating apples from a neighbors tree when Brick texted her.
-Also, only three out of the five people who saw Brick talking to his backpack made fun of him, so according to him high school is better.
-Sue urges Brick to create a secret back-up plan for her and give a copy to someone else in case he dies.
-Axl can't share a glass of wine with his mother despite her breastfeeding him.
-The most awkward line of the night is when Sue decides to live for college and Jeremy says that he will strap his bike to her Earth killer four-wheeler car. I wouldn't like my boyfriend saying that about my car. He should be glad about car pooling, which cuts back on gas. Also, my car has a name. It is Max. Please call my car Max instead.
-Brick shoves almost a whole pizza in his new backpack but still gets a lunch at school. Interesting.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
A League of Their Own (1992)
This film was quite good. It is the story, ultimately, about two sisters, Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and her younger but equally as talented and hungier Kit Keller (Lori Petty).
With America at work and all of the baseball players leaving to fight overseas, a businessman (Garry Marshall) decides that women should have a shot. Thus, he and his right-hand man, Ira Lownstein (David Strathairn) form a baseball league for women.
In Oregon, Dottie is hand plucked by the scout, who likes his animals out of the way and his women beautiful (Jon Lovitz) but she doesn't want to go. Kit, on the other hand, isn't picked and is devastated. She is allowed to come but only if Dottie does. Dottie gives in. Along the way, before the try-outs in Chicago, they pick up the talented but largely unattractive Marla (Megan Cavanaugh). She isn't picked until Kit and Dottie nearly boycott.
In Chicago, they pick up the rest of the team among the many of girls who try-out. We have the boy friendly Mae (Madonna), the tough Doris (Rosie O'Donnell), the illiterate Shirley (Ann Cusack) and the mom Evelyn (Bitty Schram). They are managed by the alcoholic, burned out baseball player Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) who could care less about his job at first. Dottie is basically running the team for the first month. He is tough on the girls, but treats them similarly to men, which is interesting. He still can't believe that girls are playing baseball. But when one of the players gets word that her husband has been killed, Jimmy is rightfully sympathetic.
The season continues, and even Marla finds love in the form of a guy she met at a bar and leaves to get married though she promises to return the next season. Shirley even learns how to read, though Mae lets her read mostly sexual material. The girls experience things that they never have before. Life is changing though the threat of being shut down is always a reality. But after some much need publicly, not always the most appropriate kind, fans start turning out in droves.
But there is also some hostility which forms between the two sisters. Dottie is celebrated and praised while Kit is constantly overlooked and when Dottie asks to get traded, Kit is traded to Racine instead.
Fortunately, for Dottie, at least, Bob (Bill Pullman) returned, injured and they begin the drive to return to Oregon despite Jimmy's objections.
The World Series begins, between the Rockford Peaches (Dottie's team) and the Racine Belles (Kit's team). And it is all tied up. Dottie does return which is good as the back-up catcher, Alice (Renee Coleman) isn't nearly as popular. She did have baseball in her blood, and yes, it is more than just a game to her. She wants one last hurrah. And it comes down to Kit at bat. Kit has always liked high balls and Dottie uses that knowledge to her advantage but fortunately, Kit finally hits one and manages to slide into home as Dottie can't hang onto the ball.
Kit finally has her moment to shine. Dottie isn't that upset as she knows that the game was always more important to Kit than to her.
The film actually begins with Dottie's daughter begging her to go the reunion, as Dottie doesn't realize how important her story is. It was so vastly important, what she was a part of and it didn't mean that much to her. It ends with the new wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame commemorating them.
This film does truly tell an important story. The league continued until 1954 and then I guess America decided it couldn't handle two different leagues anymore which is a shame.
The acting is impecable though Hanks shouldn't have top billing, Geena Davis should. But I would have liked Lori Petty to have had more screen time, but the script overlooks her just as everyone else does, an interesting technique.
All-in-all, this film was put together well, with the scenery and costumes, transporting you back to 1943. Some husbands are supportive while others force their wives to take the kids with them on road trips because they can't be bothered to watch their own child properly. And yes, at first, the public isn't understanding about women playing baseball but soon, that goes away. Yet, all the players are white, nothing is discussed about color. I suppose that didn't fit into the story written. This film is a must-see for any film lover and baseball fan alike. Grade: A-
Friday, October 7, 2016
Love and Basketball (2000)
This film is another one that should have been better than it was.
The film is told in four acts, with the first one starting when the main characters, Monica and Quincy (Kyla Pratt and Glenndon Chatman) are just eleven years old. Quincy can't believe that a girl can play basketball, but she can and she's good. Their relationship gets off to a rough start, given that Monica won't do everything Quincy asks her to do.
Seven years later, things aren't exactly much better. Monica (now Sanaa Lathan) is driven, hard working but isn't praised on the court for her rough sportsman-like conduct while Quincy (Omar Epps) often does the same and is loved for it. But things come easily to him. He has the woman falling over him while Monica's sister, Lena (Regina Hall) has to dig up a date for her for the spring dance. Yet, they are friends. Whenever Quincy's parents argue, he will go to Monica's house (she lives next door) and sleep on her floor, something that he has done more than once.
They do get together and even go to the same college where they both place basketball and the story mostly focuses on Monica whose coach is rough and tough on her but Monica is rewarded with a starting spot halfway through the season. Quincy starts off strong but falls apart when he learns of his beloved, former NBA star father's (Dennis Haysbert) infidelity. Monica is supportive but must leave him when he is feeling low as she has a strict 11:00 pm curfew imposed by her coach. Quincy is so upset that she isn't taking his needs into consideration that he gets someone else on the side, though it isn't really that serious. Needless to say, Monica ends the relationship.
Five years later, she is playing professionally in Spain as America doesn't yet have any professional teams for woman (it is 1993) and Quincy, who entered the NBA draft against his father's wishes) is mostly warming the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, neither are completely happy. Monica might love basketball but not in a foreign county without her family around playing for a coach she can't understand. So she returns home and gets an office job at her father's bank while Quincy faces months of rehab having severely injured his ACL. He is also engaged to a flighty flight attendant (Tyra Banks), which is a big shock to everyone and Monica's mother (Alfie Woodward) is against the match believing, rightfully so, that her daughter would be better than the flight attendant.
Monica decides to play Quincy one-on-one. The prize: his heart. Though Quincy does win, he can't let Monica go and we get the epilogue.
Who knows what Quincy is up to, though he did express his desire to return to school and get his degree, which would have made his father proud, but they did get married and Monica plays for the WNBA with Quincy and their young daughter supporting her in the stands.
Though the film was pretty good, it showed each main character differently, focusing more on Monica's career while focusing on Quincy's love life not his skills on the court. The issue of infidelity should have be mentioned and discussed more, as Quincy saw firsthand how devastating something like that was, as it broke up his family and ruined his relationship with his father. Monica and her mother did have a good conversation on the role's women play. Monica is often critical of her mother 'just' being a housewife while Woodward defends her choices, pleased that she was able to be around her family. That tone should have mentioned previously, not just in the last act.
Sure, the performances were good and it was realistic enough with some great typical dialogue and the film did go quickly, it didn't feel like it was two hours long. And the music was good too. It did tell a good story, I just wish it had been done better. Grade: B+
The film is told in four acts, with the first one starting when the main characters, Monica and Quincy (Kyla Pratt and Glenndon Chatman) are just eleven years old. Quincy can't believe that a girl can play basketball, but she can and she's good. Their relationship gets off to a rough start, given that Monica won't do everything Quincy asks her to do.
Seven years later, things aren't exactly much better. Monica (now Sanaa Lathan) is driven, hard working but isn't praised on the court for her rough sportsman-like conduct while Quincy (Omar Epps) often does the same and is loved for it. But things come easily to him. He has the woman falling over him while Monica's sister, Lena (Regina Hall) has to dig up a date for her for the spring dance. Yet, they are friends. Whenever Quincy's parents argue, he will go to Monica's house (she lives next door) and sleep on her floor, something that he has done more than once.
They do get together and even go to the same college where they both place basketball and the story mostly focuses on Monica whose coach is rough and tough on her but Monica is rewarded with a starting spot halfway through the season. Quincy starts off strong but falls apart when he learns of his beloved, former NBA star father's (Dennis Haysbert) infidelity. Monica is supportive but must leave him when he is feeling low as she has a strict 11:00 pm curfew imposed by her coach. Quincy is so upset that she isn't taking his needs into consideration that he gets someone else on the side, though it isn't really that serious. Needless to say, Monica ends the relationship.
Five years later, she is playing professionally in Spain as America doesn't yet have any professional teams for woman (it is 1993) and Quincy, who entered the NBA draft against his father's wishes) is mostly warming the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, neither are completely happy. Monica might love basketball but not in a foreign county without her family around playing for a coach she can't understand. So she returns home and gets an office job at her father's bank while Quincy faces months of rehab having severely injured his ACL. He is also engaged to a flighty flight attendant (Tyra Banks), which is a big shock to everyone and Monica's mother (Alfie Woodward) is against the match believing, rightfully so, that her daughter would be better than the flight attendant.
Monica decides to play Quincy one-on-one. The prize: his heart. Though Quincy does win, he can't let Monica go and we get the epilogue.
Who knows what Quincy is up to, though he did express his desire to return to school and get his degree, which would have made his father proud, but they did get married and Monica plays for the WNBA with Quincy and their young daughter supporting her in the stands.
Though the film was pretty good, it showed each main character differently, focusing more on Monica's career while focusing on Quincy's love life not his skills on the court. The issue of infidelity should have be mentioned and discussed more, as Quincy saw firsthand how devastating something like that was, as it broke up his family and ruined his relationship with his father. Monica and her mother did have a good conversation on the role's women play. Monica is often critical of her mother 'just' being a housewife while Woodward defends her choices, pleased that she was able to be around her family. That tone should have mentioned previously, not just in the last act.
Sure, the performances were good and it was realistic enough with some great typical dialogue and the film did go quickly, it didn't feel like it was two hours long. And the music was good too. It did tell a good story, I just wish it had been done better. Grade: B+
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