Popcorn Perspectives – Week of October 16, 2017

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of October 16, 2017

Loving Vincent
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some violence, sexual material and smoking
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
In Theaters (Currently at the Rivers Oaks Theatre)
How a story is told is sometimes much more important than the story itself, and Loving Vincent is prime proof. The film takes place after the death of Vincent Van Gogh as the son of one his friends attempts to discover the real cause of his death. This is great and all, and the story is interesting, but what is mind-blowing is that nearly the entire film is painstakingly crafted with oil paint. It is a truly extraordinary achievement and absolutely fitting for a project like this. With artistry that reflects that of Van Gogh himself, you not only get to know him better through his story, but also through the vision of the talented artist team recreating his world, frame by frame. If you allow yourself, you will be mesmerized for 95 minutes as your senses take in the surreal beauty. And might I suggest a nice glass of wine (or three) while you soak it in. I think you’ll find that that will accompany the film like it would with a fine meal. A-

Girls Trip
Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
On DVD and Blu-ray
I am honestly shocked at the success, both critically and commercially, that this movie has garnered. The film stars four friends (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish) as they rekindle their close college friendship by embarking on a journey together to New Orleans. While there are some somewhat humorous moments and relative newcomer Tiffany Haddish sure makes a splash, I thought the story was rather stale and the crude comedy was both out of place and a real turn off. Now did I not enjoy it because it was a black film? It’s possible, but I hope that’s not the case. I do think that this was a film made for black females and someone not belonging to either one of those two groups will not connect with it like someone who who is. Then again, I doubt the filmmakers ever thought “I sure hope the 45-year-old white film nerds love this movie.” So kudos to them that according to Rotten Tomatoes, many of them did. C

God of War
Not Rated
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
On DVD and Blu-ray
I do love me some big Asian epics so I was ready to dive into this lavishly produced film about a 16th century war between Japanese pirates and the Chinese as the pirates attempt to invade the Chinese coastline. You can easily see right away that the film has the right look and as you’d expect, it has some pretty awesome fighting sequences, but unless the translation was incorrect, it also has a horrible, awful script. If you could just take out the excessive exposition in the dialog, you might actually have a decently paced movie that is thirty minutes shorte. Instead, the film plods along screaming “I”m dumb but at least I’m pretty.” C-

The Lure: The Criterion Edition
Not Rated – but contains graphic violence, sex and nudity
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
On DVD and Blu-ray
This recent Sundance competitor from Poland uses The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen as its inspiration to create a horror/musical farce, telling the story of two mermaids who become strippers while trying to find their place in the world of the walking. It’s a super-weird pic that has more potential for a cult following than commercial success. And while I can’t recommend it, I did actually like it. It’s an off-kilter experience that you won’t easily forget, although many of you will wish you could. How’s that for a dare? B