Tag: movies

Review – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

Review – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

by MichelleMcHatton

As a Springsteen fan, I really didn’t know what to expect with “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”. I was mainly hoping that Jeremy Allen White would do Bruce justice on the big screen. I was pleasantly surprised.

The film revolves around Bruce and his making of his album “Nebraska”. But it also delves deep into Springsteen’s life, through flashbacks of him growing up in a domestically chaotic household in Freehold, New Jersey and the pressure of his record company wanting a new album the way they want it. Thank goodness for Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) who advocates for Bruce when he presents a simple and raw demo for “Nebraska”. Just the way he wants it.

It’s clear from the movie this was a pivotal time in Bruce’s life: he had just ended a tour, had his first top ten single with “Hungry Heart” and was slowly becoming a household name. His character is left wondering what is next and it’s my feeling with his research for “Nebraska”, it drummed up hardened feelings of life with his father. I found it interesting to learn that many songs that would eventually appear on “Born in the U.S.A.” were initially considered to be on “Nebraska”, even has a potential double album. I’m glad that never happened.

In the end we learn that like anyone else, Bruce is a person first and foremost, before being a musician. He needs to learn to deal with his emotions before he can move forward to become the Bruce Springsteen the world eventually becomes enamored with.

White portrays Springsteen well, right down to the vocals. Strong comes off as very likeable as Landau. In my opinion the casting was right on. It was a very enjoyable film, if only one that Springsteen fans would truly appreciate.

Review-John Candy: I Like Me

Review-John Candy: I Like Me

by MichelleMcHatton

When I first learned what seems like eons ago that Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks were putting together a documentary about John Candy, my first thoughts were “about time” and “can hardly wait”. When the release date was learned, I put it on my calendar. October 10. Since then I have viewed this well-portrayed and moving documentary three times. That’s a lot of laughing and crying.

The beauty behind this documentary is that it takes the viewer through John’s life in an entertaining fashion, as we get to hear from his numerous loved ones, friends and peers about their experiences with John, as well as view clips from the many movies and TV shows he performed in.

Many things I was already aware of, such as Candy’s love of football, his football injury and his part ownership in the Argonauts. I knew of his work with John Hughes but what I didn’t know was the extent of his friendship with the famous director. It also doesn’t surprise me that he looked out for Macaulay Culkin and that he was known as Johnny Toronto (and to think I only knew of him as Johnny LaRue).

The closing of the documentary doesn’t shock me either when Eugene Levy reveals that while riding in the car during John’s funeral down the 405 that there was no traffic. And that was because the authorities had shut down the 405 for the funeral procession. Something that had only been done for the Pope and a President.

The documentary creators got the title right as well. “I like me” is a line from “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. It’s something John’s character Del Griffith says after he’s been berated by Steve Martin’s character Neal Page. Although I’m sure John had his demons, as we all do, he really did like himself. As did just about anyone else he encountered in his life.

John Candy was larger than life in all he did. Whether it be with his family or friends or making people laugh with a film. He was truly genuine.

I always say when an artist passes away, be it an actor, musician, dancer, painter, writer, etc., they leave behind a myriad of memories in the form of their art for future generations to enjoy. John Candy was no exception to this fact.

Visiting The Magic Store–45 years later

Visiting The Magic Store–45 years later

by MichelleMcHatton

When “The Muppet Movie” was first released in 1979 I saw it in the back of a station-wagon at a drive-in theater with my mother and siblings. Fast-forward forty-five years and today I saw it in a decently crowded air-conditioned theater with my daughter and husband. Not that I haven’t seen it numerous times in the past on DVD. But when my daughter learned Fathom was going to be showing it in theaters to celebrate the 45th anniversary, she said she had to see it on the big screen. And see it we did.

As many times as I’ve seen it, “The Muppet Movie” never gets old. It’s even good to know that all these years later there are a handful of guest stars in the movie who are still alive.

I never grow tired of hearing “Rainbow Connection”. Along with the “The Muppet Movie” itself, that song, to me is the epitome of Jim Henson. He had finally “made it”. His “Muppet Show” was a great success by this time and “The Muppet Movie” was a symbol of that proof. That you can take a kid (frog) out of the swamp in Mississippi and if you keep believing and keep pretending, you’ll accomplish just what you set out to do. As the lyrics go:

Life’s like a movie, write your own ending
Keep believing, keep pretending
We’ve done just what we set out to do.
Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.

I couldn’t agree more.

Many Musical Memories Left Behind

Many Musical Memories Left Behind

by MichelleMcHatton

Yesterday we learned of the passing of Richard M. Sherman, the other half of the Sherman Brothers. Robert passed away in 2012.

Who are the Sherman Brothers, you may ask? Believe it or not, until I saw the movie “Saving Mr. Banks”, I had no idea who they were either. Richard is portrayed by Jason Schwartzman and Robert is portrayed by B.J. Novak in the movie.

The Sherman Brothers were brothers who were a songwriting team that worked for Disney. If you have ever seen the movie “Mary Poppins”, among many other Disney classics, or have visited Disney World or Disneyland, I can guarantee you have heard their songs. They are Academy Award winners. And if you have ever had the song “It’s A Small World (After All)” running through your head, you can thank the Sherman Brothers.

They may be gone but they have left behind many wonderful songs for future generations to enjoy.

The Oscars

The Oscars

by MichelleMcHatton

The Oscar noms were released the other day and the world still hasn’t calmed down from Greta and Margot getting dissed. And I guess I can understand why. And I can understand why Ryan and America were nominated. But it wasn’t for their acting. Because I felt all the acting in “Barbie” was meh. In my opinion I feel “Barbie”, although a very good film, was overrated. And that’s coming from someone who has seen it three times. Mind you, not by choice. And neither time in the theater.

Ryan was nominated for the “I’m Just Ken” dance number (because honestly, that’s the best thing Ken does in the entire movie). And America was nominated for the “speech”. Which is a very motivational speech, even coming from someone with such a raspy voice.

But since we’re complaining about who got left out of the nominations for “Barbie”, I’m going to complain that Kate got left out for her portrayal of Weird Barbie and Rhea got left out for her portrayal as Ruth. Without Ruth, there would be no “Barbie”. Because she created Barbie. And Weird Barbie is very pivotal to the movie because without her, Barbie would never have traveled to the real world and when Barbie returns to Barbieland and discovers Ken has taken over, Weird Barbie helps and encourages her to take it back. Without either of these characters, you have a much lesser “Barbie” with main missing points.

We all know every year great films, great directors, great actors/actresses get left out of the Oscars. It’s a given. Whether the cause be the voters or that there are only so many spots. What are you going to do? Boycott the Oscars, I guess.

I only saw three movies in the movie theater in 2023 and I feel at least two of them should have been nominated for some kind of Oscar: “A Man Called Otto” and “Air”. So maybe I should complain about that.

When it comes down to it, the Oscars are just another award show to honor movies we may have seen and many that we have never even heard of. Take it for what it is.