Mr. Right (2015)
In this time of responsible social distancing and self-quarantining due to the new corona-virus, we figured it was a good time to cull our Netflix list and find a true diamond in the rough. A suggestion I have for you is Mr. Right written by Max Landis and directed by Paco Cabezas. Mr. Right is not your typical Rom-Com. It's more tongue in cheek, which is humor I appreciate, and there is plenty of action to go around.
The Premise
Newly single Martha isn't looking for love but that's what she finds when she runs into Francis. She isn't put of by his casual "jokes" about being a hitman, but when people start really trying to kill to them, she thinks it might be time for a break.
My Take
I have self confessed crushes on both Anna Kendrick, who plays Martha, and Sam Rockwell, who plays Francis. So imagine my elation when I saw they were paired up in this film! They make an adorable, awkward, and super cute movie couple.
In Mr. Right, Francis never lies to Martha about being a killer. He slips it into casual conversation, telling her the truth the whole time. She never quite knows what to expect from him, which is why she likes him so much. He's new and exciting and not like any guy she's ever been with before. But when the bullets start flying, she starts having second thoughts, like any sane woman would. Then again, she really likes this guy...
Acting as Martha's voice of reason is her roommate and best friend Sophie (Katie Nehra). Sophie is immediately suspicious of Francis and has no problems voicing her concerns. She has every right to be worried about her friend. Especially because people like Tim Roth, RZA, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund and James Ransone are all after him.
The Verdict
A lot of times, movies that have all-stars casts like this make me nervous to watch them. Truthfully. I have found there are times not enough attention is paid to the script or direction and all of it goes to who stars in the movie. If you enjoy dark humor, action, comedy, and romance, I suggest giving Mr. Right a chance. It seems to have slid under the radar as far as movies go. I give Mr. Right 1 perfect clown nose. Why? You'll have to watch to find out.
Showing posts with label sniper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sniper. Show all posts
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Battle for Sevastopol (2015)
A good "true story" movie should pique your interest. We all know
Hollywood works its magic on whatever subject it picks and stretches the truth.
That's exactly why biopics are always "based on a true story" or
"based on true events" rather than factual, actual movies. That being
said, Battle for Sevastopol is an excellent film and makes me want to
learn more about its heroine, Lyudmila Mykhailovna Pavlichenko.
The Premise
Credited with an amazing 309 kills, Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most successful female sniper in Soviet history. She became an advocate for women's rights, a friend of the U.S., and a battle-worn hero of World War II. Based on the incredible true story, Battle for Sevastopol focuses on the career of one of WWII's bravest soldiers.
My Take
It is no secret that the military is very much a fraternity. It was even more so during WWII. However, attitudes in the former Soviet Union were more progressive than I originally thought. Early in the war, the Soviet military allowed women to volunteer for service. This of course was not without its difficulties. Women back then faced more challenges than women do now, but if not for these groundbreaking souls, no military in the world would be where it is today.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of these women. Played by Yuliya Peresild, Pavlichenko became a sniper at a time woman were largely pushed into nursing. The real Pavlichenko passed away in 1974, so I can only imagine that Peresild portrayed her with the right amount of bravery and vulnerability. In the film, she fell in love with two fellow soldiers (Anatoliy Kot and Oleg Vasilkov) and an army doctor (Nikita Tarasov). While I can't find anything to back up these relationships, what is true was her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (Joan Blackham).
What I found most amusing in my research, is the realism of the writing in Pavlichenko's visit to America. At the time, reporters were more concerned with her appearance and style on the battle-front than her cause and reason for her trip. Writers Maksim Budarin, Maksim Dankevich, Leonid Korin, Sergey Mokritskiy, and Egor Olesov were somehow able to capture the many varied atmospheres and settings of this film.
The Verdict
Battle for Sevastopol featured excellent make-up, especially during the battle scenes. The writing was very well done as was the direction, thanks to Sergey Mokritskiy. The portrayal of Americans was a bit amusing - a little like watching caricatures of ourselves. But as far as I could tell, the acting was top-notch (it is a foreign film after all!). I give Battle for Sevastopol a full 309 kills. Anything that makes you want to learn more about female snipers is worth the watch!
The Premise
Credited with an amazing 309 kills, Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most successful female sniper in Soviet history. She became an advocate for women's rights, a friend of the U.S., and a battle-worn hero of World War II. Based on the incredible true story, Battle for Sevastopol focuses on the career of one of WWII's bravest soldiers.
My Take
It is no secret that the military is very much a fraternity. It was even more so during WWII. However, attitudes in the former Soviet Union were more progressive than I originally thought. Early in the war, the Soviet military allowed women to volunteer for service. This of course was not without its difficulties. Women back then faced more challenges than women do now, but if not for these groundbreaking souls, no military in the world would be where it is today.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of these women. Played by Yuliya Peresild, Pavlichenko became a sniper at a time woman were largely pushed into nursing. The real Pavlichenko passed away in 1974, so I can only imagine that Peresild portrayed her with the right amount of bravery and vulnerability. In the film, she fell in love with two fellow soldiers (Anatoliy Kot and Oleg Vasilkov) and an army doctor (Nikita Tarasov). While I can't find anything to back up these relationships, what is true was her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (Joan Blackham).
What I found most amusing in my research, is the realism of the writing in Pavlichenko's visit to America. At the time, reporters were more concerned with her appearance and style on the battle-front than her cause and reason for her trip. Writers Maksim Budarin, Maksim Dankevich, Leonid Korin, Sergey Mokritskiy, and Egor Olesov were somehow able to capture the many varied atmospheres and settings of this film.
The Verdict
Battle for Sevastopol featured excellent make-up, especially during the battle scenes. The writing was very well done as was the direction, thanks to Sergey Mokritskiy. The portrayal of Americans was a bit amusing - a little like watching caricatures of ourselves. But as far as I could tell, the acting was top-notch (it is a foreign film after all!). I give Battle for Sevastopol a full 309 kills. Anything that makes you want to learn more about female snipers is worth the watch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)