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Pint of No Return
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After her divorce from her thrice-married embezzler husband, Trinidad Jones is finally ready for a...
Darren (1599 KP) rated Marriage Story (2019) in Movies
Dec 6, 2019
Verdict: Powerful
Story: Marriage Story starts as we meet theatre director Charlie (Driver) and his wife actress Nicole (Johansson) they are about to go through a separation, with Nicole starting a new life in LA where she is trying to return to the television or film, moving away from the New York theatre lifestyle.
With the lives going on completely different directions, Nicole is pushed into getting a lawyer in Nora Fanshaw (Dern) which sees the two looking at a divorce, something neither thought would come their way, where they end up seeing the darker side of a break up even if they want to remain friends for their son.
Thoughts on Marriage Story
Characters – Nicole is an actress, mother and wife, she is given a chance to leave the theatre and return to television, while the couple are going through a separation and her moving to LA. She has given up a lot of her dreams for her marriage in the past, which is one of the reasons why she wants to get a divorce. Charlie is the theatre director, father and husband in New York, he wants to stay in New York running his theatre company. He is more stubborn that he wants to admit. Nora Fanshaw and Jay are both the lawyers hired to represent the divorcing couple, they show their ruthless sides whenever the two are trying to get the upper hand.
Performances – Adam Driver gives us one of the best performances of the year, where he shows one that suddenly sees his whole life come crashing around him, showing the signs of his anger of everything happening. Scarlett Johansson is fantastic too where we see how she is escaping from a trapped life showing her character start a new life. Laura Dern and Ray Liotta are both great in the supporting roles usually getting the bigger and louder scenes.
Story – The story here follows a couple that are going through a separation that turns into a messy divorce as they expose the problems, they both had through the years. The best way to describe this story is brilliant, when we break it down, it shows how relationships can break down and how two people want to end things calmly and for the right reasons, remaining friends for their son. It shows us how things can get out of hand when lawyers get involved and how everybody seems to know best apart from the two who are going through the breakup. We see how lives can change, people can move on and how holding on can be heart breaking. It is watching how both Nicole and Charlie are reacting to how everything is spirally out of hand which is easy for the highlight of the storytelling.
Comedy/Romance – The comedy in the film is brilliant, it does get a perfectly laugh when needed, while staying straight when it doesn’t, the romance does show us how love can go from the heights to the end.
Settings – The film uses the two main settings of cities, New York and LA, the locations are used to show how the lives will need to be changed, not just for Nicole and Charlie, but their son too.
Scene of the Movie – Let’s try and talk this through without a lawyer.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The timeline isn’t the best.
Final Thoughts – This is easily one of the best films of the year, it shows us how love can end and how a divorce can spirally out of control, the two lead performances are easily within the best of the year too.
Overall: Awards Guaranteed.
Story: Marriage Story starts as we meet theatre director Charlie (Driver) and his wife actress Nicole (Johansson) they are about to go through a separation, with Nicole starting a new life in LA where she is trying to return to the television or film, moving away from the New York theatre lifestyle.
With the lives going on completely different directions, Nicole is pushed into getting a lawyer in Nora Fanshaw (Dern) which sees the two looking at a divorce, something neither thought would come their way, where they end up seeing the darker side of a break up even if they want to remain friends for their son.
Thoughts on Marriage Story
Characters – Nicole is an actress, mother and wife, she is given a chance to leave the theatre and return to television, while the couple are going through a separation and her moving to LA. She has given up a lot of her dreams for her marriage in the past, which is one of the reasons why she wants to get a divorce. Charlie is the theatre director, father and husband in New York, he wants to stay in New York running his theatre company. He is more stubborn that he wants to admit. Nora Fanshaw and Jay are both the lawyers hired to represent the divorcing couple, they show their ruthless sides whenever the two are trying to get the upper hand.
Performances – Adam Driver gives us one of the best performances of the year, where he shows one that suddenly sees his whole life come crashing around him, showing the signs of his anger of everything happening. Scarlett Johansson is fantastic too where we see how she is escaping from a trapped life showing her character start a new life. Laura Dern and Ray Liotta are both great in the supporting roles usually getting the bigger and louder scenes.
Story – The story here follows a couple that are going through a separation that turns into a messy divorce as they expose the problems, they both had through the years. The best way to describe this story is brilliant, when we break it down, it shows how relationships can break down and how two people want to end things calmly and for the right reasons, remaining friends for their son. It shows us how things can get out of hand when lawyers get involved and how everybody seems to know best apart from the two who are going through the breakup. We see how lives can change, people can move on and how holding on can be heart breaking. It is watching how both Nicole and Charlie are reacting to how everything is spirally out of hand which is easy for the highlight of the storytelling.
Comedy/Romance – The comedy in the film is brilliant, it does get a perfectly laugh when needed, while staying straight when it doesn’t, the romance does show us how love can go from the heights to the end.
Settings – The film uses the two main settings of cities, New York and LA, the locations are used to show how the lives will need to be changed, not just for Nicole and Charlie, but their son too.
Scene of the Movie – Let’s try and talk this through without a lawyer.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The timeline isn’t the best.
Final Thoughts – This is easily one of the best films of the year, it shows us how love can end and how a divorce can spirally out of control, the two lead performances are easily within the best of the year too.
Overall: Awards Guaranteed.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Roma (2018) in Movies
Feb 23, 2019 (Updated Feb 23, 2019)
Good looking but slightly soulless arthouse drama courtesy of the good people at Netflix, who have obviously decided they need some awards credibility what with Disney Plus being on the horizon and all. The travails of a maid in Mexico City circa 1970; her employers divorce, she gets impregnated by her boyfriend who promptly absconds, swimming trip nearly ends badly, and so on.
Not very much happens, but does so extremely beautifully - beautiful cinematography is coupled with some formal, rather alienating camerawork. You almost never forget you're watching a movie, except perhaps during one gruelling sequence near the end. It's very difficult to shake the sense that this film was made solely to win awards - it has the right kind of mixture of technical proficiency and socially-engaged storytelling. I couldn't really engage with it except on a superficial level, but it is very pretty.
Not very much happens, but does so extremely beautifully - beautiful cinematography is coupled with some formal, rather alienating camerawork. You almost never forget you're watching a movie, except perhaps during one gruelling sequence near the end. It's very difficult to shake the sense that this film was made solely to win awards - it has the right kind of mixture of technical proficiency and socially-engaged storytelling. I couldn't really engage with it except on a superficial level, but it is very pretty.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) in Movies
Jun 13, 2019
Mrs Doubtfire is a classic comedy about a child at heart father whose antics continuously irritate his wife until it becomes too much, ending in divorce.
Struggling with post marriage life and keeping to an agreement to see his kids, results in Daniel (Williams) going to drastic measures to make amends (unknown by the ex).
With obstacles including an awkward job interview, a social worker and the ex's new fella, this man must learn to be a woman, with the creation of the brilliant and hilariously unpredictable mrs Doubtfire.
Mrs Doubtfire is an hilarious take on a father's over the top attempt of being a part of his children's lives. With great comedy and non stop laughs this movie will pull at your heartstrings.
Starring Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan and the late great comedy legend, Robin Williams. It is a heart warming family film for all ages.
Struggling with post marriage life and keeping to an agreement to see his kids, results in Daniel (Williams) going to drastic measures to make amends (unknown by the ex).
With obstacles including an awkward job interview, a social worker and the ex's new fella, this man must learn to be a woman, with the creation of the brilliant and hilariously unpredictable mrs Doubtfire.
Mrs Doubtfire is an hilarious take on a father's over the top attempt of being a part of his children's lives. With great comedy and non stop laughs this movie will pull at your heartstrings.
Starring Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan and the late great comedy legend, Robin Williams. It is a heart warming family film for all ages.
Sarah is trying to put her life back together after a divorce from her air force husband. But when she finds a bag of bloody clothes that belonged to her ex-husband and the woman he cheated on Sarah with, she suddenly finds herself trying to determine what has really happened.
The plot of this book was strong with several twists and red herrings that kept me confused until everything came together at the end. The characters were strong as well. While the writing could be a bit choppy at times, overall there was a tone to the story that was perfect for what the characters were going through.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-review-tagged-for-death-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The plot of this book was strong with several twists and red herrings that kept me confused until everything came together at the end. The characters were strong as well. While the writing could be a bit choppy at times, overall there was a tone to the story that was perfect for what the characters were going through.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-review-tagged-for-death-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated A is for .... Alibi in Books
Mar 9, 2018
“A” is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone #1) – 4
Laurence Fife was a cheating divorce lawyer, so no one was too upset when he was murdered. Still, his wife Nikki hires PI Kinsey Millhone to find out who did it. The catch? Nikki is out of jail on parole after being convicted of committing the crime herself. With the case closed and cold, can Kinsey find any fresh leads?
I’ve long heard of the series and wanted to start it, and I’m glad I finally did. While the book does fall victim to a few clichés of the genre, it’s still a very enjoyable book. The plot is strong and the characters real, both of which kept me engrossed. I’m looking forward to more of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-is-for-alibi-by-sue-grafton.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Laurence Fife was a cheating divorce lawyer, so no one was too upset when he was murdered. Still, his wife Nikki hires PI Kinsey Millhone to find out who did it. The catch? Nikki is out of jail on parole after being convicted of committing the crime herself. With the case closed and cold, can Kinsey find any fresh leads?
I’ve long heard of the series and wanted to start it, and I’m glad I finally did. While the book does fall victim to a few clichés of the genre, it’s still a very enjoyable book. The plot is strong and the characters real, both of which kept me engrossed. I’m looking forward to more of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-is-for-alibi-by-sue-grafton.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated The Gift (2015) in Movies
Jun 4, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
An engaging enough film, essentially making the point that things you do in the past can catch up with you. However, it frustrated me so much, if a bloke who I actually didn't know but was an old friend of my husband's kept turning up at my door uninvited and when my hubby was in work I would not be letting him in and spending time with him, if I suspected someone was entering my house without my knowledge I would be keeping all the doors locked, why would you leave your dog to roam around outside when it's unfamiliar with the area?.... Would you really want to divorce your husband whom I presume you have grown to know and love over the years because you find out he bullied a kid at school and sent an email about a work rival? I don't think so...
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8.0
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