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JT (287 KP) rated Maggie (2015) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020

Maggie (2015)

2015 | Drama, Horror, Mystery

5.4

(8 Ratings)

Movie Rating

There are no explosions, no quips, rocket launchers or machine guns – this is Arnie as you’ve never seen him before.

Whatever you may think of Arnold Schwarzenegger the Austrian Oak has carved out a successful acting career. Sure, he’s had his fair share of box office bombs but his films are enjoyable and make a shit load of cash.

Maggie shelves all of the Schwarzenegger stereotypes and places him within a setting that relies heavily on just his raw acting talent – and boy does he give it a good go.

When his daughter Maggie becomes infected with a virus that has swept the country causing widespread death and devastation, he takes her back to his farm where she can spend the remainder of her time before turning into a flesh-eating zombie.

Wade (Schwarzenegger) knows that she is on borrowed time and he’s not about to let her be dragged off to quarantine. Maggie’s stepmother Caroline (Joely Richardson) isn’t sure and his apprehensive in her presence.

The film’s grey colour palette is in keeping with the tone of the environment, everything is dying including those infected. This method of filmmaking is incredibly underused and can set a scene or help tell a story.

Everything balances nicely between drama and horror as Maggie slowly descends towards an uncontrollable bitter end. All Wade can do is sit back and make it as easy for her as possible.

It was nice to see Schwarzenegger doing something different, proving that he is not just one dimensional. While it’s not a critically acclaimed performance there is enough meat on the bones to keep us interested.

Maggie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. What did you think of the film, is this one of Schwarzenegger’s better performances? Leave a comment and let us know.

Kudos

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Evvie Drake Starts Over in Books

Mar 19, 2020

Evvie Drake Starts Over

Linda Holmes | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Oh goodness, what can I say about Evvie that hasn't been said before? Nothing, I'm sure. This is such raw, real, funny, and lovely read. Evvie Drake lives alone in her small Maine town. She's recently widowed and the entire town--including her best friend, Andy--thinks her solitude is due to her grief. Meanwhile, in New York, pitcher Dean Tenney is a national joke. He's struggling with the "yips" --Dean can no longer pitch properly, and he has no idea why. Dean is also Andy's childhood friend, and so he accepts an invitation to stay in Evvie's back apartment. She needs the money, and he needs a place to get away. They make a deal: he won't ask about her husband, and she won't ask about baseball. But, even so, the two form an unlikely friendship.

Oh yeah, you say, I can see where this is going. They'll form a "friendship" and it will bloom into something more and yeah, yeah. Well, maybe. But this book is so much more than a typical romance. Evvie is not a romance caricature at all. There is true grief that screams across the pages in this novel--Evvie's and, yes, Dean's too. Dean is not just a celebrity love interest tossed in for fun. You root for him--and for them.

This story, this book. It has these funny moments and cute sections. It's sweet and tender, but there is no schmaltz. And Holmes weaves in pop culture quite seamlessly, too. Evvie and Dean will seem like people to you, your friends, and they will break your hearts, and yet, in the end, maybe mend them too. This is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars.