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Barry Newman (204 KP) rated A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies
Jun 12, 2020
It's unashamedly sentimental and certainly won't be to everyone's tastes but when the news is full of horrible depressing stuff like racism and the bloody virus sometimes you just want a big warm hug of a film and this certainly delivers on that. Being British I am not familiar with Mr Rogers and the film is not really a biopic of him, more so the influence his positivity has on other people and the story concerns his relationship with a cynical journalist tasked with interviewing him whose struggling with family issues. You can see how it's all going to end up but it's a journey worth taking. Hanks is as charming and likeable as ever and the film left with me a big smile on my face and in this day and age that is always something to be thankful for.
Structural Bioinformatics Tools for Drug Design: Extraction of Biologically Relevant Information from Structural Databases
Jaroslav Koca, David Sehnal and Michal Otyepka
Book
The book describes the individual steps necessary for biomacromolecular fragments analysis, as well...
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Founder (2017) in Movies
Oct 16, 2017 (Updated Oct 16, 2017)
The land of finders keepers, losers weepers
The story of McDonald's pretty much sums up the American dream sadly. A crook of a salesman / businessman Ray Kroc, played by Michael Keaton, comes across two hardworking brothers Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), who have essentially cracked the idea of how to provide fast food.
They are satisfied with their humble beginnings at a small diner in San Bernardino, but are cajoled by Kroc into franchising - who essentially steals it from under their nose by buying the land that it was based upon. It's really quite tragic because Kroc turned it from an honest operation into the greedy corporation that we have today. That being said, I love Keaton, he's versatile and can play anything from a lovable scallywag to evil incarnate.
While it's not Oscar worthy as such, it's an interesting biopic nevertheless.
They are satisfied with their humble beginnings at a small diner in San Bernardino, but are cajoled by Kroc into franchising - who essentially steals it from under their nose by buying the land that it was based upon. It's really quite tragic because Kroc turned it from an honest operation into the greedy corporation that we have today. That being said, I love Keaton, he's versatile and can play anything from a lovable scallywag to evil incarnate.
While it's not Oscar worthy as such, it's an interesting biopic nevertheless.
Paige (428 KP) rated Basquiat (1996) in Movies
Jul 28, 2017
A little known must-see.
Biopic about the graffiti artist turned art superstar Jean-Michel Basquiat, and directed by his real life friend and fellow artist Julian Schnabel.
Basquiat was sort of an artist's artist- if you talk to anyone in fine arts they generally love his work- but not so well loved by those outside this world. That said, his life story is amazing for even those who don't actually like the work.
This movie is star-studded, especially for an indie film- and even the lesser known actors (at the time...some have gotten really famous after this movie) are really powerful.
The visuals are wonderful, as befits a painter-turned -director. (And Mr.Schnabel is a real renaissance man, anyway)
Superfantastic!
Basquiat was sort of an artist's artist- if you talk to anyone in fine arts they generally love his work- but not so well loved by those outside this world. That said, his life story is amazing for even those who don't actually like the work.
This movie is star-studded, especially for an indie film- and even the lesser known actors (at the time...some have gotten really famous after this movie) are really powerful.
The visuals are wonderful, as befits a painter-turned -director. (And Mr.Schnabel is a real renaissance man, anyway)
Superfantastic!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Rocketman (2019) in Movies
May 29, 2019
I knew before watching this that it wasn’t your average biopic but that still didn’t prepare me for how truly wacky and wonderful it was. But then when you think of Elton John, would you really expect anything less flamboyant?
This is more like an Elton John musical complete with rather strange fantasy elements, and I have to admit that the fantasy is mostly the bit I didn’t like. Singing with younger versions of himself were fine, but the rest I just found a little too odd and ill fitting. However despite this, it’s still a rather good musical. All of the songs that you’d expect are in here and it was a struggle not to sing along. I do think that the general sound on the music in this didn’t seem quite as good as Bohemian Rhapsody, it didn’t feel quite as immersive and concert like and it was in the same screen!
Taron Egerton does a wonderful job, I’ve said before that he’s a marvellous actor and he proves it yet again here. Whilst he doesn’t look exactly like Elton John i can’t imagine anyone else playing this role and there were some moments later on in the film that I had to do a double take as he looked so like him! There are other great performances too, namely Richard Madden as the smarmy John Reid and Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin. There are some scenes with Bernie and Elton that almost have me in tears. I know fairly little about Elton’s earlier life so for me this was rather an informative and fascinating film too, and I was beyond glad at the end to hear that Bernie is still going. I couldn’t have coped if he wasn’t!
This film isn’t faultless and I felt like it was rather drawn out, but it’s still a rather good musical biopic and definitely one I’d like to see again and sing along too. Indeed, wouldn’t this be marvellous as a musical stage show?
This is more like an Elton John musical complete with rather strange fantasy elements, and I have to admit that the fantasy is mostly the bit I didn’t like. Singing with younger versions of himself were fine, but the rest I just found a little too odd and ill fitting. However despite this, it’s still a rather good musical. All of the songs that you’d expect are in here and it was a struggle not to sing along. I do think that the general sound on the music in this didn’t seem quite as good as Bohemian Rhapsody, it didn’t feel quite as immersive and concert like and it was in the same screen!
Taron Egerton does a wonderful job, I’ve said before that he’s a marvellous actor and he proves it yet again here. Whilst he doesn’t look exactly like Elton John i can’t imagine anyone else playing this role and there were some moments later on in the film that I had to do a double take as he looked so like him! There are other great performances too, namely Richard Madden as the smarmy John Reid and Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin. There are some scenes with Bernie and Elton that almost have me in tears. I know fairly little about Elton’s earlier life so for me this was rather an informative and fascinating film too, and I was beyond glad at the end to hear that Bernie is still going. I couldn’t have coped if he wasn’t!
This film isn’t faultless and I felt like it was rather drawn out, but it’s still a rather good musical biopic and definitely one I’d like to see again and sing along too. Indeed, wouldn’t this be marvellous as a musical stage show?
Anand Wilder recommended Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack & J.J. Johnson in Music (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Judy (2019) in Movies
Oct 9, 2019 (Updated Oct 9, 2019)
Biopic of the legendary actress and singer is pretty much exactly the film you'd expect, which may be an issue. Another one of those movies depicting an icon in their later years, struggling for happiness, reappraising their life - it's not unlike Stan and Ollie, and the two films do share a character (though played by different actors).
Full-on give-me-an-Oscar performance by Zellweger, and as a piece of impersonation it's very impressive; perhaps it works so well because Garland was one of those people so hollowed out by the demands of the entertainment business and their own talent that they only really had any kind of identity when they were performing. Consistently tragic, as you would expect - I ended up feeling quite angry on Garland's behalf, which I didn't expect, and there are some unexpectedly moving moments. Well put together and nicely played, it covers all the basics but doesn't really excel in any department.
Full-on give-me-an-Oscar performance by Zellweger, and as a piece of impersonation it's very impressive; perhaps it works so well because Garland was one of those people so hollowed out by the demands of the entertainment business and their own talent that they only really had any kind of identity when they were performing. Consistently tragic, as you would expect - I ended up feeling quite angry on Garland's behalf, which I didn't expect, and there are some unexpectedly moving moments. Well put together and nicely played, it covers all the basics but doesn't really excel in any department.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Notorious (2009) in Movies
Jul 25, 2019
Story: Notorious starts with the final moments of Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace (Woolard) life, before he flashes back to his childhood, raised by his single mother Voletta (Bassett), getting given a chance to start making money from drug dealing where he becomes addicted to make money, until he gets busted.
At 19 he gets a chance to enter the music industry when Puffy Daddy (Luke) gives him a way to escape the life of drug dealing, however difficult it seems. When Biggie finally get the record deal, he soon becomes an international sensation grabbing the attention from another rapper Tupac Shakur (Mackie) who soon becomes a rival with deadly consequences.
Thoughts on Notorious
Characters – Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace was a rapper from Brooklyn, he started on the streets as a drug dealer, before showing his rapping skills that saw him become one of the biggest rap stars in the world in the 90’s, we get to see how he has to deal with his vices with women chasing his desire to have too much money. The film doesn’t show him to be a nice man, he cheats on his partners, commits crimes and gets violent when he gets upset, it is a shame for somebody with talent to be such a horrible person. Sean Puffy Combs is the man that takes a chance on Biggie even after losing his position in a record company, he had an eye for talent and knew how to make the most out of it. Tupac is a rival rapper that starts with respect, but because of his continuing side business in drugs, the tension grows and Tupac soon starts a war against Biggie which became a bigger story than any of their music. Faith is Biggie’s wife that has the talent he has though she does become the one that stays with him even if they have an abusive relationship toward each other, well that is what the film shows us.
Performances – Jamal Woolard is brilliant in this leading role, he shows the laidback style Biggie presented himself as, while showing just how easily he can snap. Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie are both strong in the supporting roles, while the rest of the cast give us strong performances too.
Story – The story here follows the life of Biggie one of the biggest rappers of the 90s that wanted to prove music could inspire change only to get drawn into a gang war with another rapper Tupac, one that made the two even more famous. We follow Biggie in and out of the music world, seeing how he was trying to escape a life of crime, but is drawn into relationship problems. The story doesn’t always paint him as a nice guy though, the way he handles the women in his life is getting into the abusive area. Otherwise this shows us how Biggie wasn’t interested in getting involved in the gang war, he just want to make honest money.
Biopic/Crime/Music – The biopic side of the film shows how Biggie was being drawn towards a life of crime or leaving it behind to become a big music sensation and how his life changed with the new, making him part of one of the biggest rap battles in history. The crime world is showing how Biggie was always trying to get out of this world and give you hope to others that are facing it. While I personally wasn’t a fan of the music involved, it will please the fans of his music.
Settings – The film is set in the backdrop Brooklyn shows where he has come from and how he wants to stay loyal to the people who supported him.
Scene of the Movie – Making the choice.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The film doesn’t show him able to treat his women with respect.
Final Thoughts – This is a biopic that showed how easily a rivalry can start within the business that could end up becoming deadly between two biggest names in the music industry.
Overall: Music biopic that defined a decade.
At 19 he gets a chance to enter the music industry when Puffy Daddy (Luke) gives him a way to escape the life of drug dealing, however difficult it seems. When Biggie finally get the record deal, he soon becomes an international sensation grabbing the attention from another rapper Tupac Shakur (Mackie) who soon becomes a rival with deadly consequences.
Thoughts on Notorious
Characters – Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace was a rapper from Brooklyn, he started on the streets as a drug dealer, before showing his rapping skills that saw him become one of the biggest rap stars in the world in the 90’s, we get to see how he has to deal with his vices with women chasing his desire to have too much money. The film doesn’t show him to be a nice man, he cheats on his partners, commits crimes and gets violent when he gets upset, it is a shame for somebody with talent to be such a horrible person. Sean Puffy Combs is the man that takes a chance on Biggie even after losing his position in a record company, he had an eye for talent and knew how to make the most out of it. Tupac is a rival rapper that starts with respect, but because of his continuing side business in drugs, the tension grows and Tupac soon starts a war against Biggie which became a bigger story than any of their music. Faith is Biggie’s wife that has the talent he has though she does become the one that stays with him even if they have an abusive relationship toward each other, well that is what the film shows us.
Performances – Jamal Woolard is brilliant in this leading role, he shows the laidback style Biggie presented himself as, while showing just how easily he can snap. Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie are both strong in the supporting roles, while the rest of the cast give us strong performances too.
Story – The story here follows the life of Biggie one of the biggest rappers of the 90s that wanted to prove music could inspire change only to get drawn into a gang war with another rapper Tupac, one that made the two even more famous. We follow Biggie in and out of the music world, seeing how he was trying to escape a life of crime, but is drawn into relationship problems. The story doesn’t always paint him as a nice guy though, the way he handles the women in his life is getting into the abusive area. Otherwise this shows us how Biggie wasn’t interested in getting involved in the gang war, he just want to make honest money.
Biopic/Crime/Music – The biopic side of the film shows how Biggie was being drawn towards a life of crime or leaving it behind to become a big music sensation and how his life changed with the new, making him part of one of the biggest rap battles in history. The crime world is showing how Biggie was always trying to get out of this world and give you hope to others that are facing it. While I personally wasn’t a fan of the music involved, it will please the fans of his music.
Settings – The film is set in the backdrop Brooklyn shows where he has come from and how he wants to stay loyal to the people who supported him.
Scene of the Movie – Making the choice.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The film doesn’t show him able to treat his women with respect.
Final Thoughts – This is a biopic that showed how easily a rivalry can start within the business that could end up becoming deadly between two biggest names in the music industry.
Overall: Music biopic that defined a decade.
Radioactive (2019)
8.5
Rate It
Movie Watch
Based on Lauren Redniss’s award-winning graphic novel, Marjane Satrapi’s (Persepolis) biopic...