Friday, December 4, 2015

Week of December 4 - 10 (Rhoades)

Tropic Overview

Four Films Take You on a Trip at the Tropic!
Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades
Film Critic, Key West Citizen

Ian Fleming wrote a travel book titled “Thrilling cities.” That’s what we have with this week’s Tropic films -- Hollywood, Boston, Brooklyn, London, and more!

Bond … James Bond. Yes, Daniel Craig’s 007 returns in “Spectre,” the 24th film in the official film series. Here our favorite spy figures out that the bad guys in previous movies were working for a master organization headed by archvillian Ernst Stavro Blofeld. But Blofeld, as portrayed by Christoph Waltz, may have a personal agenda when it comes to his old nemesis Bond. Contactmusic.com opines, “For his latest adventure, James Bond mixes the personal drama of ‘Skyfall’ with the vintage globe-hopping action of the previous 23 movies.” And CinemaDope says it “feels like a Best of Bond compilation.”

Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”) takes on the title role in “Trumbo.” Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo won two Academy Award while writing under pseudonyms, due to being banned as a member of the blacklisted Hollywood 10. Creative Loafing says, “One of the year's best films, ‘Trumbo’ is alternately poignant, amusing, infuriating and always thought-provoking.” And EricDSnider declares, “Like the man himself, the film is witty and entertaining, and it makes its points gracefully.”

“Brooklyn” is the story of a young Irish woman who emigrates to New York in the 1950s. Saoirse Ronan stars as the lass caught between two countries … and two men. Lyle’s Movie Reviews says, “Movies this charming don't come around nearly often enough as they should but it helps make gems like ‘Brooklyn’ shine all the brighter.” And Paste Magazine adds, “Ronan, perhaps, is the most obvious choice to play Eilis, but that's because she's perfect. Is she the best actress of her generation?”

Certainly one of the Top Ten movies this year is “Spotlight,” the true story about a team of investigative reporters at the Boston Globe who uncover the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachael McAdams are among the ensemble cast. FromTheBalcony calls it “one of the great journalism films; compelling, flawlessly acted, and successful in its invitation to join in the hunt for the truth.” And Sacramental News & Review concludes, “A taut story well-told, suspenseful despite the fact that the world knows how it all turned out, and energized by an authentic sense of the dogged research and footwork at the heart of serious investigative journalism.”

So do a little traveling to thrilling cities without leaving your plush theater seat.

srhoades@aol.com

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