Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Movie Review: Gangster Squad

A friend of mine wanted to see a movie and knowing I like to go to movies, off we went to see Gangster Squad. This is an incredibly well acted movie, depicting the 1940's in Los Angeles and how there was a special squad created in order to stop the mob - in particular Sean Penn as the Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen. Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, and four others band together to stop them. This squad is created by Nick Nolte playing the Police Chief. These four cops basically go undercover, perhaps the beginning of undercover policemen - who knows. In the end the leader of the group, John O'Mara played by Josh Brolin unfortunately, although alive, has to leave the police force while the others remain. But the fact remains they did their job, while losing two of their team.
How accurate this film is I don't know, but it certainly holds your attention. I found myself not looking at parts, I found myself blanching at other scenes and at times wondering why I came to see this. Yet I enjoyed it, I find that I'm much more sensitive to human pain, like punching, because I can imagine how that feels on the ribs, face etc. these days (Perhaps because I spent so long with pain).  But the interplay between them all was great. Emma Stone, as Mickey's Moll (remember that's what Mobsters gals were called, but in love with Ryan Gosling's character did her usual great job. Emma and Ryan had been together before and their chemistry together does work.
I can recommend this movie for those that don't mind the get down and dirty. There are some gruesome scenes in this, but by and large it is 'doable' for the faint of heart don't go. It does tell a story of those days, what went on and as they say at the end of the movie, to this day, the Mob does not exist in Los Angeles, or so they say.
3 1/2 out of 5.

Movie Review Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away

If you want to experience color, action wonderful feats then you must see this movie. My friend Trish (my frequent movie goer friend) and I drove 1 1/2 hours to see this movie. To ensure we saw it. And it was worth it. Trish drove through a snow storm, so yes we really wanted to see it and we were not disappointed. I was mesmerized by some of the acts presented during this movie. Worth the drive, worth the dollars at the door (very reasonable considering how much one pays to see them in real life).  It was in 3D and that did make it wonderfully real.
This is a movie hard to explain, as although there is a thread, there is no talking, except one word, the rest is in expression and music behind the different acts. So well put together you can follow the thread and the beauty and the wonder of all these beautiful wonderful scenes one after another.
Of course I loved the Beatles music in particular and the arts that went with them. Watching the credits we noticed that many parts were taken from shows which are taking place around the world. Yes, this was a platial plate of color, music, and technique like you would not believe.  If you have an opportunity to see go do so.
4 1/2 out of 5.