You've been busy, and maybe after the holidays, you are going to be looking for things to do. Here is what is new for you at the movies.
Why Him
Well, James Franco does make me laugh sometimes, and he does here as well. This is another comedy where the daughter is marrying the "wrong guy" and dad ain't to happy about it. Franco is Laird and he is about as goofy as they come. Brian Cranston is the dad who is being tormented by Laird.
This has some fun moments and is pretty funny throughout. We just never seem to get tired of this formula. This is rated a hard R, and well deserved. Kudos to Megan Mullaley who was quite funny here as mom, and there is a funny supporting cast.
Not great, but good fun
LA LA Land
This movie is going to win so many awards, it may need a tractor trailer to get them all home. This is is a wonderfully done movie that Hollywood will love to honor, because it is a story about - itself. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star and both will be nominated for numerous awards as well.
This is a great mixture of old school musicals, and a modern one. The singing, the dancing, and the music in general is amazing. Incredibly filmed, superbly written, and acted brilliantly. It's a love story, a comedy and tragedy and a musical. This is as original as movies get, and this is an experience that every movie lover should not miss on the big screen.
One of the best movies of this year. Or any year.
Fences
Fences is a new movie starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. This was adapted from a play and this movie actually views like one. This is really serious drama, with a stellar story and an equally stellar performance by Washington who also directed this.
It's a story in the early 1960's of a struggling family in Pittsburgh, who are a victim of the times, timing of life, race and family background. This is very powerful and will make you uncomfortable at times with its honesty. This is not big on a music soundtrack, or anything flashy, this is simply great actors, being great telling a story that is tough to watch at times, but worth the time.
Terrific.
Jackie
A short Indy movie about former first lady Jackie Kennedy, and the days immediately following her husband's assassination in 1963. This stars Oscar winner Natalie Portman as Jackie. And this will be the role of her career. She is magnificent.
This deals with Jackie as a wife, mother, and first lady and takes you to places you never have been with the Kennedy's. This is wonderfully written, acted and produced. This also has incredible costuming, sets and a very strong supporting cast. Portman is amazing, and she will more than likely be nominated for another Oscar.
Limited release, but worth the drive to find it.
scott@wqmx.com
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Thursday, December 29, 2016
MUSIC - My Five Favorite Songs of 2016
2016 has been another solid year in Country Music, that was loaded with some good transition. There were some strong breakthrough acts this year that added a real nice seasoning to our already strong format. And for my ear, some of these artists and their great new songs and sound dominated my top 5 of the year.
5/ 80's Mercedes - Maren Morris. She absolutely has the chops to be a real player for years to come. Both of her singles were terrific as I loved My Church as well. This song is a great example of a newer sound from a new woman artist that talks directly to her audience and has a thunderous beat.
4/ Hometown Girl - Josh Turner. So great to have him back and it's worth the wait. This is a real nice mix of who Josh was, as it doesn't abandon the road he's traveled, and paves the way for a clear view of where he's going.
3/ May We All - Florida Georgia Line. I loved Holy too, but this a real nice song and a bit different from them as was Holy. Their 2016 songs have shown some real versatility. They are on a great roll these days and are cementing themselves as one of our largest acts.
2/ I Met A Girl - William Michael Morgan. Great song, done traditionally, sung by a young singer with a Stetson, that is totally believable. This song is among the ones that are really centering the format. A lot of singers I feel would have loved to have this song.
1/ Head Over Boots - John Pardi. Good example of the right song finding the right singer. This song also reminds us that with all the serious ballads and love songs out there, country music is still fun, and there's room for all kinds of country. Really fun song!
scott@wqmx.com
5/ 80's Mercedes - Maren Morris. She absolutely has the chops to be a real player for years to come. Both of her singles were terrific as I loved My Church as well. This song is a great example of a newer sound from a new woman artist that talks directly to her audience and has a thunderous beat.
4/ Hometown Girl - Josh Turner. So great to have him back and it's worth the wait. This is a real nice mix of who Josh was, as it doesn't abandon the road he's traveled, and paves the way for a clear view of where he's going.
3/ May We All - Florida Georgia Line. I loved Holy too, but this a real nice song and a bit different from them as was Holy. Their 2016 songs have shown some real versatility. They are on a great roll these days and are cementing themselves as one of our largest acts.
2/ I Met A Girl - William Michael Morgan. Great song, done traditionally, sung by a young singer with a Stetson, that is totally believable. This song is among the ones that are really centering the format. A lot of singers I feel would have loved to have this song.
1/ Head Over Boots - John Pardi. Good example of the right song finding the right singer. This song also reminds us that with all the serious ballads and love songs out there, country music is still fun, and there's room for all kinds of country. Really fun song!
scott@wqmx.com
Thursday, December 15, 2016
MOVIE REVIEWS - Now In Theaters
Here's a look at some of choices you have at the movies this weekend. And yes, the new Star Wars movie is out as well.
Collateral Beauty
This is a really good idea, and my feeling is this would read in a book very well. But as a movie, I'm not sure. This has an all star cast including Will Smith, Kate Winslett, Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Edward Norton and others. So clearly star power is not the issue here.
This is the story of Howard, his friends and his advertising company. Howard has an extreme personal tragedy and retreats entirely from life. This is the story of bringing him back as best as he can be brought back. As he writes abstract letters to things like, Death, Love, and Time. And he gets an answer from each of them - but how?
This is done as well as it can be, problem is I think you need your imagination here more than your eyes. This is a story that doesn't transfer well to the visual. Plus, in this adaptation, the ending was insanely predictable. You will be way, way ahead of the movie, even though they think they are smarter than you.
This is emotional, entertaining, and pretty well paced. Is this great? No. But it's worth the time and money if you are in for a emotional ride at the movies.
Office Christmas Party
What can you say? It's 2 hours of footage from a huge office party. Big cast, some laughs, topical at times.
Story attempted, but you don't really care about it. You just want to see the party shenanigans and watch all of our stars again try their hand at non-scripted improvisational jokes.
Miss Sloane
Here comes another political thriller with an agenda that was supposed to make a big splash at the box office but did not, and will not. Jessica Chastain is terrific as Miss Sloane. She is a tough as nails, smart, slick Washington DC lobbyist with a great track record, this time taking on the NRA and trying to get control legislation passed.
But there are a few really big problems here. First, this is too long, and draggy at times. Second, even though Chastain is great, the character they portray is simply a horrible, ugly, lost, immensely terrible person in general. You are supposed to be pulling for her, but you really just hate her more as time rolls on. They try at the end to redeem her, but you could care less about her by then. This movie also becomes a lecture about, well basically everything, and her dialogue is simply not credible.
Chastain does a lot with a little, and she is to be commended. Also, these movies with anti-everything agendas for the most part flop and flop hard, as this will. And even a small 18 million dollar budget will still be a huge tanker.
scott@wqmx.com
Collateral Beauty
This is a really good idea, and my feeling is this would read in a book very well. But as a movie, I'm not sure. This has an all star cast including Will Smith, Kate Winslett, Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Edward Norton and others. So clearly star power is not the issue here.
This is the story of Howard, his friends and his advertising company. Howard has an extreme personal tragedy and retreats entirely from life. This is the story of bringing him back as best as he can be brought back. As he writes abstract letters to things like, Death, Love, and Time. And he gets an answer from each of them - but how?
This is done as well as it can be, problem is I think you need your imagination here more than your eyes. This is a story that doesn't transfer well to the visual. Plus, in this adaptation, the ending was insanely predictable. You will be way, way ahead of the movie, even though they think they are smarter than you.
This is emotional, entertaining, and pretty well paced. Is this great? No. But it's worth the time and money if you are in for a emotional ride at the movies.
Office Christmas Party
What can you say? It's 2 hours of footage from a huge office party. Big cast, some laughs, topical at times.
Story attempted, but you don't really care about it. You just want to see the party shenanigans and watch all of our stars again try their hand at non-scripted improvisational jokes.
Miss Sloane
Here comes another political thriller with an agenda that was supposed to make a big splash at the box office but did not, and will not. Jessica Chastain is terrific as Miss Sloane. She is a tough as nails, smart, slick Washington DC lobbyist with a great track record, this time taking on the NRA and trying to get control legislation passed.
But there are a few really big problems here. First, this is too long, and draggy at times. Second, even though Chastain is great, the character they portray is simply a horrible, ugly, lost, immensely terrible person in general. You are supposed to be pulling for her, but you really just hate her more as time rolls on. They try at the end to redeem her, but you could care less about her by then. This movie also becomes a lecture about, well basically everything, and her dialogue is simply not credible.
Chastain does a lot with a little, and she is to be commended. Also, these movies with anti-everything agendas for the most part flop and flop hard, as this will. And even a small 18 million dollar budget will still be a huge tanker.
scott@wqmx.com
Friday, December 2, 2016
BROWNS - Learning in Earnest From Byner
Today at our WQMX Tree Of Lights Fundraiser I met Browns legendary running back, Earnest Byner. What a thrill for us.
For those who can remember, and for those who only saw it on the ESPN movie, Believeland, he is the player whose fumble at the goal line in Denver ended the Browns Superbowl run in 1987. That is what ESPN wants you to remember - The Fumble - but I have always refused to do that. Byner was a darn good football player who played on some darn good teams, who wouldn't have been darn good without him. For me, it was not his fumble, but Jeremiah Castille's great play when his team needed it. But it's not as good of theater for many.
I always thought Byner was unfairly judged. Truth is, what happened to Byner that day was tough for all of us fans to accept. It hurt. But now, 29 years later I have learned our pain, the fans, was nothing in the grand scheme of things. We got off easy.
The slow motion footage of Byner on the ground at Mile High Stadium was hard to watch as he is in emotional agony. And it's harder to watch now - than then. Because now, we realize, Byner was just a 25 year old guy, who in about 5 seconds had the entire weight of a major city placed on his shoulders, not just for that Sunday, but forever. He was made to carry the Browns, Indians and the Cavaliers failures from that moment forward. Think about that, he was only 25 years old at that time. It wasn't fair then, and it's not fair now.
Talking with Byner, it is clear he is comfortable in his own skin and has turned that early Sunday evening agony into a positive outlook. And we should be able to as well, as we only carry our own weight, and not the weight of all. Good lesson for all of us, life is filled with things that require perspective. Real perspective, and it's a good time of the year to be reminded of it.
Because if Earnest Byner can accept that what happened that day, was only a tiny moment in time, in a good life lived, the rest of us are charged to do the same.
For those who can remember, and for those who only saw it on the ESPN movie, Believeland, he is the player whose fumble at the goal line in Denver ended the Browns Superbowl run in 1987. That is what ESPN wants you to remember - The Fumble - but I have always refused to do that. Byner was a darn good football player who played on some darn good teams, who wouldn't have been darn good without him. For me, it was not his fumble, but Jeremiah Castille's great play when his team needed it. But it's not as good of theater for many.
I always thought Byner was unfairly judged. Truth is, what happened to Byner that day was tough for all of us fans to accept. It hurt. But now, 29 years later I have learned our pain, the fans, was nothing in the grand scheme of things. We got off easy.
The slow motion footage of Byner on the ground at Mile High Stadium was hard to watch as he is in emotional agony. And it's harder to watch now - than then. Because now, we realize, Byner was just a 25 year old guy, who in about 5 seconds had the entire weight of a major city placed on his shoulders, not just for that Sunday, but forever. He was made to carry the Browns, Indians and the Cavaliers failures from that moment forward. Think about that, he was only 25 years old at that time. It wasn't fair then, and it's not fair now.
Talking with Byner, it is clear he is comfortable in his own skin and has turned that early Sunday evening agony into a positive outlook. And we should be able to as well, as we only carry our own weight, and not the weight of all. Good lesson for all of us, life is filled with things that require perspective. Real perspective, and it's a good time of the year to be reminded of it.
Because if Earnest Byner can accept that what happened that day, was only a tiny moment in time, in a good life lived, the rest of us are charged to do the same.
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