Tag: True Story

THE HONEYMOON KILLERS (1970)

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Written & Directed By: Leonard Kastle

Cinematography: Oliver Wood

Editor: Stanley Warnow And Richard Brophy 

Cast: Shirley Stoner, Tony Lo Bianco, Doris Roberts, Mary Jane Higby, Kip Mcardle, Barbara Cason, Marilyn Chris, Dora Duckworth

An obese, embittered nurse doesn’t mind if her toupee-wearing boyfriend romances and fleeces other women, as long as he takes her along on his con jobs.

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This is a failure for me personally. As I heard about over the years, but never took the leap to watch it until recently, as I had even seen a more modern retelling of the tale that it is based on. The 2006 film Lonelyhearts, which starred John Travolta, Salma, Hayek, James Gandolfini, and Jared Leto. This is way better

This film is based on a true crime case of a con man who specialized in romancing and marrying women and stealing their money, and then he met a lonely nurse who fell head over heels for him, and then helped him and his cons but soon they turned deadly as they would begin to kill their victims rather than Just abandon them and run away

What is surprising for this film is that you feel like an accomplice as you watch it you still have an overview, but you’re always there with them and all points of this time and it just has a gritty realism in it that is so believable so that even when eventually, the film turns violet it feels more realistic and you feel sorry for the victims as we have gotten to know them a bit

So at no part, do we root for these killers but we somewhat find ourselves repost, but also a little bit emotional when the nurse part who is seems to be the most cold hearted as she seems to be the one who does the killing most of the time just continuously keeps finding out that her partner has slept with these women that he promised he would never do 

He seems to be the one more in charge at first shocked at her behavior, but soon giving the orders and she seems to become his henchman of sorts, as well as as his partner 

This film was originally supposed to be directed by a young Martin Scorsese, but he ended up not making it past pre-production and was taken over by another director Donald Volkman, who then was fired and finished with another director 

This is one of those treasure cast of films that at first seems like it’s gonna be a cheap bee movie that you would see at a drive-in though it’s so surprisingly well made and the fact that it also takes you off guard when you were expecting, maybe a more harmless, exploiter film and you find this film, surprisingly dramatically resident and more of a thriller than an out and out horror film

It also works again by us, getting to know the victims, even as we know they’re fate and know it’s coming up if personalizes their deaths a little more, and makes it more gruesome and sad than originally intended, especially one victim that you don’t expect them to really carry out and while it happens off screen. You feel like they have reached a new low.

As violence is introduced slowly in the sub at first the killings, though torturous, we don’t really see the handiwork though soon we’re pretty much in the same room as the violence is happening it seems like with each victim, the film and the killers up the game and the violence.

No, this film is definitely a gem not only for true crime aficionados. It truly stands out in the field and sets itself apart. That feels more truthful than a lot of them out there. 

As even the 2006 film Lonelyhearts, based on this case focuses more on the cops in a bit on the killers, this film, we only truly see the killers point of view and a bit of the victims point of view.

This is one of those films that packs such a punch you want to learn all about the true crime case right after you watch it. 

Grade: A – 

NONNAS (2025)

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Directed By: Stephen Chbosky

Written by: Liz Maccie

inspired by the life story of: Jody Scaravella

Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus

Editor: Anne McCabe

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Joe Maganiello, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Susan Sarandon, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Mateo, Michael Rispoli, Geoffrey Owens, Campbell

Scott

After losing his beloved mother, a man risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers as the chefs.

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First off will say that Vince Vaughn here plays more of an every man so if you’re expecting his motor mouth, fast talker type of character you’re going to be sadly disappointed.

The film is based on a true story and real restaurant that I did not know I thought this was a made-up story, but was happy that by the end you find out this is based on truth.

Interestingly, this was directed by Stephen Chbosky, who I mainly know as a novelist, for the film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, he also directed and wrote the adaptation. He wrote and Strites’ other novels, but he is also a practicing filmmaker, as he has also DORECTED made films DEAR EVAN HANSEN and WONDER. all family films of a sort.

Here this film automatically feels like a family film as the subject matter is clean, it revolves around the power of friendship and families, and there’s nothing offensive in the film, and you get to know most of the characters so that they’re not one-dimensional 

This is one of those films that you’re gonna be hungry after watching just seeing not only the preparation of the food but how it comes out just makes you so hungry so that it’s kind of like soul food or tortilla soup or big night all these films that center around food meals, the meanings of them the expression of making food can be an art of itself, and this is one of those films. It helps relieve or comfort, or it just makes everything OK

Does have a minor romantic, of course what else would you expect and also preserves that whole thing of Vince Vaughn‘s characters and every man where you would think given how strong and good of a character he would’ve been married already by now, but he was taking care of his mother and now that she has passed on and he’s pursuing something with passion for the first time that he’s had no female in his life to take care of or take care of him and at first, it seems like it will be that filling, but now he meets a woman and romance is on the menu so that he’s left in good hands with her and she’s left in good hands with him in the knives are there to approve andhelp nurture

Film also provides material and characters for Lorraine Brocco,  Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, who still work, but you don’t see in major releases as much as well as I’m putting the queen of playing older female roles, Susan Sarandon as the more flirtatious and vivacious of the Nonnas, who of course makes the sweet stuff the desserts and the revealing outfits

While the others are more traditional, Lorraine Bracco, the angriest and volatile one of tradition Talia Shire is more of the shy one with a secret, and Brenda Vaccaro is more of the traditional grandmother who misses her husband and doesn’t have that much to do 

Just these women provide their specialties in cooking. They also provide what cooking has always meant to them, which is an expression of love and care for their families whoever they’re serving food to so that they feel like fam and that’s what this film also feels like an expression for the audience out there who might be feeling off or might miss family and friends this film is meant to bring you in and either remind you or fill you with that feeling of love that comes from family.

As the restaurant with a love letter to the cooking and to his mother and family, the screenplay written by Liz Maccie is a love letter to her family, and her husband Stephen Chbosky has said that this is a love letter to her him directing the film

It’s a tearjerker, a family film for all ages that I wish didn’t talk down to its audience. It doesn’t mean to, but it is also just that simple, what you see is what you get, the title alone. Tell you everything you need to know, it’s a nice warm fun little movie. Not offensive and not too many stereotypes.

That of course plays on Netflix streaming, but definitely could’ve made it mark in theaters, even if it doesn’t have that many locations nor is the story that big.

Grade: C+

MONEYBALL (2011)

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Directed By: Bennett Miller
Written By: Aaron Sorkin And Steve Zaillian 
Story By: Stan Chervin
Based on the book “MONEYBALL: The Art Of Winning An Unfair Game” by: Michael Lewis 
Cinematography: Wally Pfister
Editor: Christopher Tellefsen 

Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Reed Diamond, Brent Jennings, Tammy Blanchard, Nick Searcy, Arliss Howard

Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane is handicapped with the lowest salary constraint in baseball. If he ever wants to win the World Series, Billy must find a competitive advantage. Billy is about to turn baseball on its ear when he uses statistical data to analyze and place value on the players he picks for the team.

This film feels like a classic story. It is told simply not in a flashy way with plenty of dramatic scenes and even leaves room for light humor. Though it is intricate in the details and methods it is told. 

It feels like a film that has confidence in itself and how important it is. Whereas for the audience your enjoyment of the film matters in your interest in the subject and even the sport of baseball. As the film feels strong and partially nostalgic about the feeling of baseball and what it represents for some but also represents the players who seemingly

Give their all even when they might have run out of what makes them special, but also by making it more about numbers and probability. While trying to humanize these players it also undercuts them as at times liabilities more than anything. 

Why is it that baseball is the most respected sport when it comes to movies? Even though it is the sort that had a public cheating scandal in its heyday? As it strangely seems to represent Americana. As it has always seemed to be around and played?

Jonah Hill underplays In his role showing he can be quite effective without really doing much and more letting the character stand out for his skills rather than his behavior or words.

Bennet Miller behind the camera directing is always a joy. As he always seems to disappear and once he comes back around to making another film it stands out in many good ways. As they always seem more prestige than anything else. Good but they seem to lack passion or too much emotion. Here he has another home run. 

As a director, he tends to be very atmospheric. Especially when it comes to a consistent tone. As he seems to seek to say so much. While seemingly doing very little but it feels bigger. It’s hard to believe he only came onto this project after Director Steven Soderbergh left the project. 

This is one of Brad Pitt’s better performances where he seems to be in a role later in his career. As in the role, he plays it as more neutral, cocky, and as much of a show-off as he has done in the past. Here he doesn’t have to rely on looks, personality, or charm. 

The cast is full of heavy hitters who never let the film or the material down.

As this film is a true story it doesn’t have a storybook ending. But even as it is downbeat it is a quietly satisfying one. 

It not only takes you behind the scenes of the organization but also a great story with real characters going through inner turmoil. Though they stay in check of their emotions, you can read the drama clearly on their faces and in their eyes. 

The story is all about the details that shape and define it. 

GRADE: A

A HIDDEN LIFE (2019)

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Written & Directed by: Terrence Malick

Cinematography: Joerg Widmer

Editor: Rehman Nizarali, Joe Gleason & Sebastian Jorsi 

Cast: August Diehl, Maria Simon, Karin Neuhauser, Tobias Moretti, Ulrich Matthias, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruno Ganz, Michael Nyqvist 

Based on real events, A Hidden Life is the story of an unsung hero, Bl. Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife, Fani, and children that keeps his spirit alive.

This film is a love story of life and family itself. 

One of the reasons this film is so much more enjoyable or ranks  above Terrence Malick’s more recent films is that it is not as abstract. Still visually beautiful but doesn’t rely on things such as narration and voice over to tell It’s Tale. It doesn’t feel like a puzzle to be be solved.

The film is a tragedy but it is a film full of life and excitement. As it slowly dwindles down to hopelessness but in there there is hope and a fulfillment of spirit.

It’s based on a true story and let’s the strength of character be told there. It doesn’t have as much existential and philosophical angst and questions. There is a strong story as well as telling a story based on actual things that happens and offers a look at a historical event. So that it feels stronger and put together like more of his classic films rather then KNIGHT OF CUPS, TREE OF LIFE  and SONG TO SONG story a lesser degree TO THE WONDER. Which felt like Director Malick run amuck with his creativity or his poetry period.

This film might be stronger as it is based on a true story and makes the director stay within certain guidelines. Where he has space can can’t deter too off or too free form. This works in his historical tales and adaptations of novels.

Like most of his films this film feels spiritual above all else. They feel like they are taking you on a journey even when they might not be moving anywhere and pretty much have the characters in their regular day to day activities

He makes films that are much more powerful on the big screen and feels like you can get into the same wavelength if you have no other option and are surrounded giving into it’s will so to speak.  Not letting it do so much of the storytelling. If there is it is in the form of letters bit inner thoughts 

It helps Fill in certain aspects of the story. That might not be that interesting to Show or out on screen. but it shouldn’t Take Over the narrative and do most of the work And allows for the philosophical standing up for one’s beliefs is at the heart of the story. 

When the modern intrudes in the ills classic way of life. How then religion chooses to respect those in power instead of staying by its principles.

It also feels like a film that hits harder and is more relatable in the current political and world climate. 

Grade: B+

THE LAUNDROMAT (2019)

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Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Written By: Scott Z. Burns
Based on the Book “Secrecy World: Inside The Panama Papers Investigation Of Illicit Money Networks and The Global Elite”  By: Jake Bernstein
Cinematography: Peter Andrews
Editor: Mary Ann Bernard

Cast: Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas, Gary Oldman, Jeffrey Wright, David Schwimmer, James Cromwell, Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Larry Wilmore, Rosalind Chao, Matthias Schoenaerts, Nonso Anozie, Miracle Washington, Jessica Allain,  Jay Paulson, Melissa Rauch, Will Forte, Chris Parnell

A widow investigates an insurance fraud, chasing leads to a pair of Panama City law partners exploiting the world’s financial system.

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