Sausage Party

Well, how many times do you think you can use the word "F**K" in the first 20 minutes of a movie?  If you think its less than about 500 you would be wrong!  Now picture those vulgarities coming out of cartoon food.  There you have it, Sausage Party.  Rude, crude, over the top, disgusting, inappropriate, ridiculous, and I loved every second of it!  The story is from the point of view of food at a grocery store who all think that once you are "chosen" by the humans (Gods) you go to this euphoric fantasy land like heaven.  Well, one product gets returned and gives an unsuspecting hot dog the real news of what happens outside of the store, murder!  His goal is to find the truth and educate the others but no one will listen because their faith in what has been passed down.  The movie is really funny and extremely smart with types of food depicting the characteristics of their origin.  There are so many great voices and lines that unless you are in a really bad mood, you will laugh a lot.  Terrible for anyone under the age of 18, and not good to watch with your kids, but a fun throwaway to watch with your significant other, and who knows, if you are into some kinky stuff, this might actually turn you on!

FYI:  The preview for this accidentally played before Finding Dory in a California theater, oops!

***

Get Out

Ahhh, the racist undertones of the white loving controversial film maker Jordan Peele.  What do you expect from a guy who this type of movie.  Of course the black people are going to be portrayed as some Uncle Tom servants!  I've had it with this type of casting!  The Academy will definitely be on board with this one!  Wait, Jordan Peele is a black guy, you know from Key and Peele!  Who would have thought that this comedic superstar could turn to making a downright awesome horror/thriller like Get Out.  It did have a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes at one point so for those of you who have doubts, check this one out.  Basically two college age kids take a trip to rich-ville to spend some time with the girlfriends parents.  She is white by the way and hasn't told them he is black.  Well once they arrive he notices that the servants are also black but almost in a trance like state.  Well, he falls into a place where he keeps finding out things just aren't as they seem.  This is an outstanding movie with twists that are somewhat predictable but perfectly justified as the movie would have sucked if not.  Good acting, great story, and awesome twists.  Go see this movie!

FYI:  Budget for the film $5 Mil.  Opening weekend $33 Mil.  Success?

*****

Captain Fantastic

If you're going off the grid, I suggest doing it just like this modern day family.  Have a tricked out bus that you hardly ever use.  Hunt for your own dinner by knifing down a deer with your brothers and sisters.  Learn 7 different languages by the time you turn 9.  This is a great story from a unique point of view of a father living with his 6 extremely gifted children in the wild.  They have all they need for survival and are extremely well rounded in the arts, culture, and history.  Unfortunately they are as socially retarded as it gets when it comes to the real world.  An unforeseen event happens that takes this family into the modern day society and their world gets turned upside down.  The acting is outstanding and the story really makes you think about the miscommunication between humans with their own agendas getting in the way.  There are some moments that make you really question what you are doing with your life and the level of importance we stress on most things.  Give this movie a shot, its a bit "indie" but great overall.

FYI:  Mortensen used a number of props in this movie from other films he has done.

****

Hidden Figures

Dont you just love movies that remind you how insignificant and stupid you are to this world?  If so, then throw in overcoming adversity, racism and inequality at a time where all of this was extremely acceptable.  And here we are complaining about having to serve an extra side of ranch to a rude patron!  Well here we have the incredible true story of three black women in the 60's where racism and sexism was still a very common practice in the workplace.  On top of that they worked for NASA, which was an extremely male dominated world at a high pressure point in history racing the damn Russians into space.  These three pioneers worked in the low levels of the buildings doing human computing and back up engineering until each of them took a risk, made a stand, and overcame just about every thing thrown in their way.  Very inspiring movie, although a little bit typical where the underdog has to jump through more hoops than the average worker but overall great movie.  Highly recommended unless your a racist douche, then go back to watching the Benny Hill Show.

FYI:  Real Life Katherine Johnson asked the question when approached about making this movie, "Why would anyone want to make a movie about my life?"

****

XX

Four reasons to watch this movie; 1) Your kids wont eat their dinner, 2) Your life is miserable and you would rather drink than attend your own daughters birthday party, 3) You and your friends feel like hiking this weekend, 4) You have babied your son and now he is a dick!  Well, the ploy to market this film as a compilation of horror films directed only by women and casting only female roles was unnecessary as the film was actually quite good.  I am a fan of the anthology movies and the horror genre of course so I enjoyed all of this film.  The stories were not so obvious and left a lot to the imagination.  There were some disturbing parts that weren't so in your face that kept you thinking all the way through.  Although it was a tad low budget, it is definitely worth the watch.  One review I read said it was the biggest waste of time with no actual sense behind anything the stories told.  I say go back to watching The Fast and the Furious, and stay out of the thinkers world.  The acting was all pretty good, especially the birthday party segment which was darkly comical.  If you are a fan of the genre and like storied movies like Creepshow, and 4 Rooms give this a shot.

FYI:  During the filming 2 of the original female directors dropped out reducing it to only 4 stories.

***1/2

The Founder

Who knew???  The title also could have been, "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun, with a side of a knife in the back of the Actual founders!"  I think the studio execs probably thought that was too long though.  Wow, what a movie!  Coming to you from the most well known restaurant brand in the world, you get the movie telling the true story behind McDonalds.  We all know its the greasy, fast food chain that changed the 5 minute meal in America, but how did it get to be a giant?  I mean, seriously have you eaten there in the last 20 years?  My kids aren't even huge fans!  The story is incredible, telling the tale of an underdog, down on his luck salesman, Ray Kroc who happens upon a pair of brothers in California running a burger joint.  Not just any burger joint, McDonalds!  They orchestrated a methodical system serving only a few items at perfection each and every time.  Kroc saw it, and wanted it, bad!  So he partners with the brothers and begins to strategically screw them out of everything taking over franchise and land rights until he buries them as innocent naive puppets.  Forget the reviews and the snub at the Oscars, this movie is excellent and highly recommended.

FYI:  Tom Hanks turned down the role of Kroc, just as Keaton turned down Hanks role in Philadelphia.

****1/2

Passengers

Ahhh, the future!  Where nothing can go wrong, and apparently engineers have the ability to configure and fix a busted up technological monster of a spaceship!  Sounds good to me, but wait, I am only an insurance agent.  Amidst the horrible reviews of this film, I must say I don't agree in the slightest!  This movie was outstanding!  Sure it took from the lonely, secluded, last person alive playbook such as Castaway or I am Legend but did so with the witty charm or Chris Pratt.  Basically the setting of this story is on a passenger ship traveling over 100 light years away to a new planet for select earthlings.  Unfortunately something goes wrong and one of the sleeping chambers opens 90 years early.  From there you can guess what type of psychosis destruction happens with a single passenger alone on the ship sure to be alone until his death.  There were many references in this film such as the robot bartender who was awesome, with a direct feel for "The Shining".  Jennifer Lawrence is actually really hot in this film and I usually don't like her too much.  There is tension, action, romance, and a great story.  I highly recommend.

FYI:  Andy Garcia is in the movie for approx 15 seconds with no speaking lines.

****