Wonderstruck is a truly beautiful film that is based on the imaginative and well crafted novel by Brian Selznick who also created the wonderful “The Invention of Hugo Cabret”.  If you’re not familiar with the book, it tells the story through words (Ben’s story) and very detailed and incredible illustrations in place of words (Rose’s story).  It’s got so many layers of imagery and meaning that it will have you thinking about the movie for long after you see it!

Ben and Rose are children born 50 years apart in different parts of the country and circumstances but their lives become interwined after a series of events that bond them in ways that you can never imagine.  They are longing for something that seems just beyond their reach and their search for answers results in journeys for both children.  Ben (Oakes Fegley) lives in Gunflint, Michigan in 1977 and spends his time looking at stars and space and collecting rocks and various other treasures.   He tragically loses his loving and winsome mother (Michelle Williams) in a car accident.  He’s living with his aunt now but he’s longing to find the father that his mother would never tell him about and he’s having recurring nightmares about wolves.  After a freak accident causes Ben to lose his hearing, he sets off on a bus for New York to find his father with the one clue that he has – an address for a bookstore.   Rose (Millicent Simmonds) is growing up deaf hidden away in a wealthy home in Hoboken, New York in 1927 with an emotionally abusive father.  She sad and lonely and fills her isolated days with her own star, a silent film idol (Julianne Moore), watching her silent movies and filling a scrapbook with her image and building paper models of New York City.  Life is pretty bleak for Rose until she sees that her idol is appearing on the stage in New York City and decides to run away to the big city to find her idol.   Ben and Rose’s lives intersect in the wonderful American Museum of Natural History and the connection will blow your mind.

There are many great scenes but my favorite by far is the moment in the movie theater when Rose is watching her idol Lillian Mayhew in a silent film.  To watch Rose’s face as she gazes at her idol’s performance on the silent screen is one of the most pure moments in a film that I’ve ever seen.  Rose relates to the actress acting out her anguish without words but only through her face, eyes, and broad gestures.  Rose is mesmerized by the actress’ performance and she feels that she’s looking at her own anguish in the film.

The performances are all wonderful but  Millicent Simmonds who plays Rose is the real wonder of this movie and is truly amazing to watch.  Millicent is actually deaf herself and she gives an incredible performance.  Her character doesn’t speak throughout the movie but the array of emotions that play on her face gives you the idea of what deafness feels and looks like.   Her face is a reflection of the experiences that she having and it is so expressive that she makes us realize that you can actually listen with your eyes.

Go see it and take your older kids (it’s PG) you will both love the artistry of the film and the message that it has for all of us.  I love the famous Oscar Wilde quote that is highlighted in the beginning of the story.  “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Opening Date for Dallas/Fort Worth is October 27, 2017: 

Angelika Mockingbird Dallas and Plano, AMC Northpark

Additional playdates opening November 3  – Look Cinema 11 Dallas, Tinseltown 17 Grapevine, Legacy 24 Plano, Southlake Town Square 14,

Additional playdates opening November 10 – AMC Parks at Arlington, Ridgmar 13 Ft. Worth

For more information about the film go to:

http://www.wonderstruckmovie. com

For more information about the book go to:

http://www. wonderstruckthebook.com/

Don’t be fooled by this period piece’s initial appearance.  The costumes are pretty and the settings are hauntingly beautiful but this isn’t Jane Austen I assure you.   I’d describe it more like Wuthering Heights meets Carrie.  It’s an intriguing and chilling movie which is surprising on so many levels.

Here’s the plot:  The movie is set in rural England in 1865 and the very young Katherine (Florence Pugh) has been sold by her father into a loveless marriage with a bitter and cold man who’s old enough to be her father.  Between he and her cruel and heartless father in law Katherine is feeling trapped in her new home like a beautiful caged bird.  She’s not without strong will though and we find out how strong it is after she meets and falls in love with the handsome and cocky groomsman, Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis).  None of the players in her life have any idea what the seeming innocent Katherine is capable of but they are soon to find out.  She becomes a force that we have rarely seen in period pieces and she’s not willing to stop until she gets what she wants and what she wants is Sebastian.

Don’t confuse this story with the Shakespearean wife who encourages her husband to further her ambitions by killing a Scottish king.  It’s actually based on a Russian story from 1865 about a discontented, and ultimately violent, young bride.  Believe me this bride is not happy and she’s about to unleash havoc on everyone who she comes into contact with.

The young actress Florence Pugh who plays Katherine carries this movie with her incredibly chilling performance.   Despite her understated performance, she gives you a glimpse now and then of what must be going on in that sweet heart shaped head of hers.  She somehow is able to elicit our sympathy and our revulsion both at the same time.  The actress who plays the black maid Anna (Naomi Ackie) is also a stand out among the performances.  She is sole witness to Katherine’s transformation from the young, innocent bride to the incarnation of pure evil and she can’t comprehend it.  Her performance will break your heart as you watch her crumble under the stress of the dark secrets she has to carry and the cruelty she has to endear because of her position in life.

This movie has all the elements of a classic.  It examines many issues of the period, such as the huge inequality between men and women in the 1800’s, race, spousal abuse, class division, sexual frustration, and mental illness.  Go see it and the next time you’re feeling trapped by your job or your challenging roles as a wife and a mother think about Katherine.  On second thought maybe you shouldn’t think about Katherine.

LADY MACBETH will open on Friday Jul 21, 2017 at the following Theaters:

Magnolia located in Uptown  3699 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Angelika Film Center Plano  The Shops at Legacy

Check listings for times.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S TRUE CRIME SERIES ‘KILLING FIELDS’ HAS RETURNED FOR A SECOND SEASON ON TUESDAYS AT 10 PM ET/PT WITH NEW LEADS, AND NEW CASES…

The Discovery Channel’s True Crime Series “Killing Fields” returned Tuesday, January 3^rd     for its 2^nd Season and it did not disappoint. If you didn’t catch the 1st Season (I was hooked from the first episode) you definitely should watch the 2nd Season! “Killing Fields”  is uniquely Discovery with an exploratory feel that will take you inside real murder investigations in one of the most difficult places in the world to solve a murder, the Louisiana swamplands.  I’ve learned that the Louisiana swamplands are a perfect dumping ground for bodies – tune in and find out why.  The law enforcement team that Discovery follows is armed with determination, experience, and the latest in forensic technology.  They are focused on solving these horrific crimes and bringing closure to the murder cases and the victim’s families.  Watching them try to accomplish this in real time can be intense at times.

If you haven’t watched the series before here’s the synopsis:  The sheriff’s department investigate real crimes in the small community of Iberville Parish, Louisiana, located just 15 miles from the state capitol, Baton Rouge.   This season picks up from last season as detectives Rodie Sanchez and Aubrey St. Angelo and their team continue to investigate the infamous 1997 homicide of former Louisiana State University student Eugenie Boisfontaine.  Rodie is more determined than ever to close the case, which has haunted him for nearly two decades.  Last season I interviewed forensics specialist Lori Morgan about her life as a wife and mother of three teenagers in addition to her career in forensics (and now a TV Star) and found her own story to be inspiring.   This is a mom who followed her career dream and has achieved success in her field.  The affectionate bantering and camaraderie between Rodie and Aubrey is entertaining to watch as well.

KILLING FIELDS is co-executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Tom Fontana (“St. Elsewhere,” “Homicide: Life On The Street,” “Oz” and “The Philanthropist”) and Academy Award-winning film director Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” “Diner,” “Bugsy,” “Wag the Dog” and “Good Morning, Vietnam”).

Watch it tonight!!  To learn more, go to www.discovery.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery.

Just when I thought it wasn’t possible to fall in love again with Disney, it happened.   Moana is the very best of Disney and much much more.

First of all, can I just tell you it doesn’t get much better than your college age son asking you to go see a Disney movie with him.  He’s in the Arts and Technology School at The University of Texas at Dallas  and recently went to a lecture given by a visiting representative from Disney who was there to discuss their soon to be released feature “Moana”.  The lecture went into great detail about the new technology that their animators developed in the making of the movie.   One new technology in particular enabled the animators to manipulate each individual hair strand on the characters’ head.  Now that you know that you will be as mesmerized as I was watching Moana’s beautiful hair move in every scene of the movie – it’s amazing!

They also discussed the lengths Disney went to to be as accurate as they could in making the movie.  The Disney team traveled to the island and researched the Polynesian’s culture by meeting with linguists, anthropologists, historians, and even fishermen to try to be as accurate as they possibly could.  Their goal was to both educate and entertain audiences and treat the culture with the respect they deserve.   I think they achieved all of the above.

The fictional movie takes place 3,000 years ago in the islands of Polynesia, an area that includes Hawaii, Tonga and Tahiti. The star is 16-year-old Moana, voiced by Hawaiian actress Auli’i Cravalho, who goes on an ocean voyage with Maui, voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.   Moana defies her family to travel beyond the reefs to save her beloved island and to find her destiny.  Mind you, Moana isn’t your usual Disney princess, she’s more like a heroine.  She’s beautiful, spunky, brave, defiant, and isn’t afraid to get a little dirty along the way.   She’s also not looking for love which is a Disney princess departure.   She’s got the demigod Maui for company on this journey but he’s too busy being in love with himself to give her much attention and she really could care less.  Their relationship is sweet and refreshing.  Their sarcastic banter is pure fun.

The new Disney project is visually stunning, fun of action, and you will love the music!  Hamilton creator and theater darling Lin-Manuel Miranda has created some of its best music.

The movie made $82 million over the five-day weekend, placing it behind only “Frozen” (2013) for a Thanksgiving debut and it is sure to be another Disney success.  Your kids will love it (no matter what age they are!) so stock up now on all things Moana for Christmas!

http://movies.disney.com/moana