The December holidays are a hiatus for live theater, so I ventured to the silver screen for vicarious adventure and enjoyment. I selected five shows that had prospects of being good entertainment and rated them on the scholastic measurement scale of A through F.
“Into The Woods” is a full blown Sondheim musical which intertwines Grimm fairy tales Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood as seen through the eyes of a fictitious Baker and his wife. Great music, singing, and special effects make this show a treat.
Meryl Streep plays the wicked witch with wizardry, but do not expect an Oscar since the role does not have much depth. The real stars are The Baker (Chris Pine) and his wife (Anna Kendrick) for superb singing and emotions.
The movie has variations from the musical. There is no narrator (no problem). The opening lines are still “Once Upon a Time,” but in the movie there is only a pause marking the end of the first act with “And they lived happily ever after.” After that, everything goes awry.
For Sondheim fan, this show gets an A grade. Otherwise, mark up a B and tough it out for a little over two hours.
“Exodus” is a futile attempt to update the biblical story of Moses. It uses casual street language to get across a story that everyone knows. Cecil B. DeMille must be turning in his grave. The anticipated spectacular scenes are just not there. It is only in deference to the Old Testament that I generously award this film a D grade.
“St. Vincent” has the right story and right actors. Bill Murray (Vincent) plays a retired curmudgeon who wallows in alcohol and gambling. He becomes the unlikely mentor to a young boy next door, son of a single mother. The boy receives a class assignment to write about their favorite Saint. While students pick canonized figures, he selects Vincent as his guardian who has changed his life. Vincent, of course, also changes.
For all the right reasons, this show gets a solid A.
“Gambler” traces the downward spiral of addiction to gambling by an English professor poorly played by Mark Wahlberg. To make things worse, he takes forbidden fruit when he has an affair with a student. The story is on an unbelievable spin where quarter of a million dollar bets become common place. Poor plot and low budget sets doom this show.
John Goodman gets top billing in the credits yet he hardly speaks ten complete sentences. The F word is used so often, it loses any punch. On that point alone, this show fails completely and appropriately gets the F grade!
“Unbroken” is a true story. This historical narrative follows the life of Louis Zamperini. His life as a wild, undisciplined boy, turns around when his brother, Pete, introduces him to the sport of running. Louie excels and represents the USA in the 1936 Olympics in Germany.
World War II changes everything. Zamperini, a B-24 bombardier, crashes in the Pacific. He survives 47 days at sea, only to be found and imprisoned by the Japanese. He is singled out for unspeakable torture, yet survives: unbroken.
Angelina Jolie does a more than credible job of directing this epic film. However, the film stops at the two-thirds mark in the book. Missing is the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffers driving him to alcohol. He seeks and finds redemption through the inspiration of young Billy Graham and once again, turns his life around.
This omission costs Jolie the top grade dipping the show to a solid, but respectable B.
