Go See: "The Company You Keep"

I had the privilege of going to a screening of "The Company You Keep" at the Soho House last night.  Quite frankly, that's really the only way to see a film.  Comfy chairs with foot stools, cashmere blankets by The Elder Statesmen, a booze cart and a huge candy buffet.  Yes, yes, and oh yes!

To be honest, I hadn't heard of this film and had no idea what it was all about.  Sometimes that's the best part of watching a film - the element of surprise.  "The Company You Keep" stars Robert Redford, (who also directed), Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie, Chris Cooper, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte, Jackie Evancho (what? 2010 "America's Got Talent" runner-up), Brendan Gleeson, Terrence Howard, Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendrick...oh, and Susan Sarandon.  Are you still with me?  I guess it would be hard to say no to Robert Redford.

This film is based around a former Weather Underground activist who is found out by a local newspaper reporter after having a secret identity for years.  He flees from the FBI and the consistently annoying news reporter who has a knack for following his tracks.  I won't say anymore as I never want to be that spoiler alert girl but let me just say this.  I must not have been paying attention to the opening credits as it wasn't until midway through the film that I had an idea that maybe Robert Redford did indeed direct this film. 

He has a certain style to him that I find similar to Frank Darabont ("The Green Mile", "The Shawshank Redemption") and even throw in a little Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain", "Life of Pi") in there.  There is a certain ease in their style, a certain meditative pause that allows specific scenes and actions of the characters to marinate with the viewer.  It's just the right amount of time and then they get you in the end.  Seems very calculated to me - but very effective.  And let's not forget that Redford directed some great dramatic flicks such as "Ordinary People", "A River Runs Through It", "The Horse Whisperer" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance".  Go see this film!  You will love the cast and momentum of this movie.  Enjoy!

"The Company You Keep" hits theaters April 5th.

Go See: Mama

While Halloween was months ago, I'm always up for a horror film.  Especially when it has Guillermo del Toro's mark on it and especially when I'm invited to watch it at the Soho House (oh yes, I did!).  del Toro executive produced "Mama", which was directed by Andres Muschietti, an argentian filmmaker who originally created "Mama" as a short film but after it was viewed at a film festival in Europe, well the word got out and Mr. del Toro came a-knocking. 

 

Starring oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain and the hunky Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("Game of Thrones" & Paul Bettany's best mate in "Wimbledon") who play a couple that end up taking care of two little girls who were abandoned in the woods for five years.  It already sounds creepy, right?  Alls I'm going to say is that there are definitely some fantastical del Toro moments so let your mind go there - you will definitely get spooked!