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White Boy Rick – Review
White Boy Rick – Budget of $29 million – 1 hour and 56 minutes
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Rick Sr and his son Rick Jr buy guns in Oklahoma to sell in Detroit. While he can legally sell guns, it’s his homemade silencers that are the real problem. Sr. uses those silencers as an upsale for his guns. Rick Jr takes his dad’s advice and goes to the local auto body shop run by Detroit’s biggest dealer, Jackson, to sell the guns. They buy Rick Jr’s guns but it’s his bravado that wins them over. He is dubbed White Boy Rick and asked to come to the Skate and Roll by Booh (Jackson’s little cousin). Rick goes home with money in his pocket but his family is falling apart. His sister Dawn is a drug addict and is leaving with her drug-dealing boyfriend Ty. And a gun his father sold was used in a murder. Wanting an escape, Rick goes to the Skate and Roll and have fun. But on is way home, three cops ask him to get in a car. They give him money to buy drugs at one of Jackson’s house to help get dirt on Jackson. If he doesn’t help, they will throw his father in jail. Rick agrees and succeeds. A few days later, the cops give him cocaine. They tell him to make crack, get a crew, and sell it. Any money Rick makes, he can keep. They want Rick to get more information about the crew so they can make a better case. But when Rick is shot, he is out of the game for 2 years. But with one major life event, Rick decides to use his new knowledge to become the country’s youngest kingpins.
Based on a true story, it’s hard to believe everything happened in 3 short years. Rick went from being a 14-year-old gun dealer to a 17-year-old drug kingpin. However, when you watch the movie, you have to ask yourself one question: Who gave Ricky his start? The cops, who gave him his first brick of cocaine to sell. His dad, for not stopping his son and insisting Ricky do something different with his life. The system, for not allowing Ricky back in school after he was a victim of a crime. Ricky, for not seeing any other options for himself and his family. Or all of the above. A sad reality this movie points out is having more than 655 grams of cocaine in Detroit offered a stiffer penalty than murder. So, dealers worried more about the weight of drugs they carried than the lives they took. It was this dragnet that caught Ricky in the long run.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
What do you think dad is Ricky – Dawn
I didn’t steal the car. I borrowed it. Someone stole it from me – Ricky
Be a lion – Ricky Sr.
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A Simple Favor – Review
A Simple Favor – Budget of $20 million – 1 hour and 57 minutes
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Stephanie starts her vlog by saying hello to all her followers. But before she starts her next project, she updates them on her friend Emily’s disappearance. The two met five days ago because Stephanie’s son Miles wanted to have a playdate with Emily’s son Nicky. Emily has them all back at her house. And while the boys play, the two mom’s have martinis and talk. Stephanie reveals she is an English Lit major and homemaking guru. She was widowed when her husband and brother died in the same car accident. Because her husband left a life insurance policy, she can afford to be a single stay-at-home mother until 2020. She likes to keep busy and uses her vlog as an outlet to help other moms. Emily is the Director of Public Relations for a fashion designer. She pursued her husband Sean and got him to marry her in a few months. Sean wrote a successful book but hasn’t written anything in 10 years. Now he is a college professor. While everything looks great on the outside, the couple is house poor and in financial debt. After a few more playdates, the two are at ease with each other. So at ease that Emily asks Stephanie to watch her kid while she takes care of work. The first pick up goes without incident, but the next is different. Emily doesn’t come back, doesn’t answer calls, and doesn’t answer text. Worried, Stephanie calls Sean in London with his sick mother. Sean flies home and agrees that the police need to be called. That was 5 days ago. With a phony plane ticket, a car rental, and $4 million, Stephanie wonders what happened to her friend Emily. Let’s hope Stephanie has some faith.
Based on the novel A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell, this movie is more than a roller coaster ride (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It is the entire theme park. With out-of-this-world twists and turns, it’s hard to keep straight what is really going on. And don’t take Stephanie’s innocent face for a sweet backstory. She has plenty of skeletons in her closet that will make you cringe and want more. These women together are one combustible mix that makes for a unique, fun, and intriguing movie. This is the type of movie that makes you want to read the book. See it now before someone ruins it for you.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Like my mom always said, lies are like margarine. Easy to spread but bad for the heart – Stephanie
The best thing I can do for Nicky is blow my brains out – Emily
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere – Sean
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A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. – Review
A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 30 minutes
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Cass’s watching the state by state results for the 2016 election when Frida crosses his path. He takes a moment to talk to her. Frida stopped at a food truck after she couldn’t get into a club. Cass – a club promoter – tells her he “doesn’t do lines”. And if she rolls with him, she won’t have to stand in line. She turns him down and continues to eat. He walks away with his friend and a group of women. After an affirming conversation with his son, Cass’s joined by Frida. She changed her mind and decided to come. Once in the club, the two accidentally kiss. In shock, Frida runs to the bathroom. Cass joins her and they start to make out. But when Cass goes a step too far, she leaves the club. He offers to get her a ride but she brushes him off. Then he turns away only to hear a commotion. Two men are harassing Frida and he fights them off. Cops witnessing this assumes Cass’s the perpetrator and slams him against a wall. Frida screams to the cops that they are attacking the wrong guy. With the 2 men in the wind, the cops leave Frida is awestruck and Cass bloody. Having a guy fight for her instead of fighting her strikes a nerve in Frida. The two will spend the rest of the night talking about their hopes and dreams while the world changes.
Amazingly this movie was shot all in one take. It’s hardly noticeable until the camera has to readjust on the fly or the actors’ head is cut off. But having a play on a street with multiple building, traffic patterns, and actors is a difficult orchestra of planning. Because this is all in one take, you don’t delve too deep into what lead each character to their current positions in life. Just that each was following a dream and now they are stuck. But with the night’s conversation, their dream deferred will be their mission in life. There are moments when your mind will drift as the two are quiet for long periods of time, so be prepared for that. Also, while Cass’s dream is spoken, you won’t get to see it. Only imagine it.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Nobody ever gets what they really want – Frida
I’m just doing my job – Cass
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Categories: A Boy. A Girl. A Dream., A Simple Favor, Andrew Rannells, anna kendrick, Bel Powley, Blake Lively, Brian Tyree Henry, Bruce Dern, Eddie Marsan, Henry Golding, In The Theater, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jonathan Majors, Matthew McConaughey, Meagan Good, movie, Omari Hardwick, Piper Laurie, review, Richie Merritt, RJ Cyler, Rory Cochrane, White Boy Rick
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