Uncut Gems – Review

Uncut Gems – Budget Unknown – 2 hours and 15 minutes

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In 2012, Howie manages a jewelry store and his associate Demany reeled in a big fish: Kevin Garnett.  He allows Kevin to look around the store when a package comes in.  Inside the package is a rare uncut black opal.  Howie believes its worth over a million dollars.  Excited, Howie shows the jewel to Kevin and Demany.  Kevin feels a connection to the jewel once he learns it was mined by an Ethiopian Jewish mining company.  He asks to buy it but Howie says it’s not for sale.  Kevin asks to borrow it and gives Howie his championship ring as collateral.  Howie agrees but Kevin must return the opal back in time for the auction.  Kevin agrees.  Howie takes Kevin’s ring and pawns it.  He uses the money to make a bet on Kevin’s game.  He knows Kevin’s belief in the stone will guarantee the win.  Howie hopes he can pay back everyone he owes.  It’s not surprising how overjoyed Howie is when Kevin wins the game.  The problem is someone stopped his bet.  Without that money, he can’t pay his bookies, get Kevin’s ring from the pawnshop, and trade it for the opal to put up for auction.  Howie has to figure out a way to get himself out of this hole.

This movie will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.  You have no idea which way is up the entire time of the movie.  There are no good guys or bad guys in the movie, only hustlers.  Each time Howie is one step ahead, he gets knocked backward.  You wonder how he will get himself out of this hole again, who is in his corner, and who is scamming him.  As you watch, you can understand how Howie is an uncut gem himself.  His rough and hard to obtain.  If you look closer, you can see the beauty within.  However, that beauty is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.  Get ready for one huge roller coaster ride.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

Your face is so stupid – Dinah

It says ‘Howie’. Do you like it – Julia

You stopped the bet – Howie

Tell me, how much did you pay for this – Kevin

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Spies in Disguise – Review

Spies in Disguise – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 42 minutes

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Lance is a world-renowned spy.  During a mission to capture a U.S. government killer drone, Lance runs into Katsu and Killian.  Lance quickly takes out Katsu and goes after Killian.  Killian, with a robotic left arm, overpowers Lance and scans his face.  Lance is able to fight Killian off and 77 henchmen enter the room.  Lance says a witty pun and one of his weapons released sparkles and a video of a kitten.  While it distracted his enemies, Lance is ticked off.  He manages to get the case carrying the drone from Killian and brings it back to headquarters.  Before he turns the drone over to his boss Joyless, Lance heads straight for the engineer who created the glitter bomb.  Next to the men’s bathroom is Walter.  Walter believes in creating weapons that don’t kill.  He tries to explain his point to Lance but he won’t hear it.  Lance wants to fight fire with fire.  Walter believes there is another way.  Walter chases Lance into an elevator and promises he has a formula that can make him disappear.  Walter thinks his face looks too good to not be seen.  He grabs Walter’s pen and shoots it in his direction.  The gas makes Walter go limp as a noodle.  Lance fires him.  Lance gives the case to his boss but Joyless has one question: Where is the drone? Marcy, Ears, and Eyes enters the room and tells them Lance stole it.  And they have him on video.  He tries to explain the one-armed man scanned his face but they don’t believe him.  Lance escapes.  He finds the location of Katsu but he has to disappear to get past Marcy.  To do that he calls Walter.  Before Walter can explain his experiment, Lance drinks it and becomes a pigeon.  Lance wants Walter to change him back but Walter has not created the antidote. Lance needs Walter’s help with the antidote, doors, and elevators.  Walter needs Lance’s help to get his job back.  Together, they will make one strong non-killing team.

Based on Lucas Martell’s 2009 animated short Pigeon: Impossible, this movie will have you laughing while working through a tough subject.  Lance believes that criminals should be taken down even with deadly force.  He doesn’t believe Walter understands the sacrifice people like him make.  But he is wrong.  Walter lost his mother, Wendy, while she was on duty.  Even has a child, he dreamed of making weapons to save the world but not kill.  He still believes it’s possible.  This feels like a heavy topic for a children’s movie but its pulled off nicely.  There are plenty of moments for children and grownups to laugh.  You only need to see this movie in 2D format, anything else is unnecessary.  Parents, just a warning, there is a 15-second moment of cartoon butt and some subtitles.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

It’s official. I’m a fan – Eyes

You need fire to fight fire – Lance

When you fight fire with fire, everyone gets burned – Walter

That dude is crazy – Ears

Did you guys see a pigeon in that car – Marcy

You don’t remember me – Killian

I peed in the pool – Katsu

What’s wrong with weird? The world could use weird now – Wendy

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Little Women – Review

Little Women – Budget of $40 million – 2 hours and 15 minutes

Please Note: This is a review of the movie only. Not the movie in comparison to the book.

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I had had a lot of troubles; so I write jolly tales

– Louise May Alcott

Beth is getting sicker each day.  The youngest of 4 girls, she loves the piano and is incredibly shy.  Her eldest sister, Meg is busy taking care of her husband and their two kids.  She loves her family but she hates not being able to afford nice things.  Her second eldest sister is Joe.  Joe works as an author in New York.  She sells macabre short stories to a publisher with no name and pretending to be doing it for a “friend”.  Amy is learning to paint in Paris while helping her Aunt March get around Europe.  Amy has the eye of the wealthiest young man in Paris, much to the joy of Aunt March.  Beth’s mother asks Joe to come home to see Beth but tells Amy to finish her lessons in Paris.  Meg is at Beth’s side.  As the sisters come back, they think of their lives together and their sisterhood throughout the years.  Their bond embodies betrayal, sacrifice, and love beyond measure.  And this bond keeps them going today.  As Joe writes it all down, you will learn the truth of the Little Women.

Based on Little Women by Louise May Alcott, this plotline is not given in a linear fashion (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  It moves between now and the past within the blink of an eye.  So you have to pay attention to the subtle changes in the women’s appearances.  Each actress brings everything to her role and leaves you in awe.  This movie will make you curious to read the book and see how it differs from the movie.  While it is a good watch, you won’t have an urge to buy it.  One viewing is enough to appreciate its artistry.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

I feel sorry for you. I really do – Amy

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger – Marmee

It ruins everything – Joe

Write for me. Even if I’m gone – Beth

Don’t marry him – Laurie

It’s not a dress yet. It’s just the fabric – Meg

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