Bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies ~ The Bride and I got to see this one on one of our Disney Cruises a year or so back, a sneak preview the night we saw it, but I've been busy, haven't had time to post it, and quite frankly after a while forgot I had written it. Bridge of Spies is the story, based on true events, of the spy exchange of Rudolf Abel and Francis Gary Powers in 1960, as told from the point of view of James B. Donovan, the attorney who brokered the deal. At the height of the Cold War and during the building of the Berlin Wall, this was no easy trick.

There are good solid performances here, and there should definitely have been more Oscar wins for this one than just Supporting Actor for Mark Rylance's Abel. He was stunning, and Tom Hanks has matured some and gives us his best whimsical and serious at once.

I was surprised to see the Coen brothers as screenwriters, while most of the writing and dialogue is brilliant, there's a fair amount that is equally weak and sloppy. And that 'inspired by true events' tag, that always gets me. I am always suspect of that phrase. If you know your history, this may be boring and monotonous like Titanic or Apollo 13, because let's face it, you already know how it ends. There's no suspense, nevertheless Bridge of Spies a good movie.

An amusing side note, I could not sit through the first showing, so finished watching the flick at an early morning viewing. There were a handful of patrons, along with a grandfather and several grade school age boys. He was overheard saying to them before the film started that there might be some bad words in it and they shouldn't tell their parents.

Bridge of Spies had some bad language, mostly B words, and every time one popped up the boys would all chime "oooo" and count them. Soon everyone in the audience was counting and oooo-ing as well. It was a hoot. I wonder if they told their parents…

Arrow S05 E13: Spectre of the Gun

"Arrow" is in its fifth year. I've not only been watching it, but also doing this review/recap thing the whole time. Sometimes it's been pretty violent, the suicide of Oliver's father in the very first episode immediately springs to mind as fairly intense, but I've never seen a warning in an episode before now.

At the start of "Spectre of the Gun" the following message was posted: Tonight's episode of ARROW is rated TV-14 LV. It includes mature themes, language, and violence, which may not be suitable for all audience members. Viewer discretion is advised. Wow. More intense than Robert Queen eating a bullet, consistent gunplay, occasional torture, and constant arrows to chests? I wasn't thrilled, but I was intrigued.

As the episode opens, a shooter attacks the mayor's office, killing seven, wounding dozens including Adrian Chase. The sequence is pretty intense admittedly, and triggers flashbacks for Rene. Beyond impromptu gun control and gun violence discussions amongst Team Arrow, which seem rather hypocritical based on their own methods, there is a steady theme of why things like happen and how to prevent it from happening again. I do not disagree with the content, but I resent it as entertainment.

Essentially the flashbacks are the secret origin of Wild Dog. He is the product of gun violence, his wife having been murdered, and fighting fire with fire, he uses guns to do what he does. It's a vicious, violent, and hypocritical cycle. Gun violence begets gun violence and ultimately leads to the creation of Wild Dog. And the shooter is in the same boat, his family dead, and a gun in his hands.

When the shooter attacks the hospital, Oliver is able to talk him down, and later he pushes gun legislation. I have to wonder how does that affect Team Arrow's use of weapons, especially the guns? On the superhero side of the story, Green Arrow encounters Vigilante again and he doesn't seem all that worse for wear. Could Vigilante not be Adrian Chase? This one was more than a little preachy, but at least it was a one and done.

For my other reviews of the entire "Arrow" series, click here. And if you'd like to discuss this episode, anything else in the Arrowverse, or anything in the Marvel or DC television or cinematic universes, please join the Marvel DC Movies TV group on Facebook.

Next: The Sin-Eater!

Teeth

Teeth ~ Okay, warnings up front. This movie, and this review, is not for the faint of heart, easily offended or shocked, or those with zero sense of humor. Teeth is a black horror comedy with strong sexual elements and horrific visuals. For many of you, there's nothing to see here, move along, come back next time.

For everybody else, you've been warned.

Vagina dentata. For those of us high school Latin students, and maybe for some of the more learned out there, this is an impossible and very scary concept. Especially for the men. It literally means 'vagina with teeth.' I'm spelling it out, not to be gross, but because some folks might not get it. I know at least one dentist who didn't and rented this movie only to be shocked out of her mind.

That's what this black horror comedy is about. Vagina dentata, and a girl with the condition who grows up in the shadow of a nuclear reactor. Ironically she's a believer in waiting until marriage, purity, and promise rings who is just starting to date. This is the subtle part, it gets graphic later.

Played by Jess Weixler, the acting goes between cardboard cut out and Emmy level. She's excellent as a teenage girl but when she should be serious she looks like she's about to giggle uncontrollably. John Hensley from "Nip/Tuck" is also in there as her creepy step brother, and as fans of that show know, creepy is what Hensley does best.

Teeth for the first forty-five minutes could be an after school special, but then the would-be boyfriend forces himself on her, and the hilarity and horror begins. And as I mentioned at the top of this review, it's not for the faint of heart.

Now while just as ridiculous and graphic as One-Eyed Monster, another film in this vein (I am so so sorry), it never sinks to that level of silliness or crudity. Teeth, like most good horror movies, takes itself pretty seriously, despite the subject matter. Fun at some points, horrific at others, Teeth is definitely worth a look for distinguishing genre fans.

Promtrash Sweet 16!

"PROMTRASH SWEET 16"
Wednesday, April 18th, doors open at 10 PM, show time is 11 PM sharp!
…at Bob and Barbara's, 1509 South Street, Philadelphia PA. 215-545-4511
$1.99 to get in, must be age 21 and up!

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the trashiest Prom Queen of all? That's right, folks, time again to pick America's Trashiest Prom Queen!

The Dumpsta Players celebrate their 16th Annual stag, drag, come-as-you-were/are/is "PROMTRASH SWEET 16" at Bob and Barbara's in Philadelphia!

Join rich, middle-age bitches, Alaya Richman and Holly Lefkowitz-Hawthorne, as they outspend each other celebrating their sixteen year-old daughters' birthdays, attempting to upstage "PromTrash!"

Aborto The Clown defends her 2011 Prom Trash Crown against last year's runner up, K & A's finest, Margaret Orthodox!

It's revenge of the dreadful prom, so join in the ffffun! We invite all to put on a prom dress, don a tux and compete with the gender bending drag kings, queens, straight up females and males, faghags, pretty princesses and assorted other freaks!

Come enjoy the sensational crowning in… "PROMTRASH 16"!!!!

You can also check out The Dumpsta Players on YouTube and Facebook, as well as on PhillyCAM television.