Book Club

Book Club (2018)

Directed by Bill Holderman

Screenplay by Bill Holderman & Erin Simms

Stars: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson, Ed Begley Jr., Richard Dreyfuss, Wallace Shawn, Alicia Silverstone and Katie Aselton

After the mood that I was in, I wanted to watch a comedy. Something that would make me laugh out loud. I found it in this movie. 

Four lifelong friends, Diane (Keaton), Vivian (Fonda), Sharon (Bergen) and Carol (Steenburgen) continues their traditional monthly book club with Vivian decides to let them read 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' The movie follows their adventures and misadventures of finding love and happiness.

When you have four fabulous women in the center of a movie-- regardless of how ridiculous the situations or the dialogue will be-- I will love it.

There were some genuine laughs here. The strongest story line here in between the romance of Diane and Mitchell (Garcia), the handsome pilot that can afford a mansion in Sedona with a private hangar. Diane's daughters were being very overprotective bordering on being full blown assholes.

The realistic story line is the one with Carol trying to find that spark with her husband, Bruce (Nelson). Those moments felt real and authentic.

Rating: 8/10

The Godfather

The Godfather (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola

Based on the novel by Mario Puzo

Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Abe Vigoda, Richard Castellano, Talia Shire, Diane Keaton, Al Lettieri, Sterling Hayden, Gianni Russo, and John Cazale

Please, don't hate me. I have never seen the movie in its entirety. I caught bits and pieces of it throughout the years. My expectations were high. Maybe they were too high.

Taking place after World War II, we follow the Corleone family as they try to take hold of the New York criminal underworld. I'm sure you all know the story by now, except me.

I had some gripes with the movie. I cannot believe that the wedding between Carlo and Connie (Russo, Shire) lasted for almost thirty minutes. Understandable to try to establish the characters. Cool. It felt stagnant to me.

The line delivery with the actors was like they had peanut butter stuck in their mouths. I could not understand what they were saying. The motivations of some characters were strange and jarring. Michael in Sicily, for example.

The time was not clear. I had to look up when the events of the movie took place. I wish Coppola put title cards or something make the audience better understand what was happening.

I know that there were some controversies with this movie with the score by Nino Rota was stolen from another composer. Al Pacino skipping the Oscars because of category fraud. I agree. Pacino had more screen time than Brando. Weird. There is also the endless slurs against almost every ethnic group. Oh, boy. I cringed.

I wanted to shout endlessly praises to the movie, but I felt that the hype of the movie made it slightly overrated to me.

Rating: 7/10