Bob Marley: One Love-An Icon of Love

  I have not stopped listening to reggae music since I viewed Bob Marley: One Love at an advanced screening. I danced in my seat the entire movie! The melodies and beats of reggae music are so infectious and magical!

 

    Bob Marley: One Love is a biographical drama based on the life of Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley. The film was directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin. The cast includes: Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley; Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley; James Norton as Chris Blackwell; Tosin Cole as Tyrone Downie; and Umi Myers as Cindy. It took twenty years for this film to make it to the big screen. 

 

    And yes, you heard me right: twenty years! The difference between this attempt to make the film and other attempts was the decision of the family to take the initiative. Ziggy Marley tells us, “The family took the step to approach people instead of waiting for them to come to us. We helped choose directors, producers, and actors, so the family became the real force behind this instead of the force coming from somewhere else, which was what it used to be like.”

 

 

    As to what they wanted to be depicted in the film, Ziggy says, “We wanted to show a side of Bob that is not seen in interviews or anything people already know.” He then added, “We wanted to really show the internal struggles and the emotional side of Bob much more than anything has ever shown us before. People knew a lot of things, so we decided it was the internal workings on the emotional side. He was not a one-note person, and we wanted to make sure that he was represented.”

 

 

So let's get into it!

 

    This film shows us how Bob Marley overcame adversity to become the most famous reggae musician in the world. In the opening moments of the screening, Ziggy Marley appears on screen to tell us he was on set every day to make sure the details of the film were authentic. I hope they kept this in the opening, because it lets the audience know right away that the family was involved in the making of the film; that in itself brings credibility and authenticity to it.

 

 

    Furthermore, the film primarily focuses on showing his life from 1976 to 1978. Although the main focus of the film was only two years, so much happened in his life during that time period that, to me, it seemed much longer than that. The writers and director did a great job of placing flashbacks about his younger days, which helped us better understand his journey. 

Let's talk about the actors for a moment!

 

 

 

 

 

    The actors were brilliant! Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley were excellent! It seemed both Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch had just disappeared, and I was actually watching Bob and Rita on the screen. Their Jamaican accents, their mannerisms, etc. were spot on!

 

 

In conclusion, go see this movie!

 

    This film will immerse you in the life of Jamaica's iconic reggae musician, Bob Marley. You will feel his love, his joy, his triumphs, his struggles, and his pain. Bob Marley loved people; he not only wanted to lift up his people in Jamaica, but he wanted to lift up all people. He also wanted to reach as many black audiences as he could. Thus, the film celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity.

 

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." Especially small children. It is rated PG-13 for marijuana use, smoking throughout, violence, and some strong language. In all honesty, it's not a film kids would enjoy. If you have a teenager and they love reggae music, or if you want to introduce them to it, or if you just want them to learn about an iconic great, yes, by all means, they should see it.

 

Let me know what you think about this review and/or the movie when you see it. I, myself, can't wait to see it again!

 

 

I give it 5/5 "Charms."

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

 

 

Just a Mom Who Loves Movies

Arthur The King: A Dog Worthy of the Title

   What’s there to expect when you hear about a movie called Arthur The King? All I knew was that it was a movie based on a true story with a dog in it. Oh, and that Marky Mark would be in it! One of my favorite actors! For those who don't know, Marky Mark was Mark Wahlberg’s rap name.

  

    Arthur The King is a biographical drama that is based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord and his dog, Arthur. It is directed by Simon Cellan Jones. The cast includes: Nathalie Emmanuel, Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Michael Landes, and Paul Guilfoyle. The cast definitely peaks your interest, doesn’t it?

Let's get into it!

  

   The story mostly takes place in the Dominican Republic. The story is about a man with a passion that he can't let go of, even when he seemingly retires. He's desperate to achieve a goal that has eluded him several times over the years; the problem is, it's not a goal he can achieve on his own. He needs to do it with a team.

 

    Well, therein lies the problem. He has proven he's not a good leader at all. He must prove to many that he can achieve the massive goal he's been trying to achieve if given one more chance. He also must convince a group of people so he can lead them to victory. 

 

    As the team gets pushed to the edge of their strength and endurance, a scrappy street dog named Arthur joins them. As a side note, stray dogs are common in the Dominican Republic. They have been dubbed “Coconut Hounds” by locals. They are a concern and a major problem, as they are affecting tourism. Although tourists fear the dogs, they are friendly animals that have decent lives roaming the streets of urban areas, such as Santo Domingo. In the course of having Arthur join the team, they redefine what victory, loyalty, and friendship truly mean. It truly is a beautiful story as we watch the team members give up their pride and work together.

 

    Arthur The King was not only a heartwarming film; it was thrilling. There are scenes that will make you hold your breath, and there are scenes that will have you yelling at the screen. Little known fact: I am EXTREMELY afraid of heights! There are scenes that had me cringing and closing my eyes. There's a scene in particular where they were dangling at a height inconceivable to my mind and body. My heart was beating so fast, like I was the one actually doing the dangling! It quite frankly stressed me out! 

  

   Arthur The King is the story of the unbreakable bond that is forged between an adventurer and a scrappy dog. It is worth every minute of your time! There are so many lessons in this moving film that are good for both children and adults alike. Three of the lessons I saw were:

 #1: The importance of getting along with others.

#2: The importance of working together as a team.

#3: The importance of humility.

 

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: Yes! Yes! Yes! Although it is rated PG-13 for some strong language, I have to be honest; it didn't stand out to me. I've gone to some movies that are classified as family films, and the language does stand out to me, and I question how it can be designated as a family film. Maybe I was too immersed in the story to notice it in this one, but it's worth chancing it to see this wonderful body of work. In my humble opinion, this is most definitely a family film. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

I give it 5/5 “Charms”

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Just A Mom Who Loves Movies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Argylle-Definitely Not A Pair Of Socks

Argylle, Argylle, Argylle—what an interesting choice for a name for a character or movie. 

 

    Just for the heck of it, I looked up the meaning of Argylle. I found two other spelling variations. Spelling variation #2 only has one L, argyle. Argyle is a specific design or pattern of different colored diamond shapes. It's not unusual to see the pattern knitted into a sweater, scarf, or socks. If you're preppy, you might be into that look.

 

    Argyle designs can frequently be found in kilts. The Scottish Highlanders have traditionally worn argyle socks since the 17th century. The word argyle was inspired by the tartan belonging to the Campbell clan, who are from Argyll (spelling version #3), which is located in the western part of Scotland.

 

    Argylle is directed by Matthew Vaughn. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard as a writer named Elly Conway. The film is an adaptation of a recently published book of the same name by a writer also named Elly Conway. (Who has since been revealed to be two authors: Tammy Cohen (The Mistress’s Revenge) and Terry Hayes (I Am Pilgrim) Other cast members include Henry Cavill as Argylle; Sam Rockwell as Aidan Wilde; Bryan Cranston as Director Ritter; and John Cena as Wyatt. There are a couple of other exciting cast members, but you'll have to see the movie to see who they are! Let me know who you think they are in the comments.

 

 

So, let's get into it.

 

    As the opening titles appear on screen, we hear the deep, rich melodic voice of Barry White singing “You are My Everything."

 

The song instantly grabs my attention. It grabbed my attention because:

 

First, I love Barry White's music; he has great songs.

 

Secondly, I love movies with a great soundtrack!

 

From the opening song, I hoped it'd have a good one. This film definitely has a great soundtrack!

 

 

    Argylle is a jet-setting film! We were taken to at least four countries! From the stunning mountains of Colorado to the beautiful vineyards in France. The scenery is something you will surely appreciate in this film. The director also does a great job flowing from scene to scene seamlessly.

 

 

    Hang on to your hat! Argylle has many twists and turns! As you're watching it you get a flow into the story, and you think you have an idea of where the story is going and then — bam! The story takes an unexpected turn! It keeps you on the edge of your seat.

 

 

    This film not only has action, but it also has a lot of humor — it’s hilarious! Some of the humor is extremely corny, which somehow made it even funnier to me. This must have been a general consensus, because everyone in the auditorium was laughing right along with me. Sam Rockwell is at his comedic best!

 

 

    As for the plot of the film, not only is there action and humor, but there is also adventure, espionage, romance, deception, and betrayal. You’ll also enjoy some choreographed dance moves and even a little something for fans of the game of basketball.

 

 

    It is not a perfect movie by any means. It has its flaws; there were a couple scenes that I felt dragged on a little too long, but the humor and all the twists and turns make up for any deficiencies it may have. Make sure you stay for the extra credit scene.

 

 

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." It is not appropriate for children. It is rated PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language. The only reason it is not rated R is because the director edited out all the scenes with gunshots to the head. Trust me, there's a lot of shooting and violence in this film, and the director made it a priority to make it seem as realistic as possible. Leave the kids at home for this one.

 

 

 

Let me know what you think about this review and/or the movie when you see it. I, myself, can't wait to see it again!

 

 

I give it 5/5 "Charms."

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

 

 

Just a Mom Who Loves Movies

 

 

 

The Beekeeper-Protector of the Hive

    Everyone LOVES a Jason Statham movie. The ladies love him for his accent, his swag, his muscles, his presence, and just the way he portrays his characters. Men love him because he plays characters who are tough, gritty, and violent. Both groups know there will be some thrilling action in any movie he's in-a win-win situation in my books!

 

    Well, get ready for his next action thriller, The Beekeeper! Along with Jason Statham, the film stars Phylicia Rashad, Jeremy Irons, Emmy Raver-Lampman (who starred in The Umbrella Academy on Netflix), Josh Hutcherson (who starred in The Hunger Games franchise), Minnie Driver, and so many more. This film is directed by American film director, producer, and screenwriter David Ayer. Some of his films include Fury and Suicide Squad.

 

    The film starts out so calm and serene. The story starts in a beautiful rural area of Massachusetts. Jason Statham's character's name is Adam Clay. This man is so humble, modest, and unassuming-just a cool dude taking care of his bees.

 

    Let's talk a little about what the function of a Beekeeper is. Beekeepers have a deep appreciation for the ecological importance of honeybees. Our agriculture and society are dependent on bees for a couple reasons:

 

#1: They pollinate crops.

#2: They produce six hive products: honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, and venom. (Look up the ones you are unfamiliar with; I learned a lot about them while doing my research.)

 

    Therefore, the primary role of the Beekeeper is to safeguard the well-being and productivity of the honeybee colonies they attend to; in other words, the Beekeeper protects the welfare of the bees. So, my man, Adam Clay (Statham), is chilling and minding his bees.

 

    Inevitably, as things unfold in the story, he is forced to take action. At any rate, we know what's coming: someone is going to get beat up, shot, or tortured. He goes about this in a very calm, very chill, and always cool way. Don't you love it? I do!

 

    Immediately after the action gets going, it is a constant. adrenaline-pumping ride. To make it even more enjoyable, there is some humor sprinkled throughout the film. The director's humor is found even in some of the costuming choices. Make sure you look for them. Let me know if they make you chuckle like I did.

 

    Furthermore, once the action starts, be ready to hang on to your seat as you watch and enjoy the “cool hand Luke” of action strut around doing his thing. Be forewarned: the violence and gore are constant. If that isn't your cup of tea-you might want to find another drink!

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." This movie is hard-core. It is not appropriate for children. It is rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexual references, and drug use.

Let me know what you think about this review and/or the movie when you see it. I, myself, can't wait to see it again!

 

I give it 5/5 "Charms."

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

 

 

Just a Mom Who Loves Movies

 

The Book of Clarence-A Tall Tale Told in Biblical Times

    Comedic movies are a hard genre for me. It's hard to make me laugh, so I find most comedies just stupid. There've been some surprising exceptions. I loved Bullet Train (I've seen it three times) and laughed throughout it each time I saw it. I loved the combination of comedy and action. As for a TV series that is comedic, hands down, Abbott Elementary. The episodes are often a highlight of my night.

    Although comedy isn't my thing, I was looking forward to seeing The Book of Clarence. The all-star cast includes: LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James McAvoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

    This film is written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, who is a British singer-songwriter, music producer, and filmmaker. His directorial debut was Harder They Fall on Netflix. Producers include Jeymes Samuel, Jay Z, James Lassiter, and Tendo Nagenda.

    Although this film is classified as an Adventure/Western, I would also describe it as a Comedy. It was hysterically funny—it had us laughing so hard that we sometimes missed the next line that was spoken! My daughter said that's why she likes watching everything with subtitles! Or, in other words, “She hears with her eyes.” Whatever that means...

    So, let's get into it.

    The movie opens with an introduction by Jeymes Samuel. He tells us this film was 2000 years in the making. He tells us he wanted to make a film that was as epic as the likes of Ben-Hur. Let me tell you, he did not miss!

    Filmmakers strive to create movie sets that set the tone and atmosphere to grip the audience, and this filmmaker does just that. The story takes place in ancient Jerusalem. The scenery in this movie was remarkable; it felt like we were actually watching footage from that time period. Not only was the movie set great, but the costuming was just as I'd imagined the people from that time would dress—it was on point.

    The film’s story is broken down into three parts, or "Books," as you will. Ok, I've revealed more than I wanted to, so I will not tell you the names of those "Books". The only other “spoiler” I’ll give is that the Romans were Romans. They were every bit of what you’d imagine Romans or any oppressors to be like.

    What's more, LaKeith Stanfield is outstanding in this film. I loved his roles. Have we ever seen David Oyelowo in a comedy? Nothing comes to mind if he has. He is absolutely hilarious in this film. You just have to see Benedict Cumberbatch in this film. The audience was roaring with laughter.

    Beware; there is some debauchery shown in this film. I'm not trying to preach here, but there's scripture in The Bible that speaks of debauchery. Jeymes Samuel literally gives us a glimpse of what that may have looked like. It made me think, yes, stuff like this HAD to be happening during this time period.

    Moreover, I found this story to be relatable. Would you agree that sometimes it takes a minute to figure out who you are? What you stand for? What you want to do in life? What you want to accomplish in life? What you want your life to look like? Clarence was undoubtedly trying to figure it all out.

    Amongst all the hilarity, there are some life lessons. It shows us what teamwork looks like (whether it’s for good intentions or not), that family dynamics can be far from perfect, how deceitfulness affects all those around us, what redemption is, and lastly, what it looks like to be forgiven—and not necessarily in the Biblical sense either.

    It is important to add that some in the Christian community will have a problem with the film. Some may think it's sacrilegious; others may think it's blasphemous. Just remember: it's not a retelling of The Bible; it's just an artistic rendering of how someone named Clarence may have lived at that time.

    Not to mention, there are lots of artistic freedoms taken to describe this time period. Remember, it's meant to entertain. Not to tell a true Bible story. There are also all kinds of miracles flying around in this film, so be prepared.

    Furthermore, some may have a problem with a mostly Black cast. There are many debates about what the people during this time looked like. I’m pretty sure they didn’t look like Charleston Heston either… but I'm not going to get into all that. Altogether, just enjoy the movie for what it is: a funny movie set in ancient Jerusalem with a modern twist to it.

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." In all seriousness, just because adults find a movie funny doesn’t mean kids will, or that the humor is appropriate for them. If you have a teenager who is mature enough to view this, then by all means take them. Personally, I would not have taken my children to see this movie at any age. That's the type of parent I was. I felt they would be exposed to the world soon enough, so it was imperative I protected their childlike innocence. Don’t we all long for that inner child often? This film is rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug use, strong language, some suggestive material, and smoking.

    This tall tale most assuredly deserves some awards when award season comes around next year; hopefully it won't get lost in the shuffle. It’s a long time from now until the end of the year. I'd love to know if you feel the same way.

Let me know what you think about this review and/or the movie when you see it. I myself can't wait to see it again!

I give it 5/5 "Charms."

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

 

“I'm rooting for everybody black.”

 

Just a Mom Who Loves Movies

Night Swim-Swimmingly Disappointing

    Raise your hand if you love a good horror film, because I’ll tell you what: They can be hard to come by. Personally, if I don't scream several times during a movie it's “no go” for me. Would Night Swim actually get me to scream multiple times? Nope, it didn't. 

    The film is written by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire; it is also directed by the former. It’s based on a 2014 short film the two created by the same name. The cast includes:  Wyatt Russell (son of Kurt Russell), Kerry Condon, Nancy Lenehan, Ben Sinclair, and Jodi Long.

    Curiosity killed the cat, so my interest caused me to ask myself several questions before stepping into a movie about a possessed pool of all things. Was it a pool that only gets possessed at night? A pool that gets possessed if someone swims in it? 

    Unfortunately, I only screamed once! Imagine me as Commodus in Gladiator giving a thumbs down. I was really disappointed. 

    Although it was only 90 minutes long, it seemed longer. It took a long time to get through the background stuff and get to the “meat and potatoes” of the horror part of the movie. To be honest, they could’ve kept their meat and potatoes.

     One apparent factor in all horror films is that common sense seems to leave the characters. What is up with that? It was true in this movie too. They weren't using it not one bit. They were ignoring things they shouldn’t have and falling for things they should've ignored.

    I’m not gonna lie, I tend to chat sometimes at the movie screen — but who doesn’t? It especially happens when I'm watching a horror film; “Girl why you doing that?” “Girl you better move!” You know, stuff like that.  If only they could hear me and stop what they’re doing. I most definitely would be saving a lot of lives.

    Overall, I would say this movie was more creepy than scary. The scares didn't make me scared. I was just creeped out. That counts for something I guess right? 

    In my humble opinion,” it's a no for me dawg”. You should not pay to see this movie. You will be disappointed if you do. It's not either scary or entertaining enough. Towards the end, I even predicted what would happen. 

    It really should have been a straight to streaming film. The only reason I think it wasn't was because it had two producers who are giants in the world of horror; James Wan and Jason Blum. Some of their work include The Conjuring franchise and Get Out, respectively.  Save your coins, wait for it to be streaming on Peacock.

    Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no."  In my experience, horror movies give children nightmares. Children would not find it entertaining in the least bit. If you have a teenager who is mature enough to handle horror movies, then you may want to take them. Personally, I didn't take my children to horror movies. I didn't want to deal with the fallout from it. This film is rated PG-13 for terror, some violent content and language.

    If you go see it in the theater or if you wait to stream it, I'd love to know what you think. Leave me a comment.

I give it 1/5 "Charms."

🍀

 

Just a Mom Who Loves Movies

 

American Fiction-Fiction Is Complicated

    I must be honest with you; I really didn't know how I felt about this movie after seeing it. The friend I was with had viewed this movie at a film festival and was beyond excited to see it for the second time. He was equally excited about it after viewing it a second time. Unfortunately, my first reaction didn't meet his excitement.

 

    For me, I had to sit on it. I had to think about it. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Maybe I felt this way because some things in the movie hit too close to home. I didn't want to jump to a quick opinion about this film; I needed to take some time and think about it.

 

    This film is being labeled as a comedy/drama. It stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown. As I reflected on this, I have to admit that Sterling K. Brown was very entertaining in his role. It really is worth seeing this film just to see him work!

 

    American Fiction is written and directed by Cord Jefferson. This is the first film he has directed. It is based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett.

     As I took the time to reflect on the film, I realized I really didn't care for the beginning of the movie. Maybe I felt that way because of the tropes used and the jargon. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but the more I sat on it and thought about it, the more I knew that's what it was.

    Once I got past that, I could actually relate to this family; the family dynamics and struggles struck a chord. They dealt with many things I have experienced in my own life. I have dealt with both terrible tragedies and the dynamics of my family. Has anyone else had a movie trigger a specific trauma in their life?

 

    The main character's name is Monk, who is played by Jeffrey Wright. Monk has some serious issues and things going on in his life. Things aren't going right in his life, and then he is thrown into an overwhelming situation he is not prepared for.

 

    Just as in the O'Jays song:

For The Love Of Money says:

Money, Money, Money, Money, Money

Some people got to have it

Some people really need it

 

    That is the name of the game. It is exactly what Monk needs: MONEY! He needs that “almighty dollar." He's “got to have it." He really needs it. He has to make a decision—will he forsake his principles? Be a hypocrite all for the sake of money? Or will he find another way?

 

    In this film, Monk deals with personal struggles, a tragedy, and a sudden switch in his priorities. His family is also dealing with personal struggles, tragedy, and a change in the norm. Experiences that many of us have dealt with ourselves.

    And let's not forget corporate America. What role do they play in the quest to make that “almighty dollar”? How willing are they to go against societal norms and principles to make that “lean mean, mean green”?

 

    Can we take a moment and talk about White America's fascination with Black culture? The love of Black culture; the music, the fashion, the food, the dances, and the slang. That is a central theme in this film.

 

    Although I had a mixed bag of emotions towards this film after initially watching it,

“Eh not sure if I liked it.”

 

Then, after some reflection, I thought, "It was OK.”

 

But the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.

 

    In conclusion, I think this is a movie that most would find enjoyable and funny. Go see it. Let me know in the comments what you think!

 

    As for the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." Children will not find this movie entertaining. There is nothing in this movie that children would find enjoyable. It is a dialogue-driven movie. It is rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references, and brief violence. 

I give it 4/5 “Charms”

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“I'm rooting for everybody Black.”

 

Just A Mom Who Loves Movies