Three sentence movie reviews: Certain Women

Quietly heartbreaking in the best Kelly Reichardt way.  I liked how the cold of winter in Montana seeped into the theater and how it was the small moments that killed.  I’d love to see more of Lily Gladstone too.

Cost: $4.00
Where watched: Laurelhusrt theater.  (This is movie number three! A triple feature, all seen in the theater.)

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/certain_women.html

Three sentence movie reviews: The Edge of Seventeen

I tried to see this in the first-run theaters, but had to settle for second-run.  Which means a lot of you didn’t see this movie, which is too bad, because this nails adolescent girl angst.*  Prickly, sad, funny, tragic, this movie has it all and I loved it.

Cost: $3.00
Where watched:  Laurelhurst Theater

*It also is quite good with awkward conversations between people who might like each other.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/edge_of_seventeen.html
One of the poster commenters wondered how he could get the Lego Big Labowski hoodie Steinfeld is wearing.

Three sentence movie reviews: Manchester by the Sea

There a few not-perfect things* but overall, this movie wormed its way into me and hasn’t left. As the flashbacks and present day alternate, understanding unfolds.  The story is tragic, everyone agrees, but can a person come back after tragedy?**

Cost: $6.00
Where watched: Hollywood Theater with S. North

*At one or two points the music swells too much and pushes things into melodrama; there are things that don’t make sense plot-wise; there is a weird driving scene that begins with snow-on-the-ground-like-February then suddenly we’re in rain-falling-like-April then snow-in-the-countryside-like-February.
**Also, huge props to Lucas Hedges.  At this point we all know Affleck, Williams and Chandler will knock things out of the park.  Hedges is the linchpin in this ensemble and this movie would have failed without his nuanced performance.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/manchester_by_the_sea.html
Jeez-o-Pete do I hate this poster.  Looking at it, it seems like it’s about Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck, but don’t go to this film looking for them to be sharing a lot of screen time.