Saturday, January 30, 2016

MANTINEE FILM REVIEWS: The REVENANT







































A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

REVENANT directed and written by Alejandro G. Inarritu based off the novel by Michael Punke, produced by Steve Golin, David Kanter, Anon Milchan, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon, and James W. Skotchdopole. If there was ever a motivational film about what the human spirit is capable of the REVENANT has it. The pace of the film was relentless as you were thrown into the film in the middle of an Indian ambush of a group of fur traders in the middle of winter with their only escape a rushing ice cold river and the boat that lie docked. This action sequence set the pace of the film and featured a creative swinging camera movement that intensified each action sequence throughout the film. The story itself you could say was a survival for revenge sake or revenge that drove the survival of our main character through some unbelievable dilemmas with an amazing wintry backdrop of snow covered landscapes as far as one could see. With not much depth within the story there were only the question if he’d survive and find his ultimate revenge. So for REVENANT I give it 31/2 stars for it’s majestic landscapes and DiCaprio’s tremendous performance.



Friday, January 29, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Saturday, January 23, 2016

FILM REVIEW #1


Some time after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. Bounty hunter John Ruth and his fugitive captive Daisy Domergue race towards the town of Red Rock, where Ruth will bring Daisy to justice. Along the road, they encounter Major Marquis Warren (an infamous bounty hunter) and Chris Mannix (a man who claims to be Red Rock's new sheriff). Lost in a blizzard, the bunch seeks refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery. When they arrive they are greeted by unfamiliar faces: Bob, who claims to be taking care of the place while Minnie is gone; Oswaldo Mobray, the hangman of Red Rock; Joe Gage, a cow puncher; and confederate general Sanford Smithers. As the storm overtakes the mountainside, the eight travelers come to learn that they might not make it to Red Rock after all... Written by Jordan Crighton(Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

As a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino’s work, who directed and wrote the film. I looked toward The HATEFUL 8 with great anticipation once seeing the initial trailer that was sent out. I didn’t quite grasp the story of the film, but I’d perfer that than being given too much information and ruin the surprises to come within the film. The film itself came with all the flamboyant and intricate dialogue scenes QT has been know for in his film career as this story takes place in what seems to be a post slave era America in the middle of a blizzard. I was intrigued by this selection of setting, while at the same time seeing how this impending snow storm forcing the characters to take shelter held up all together made for a great location for this early American crime drama to play out. I do have to say, this may not have been my favorite QT film as of yet, but I do enjoy how he keeps taking risks and pushing to see where he can take is cinematic excellence to. For The HATEFUL 8 I give it 3 stars for its unique story and dynamic setting and cast of characters.



Thursday, January 21, 2016

Saturday, January 16, 2016

NETFLIX & CHILL #13


Red Crow Mi'g Maq reservation, 1976: By government decree, every Indian child under the age of 16 must attend residential school. In the kingdom of the Crow, that means imprisonment at St. Dymphna's. That means being at the mercy of "Popper", the sadistic Indian agent who runs the school. At 15, Aila is the weed princess of Red Crow. Hustling with her uncle Burner, she sells enough dope to pay Popper her "truancy tax", keeping her out of St. Ds. But when Aila's drug money is stolen and her father Joseph returns from prison, the precarious balance of Aila's world is destroyed. Her only options are to run or fight... and Mi'gMaq don't run. Written by monterey media (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

Rhymes for Young Ghouls written and directed by Jeff Barnby sent me to a place unlike any I had ever encountered in person or on film. In many cases, I like that, and that was the story here. The darker side of life on an Indian reservation had me awestruck as this story of a drug peddling teenage girl unfolded. Not familiar to this lifestyle as a whole I felt there were some aspects and rituals performed in the story I didn’t quite grasp or could have better understood the reason for the actions of the characters. Although the story of the drug dealing little girl who’s crew was dubbed by their white oppressor with the power, privilege, and religion seemed to strike a cord with me. And as I continued to watch how they weaved the story with art I saw the true uniqueness of this film. So for Rhymes for Young Ghouls I gave it 3 stars for an intriguing story that took me to a very unfamiliar place.



Thursday, January 14, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016

NETFLIX & CHILL #12


Pals Danny and Frank spend the summer after high school working as lifeguards while figuring out their future. (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

Well lets just say Staten Island Summer directed by Rhys Thomas and written by Colin Jost is that coming of age story we’ve seen before with simply a different setting and crop of plotting characters. I’m all for the coming of age genre of films, but it just seems like the ultimate goal of these characters is always to get laid or get high, if not both. Looking back at those days...  yep, that was the mindset. Yet it would be refreshing and even possibly build a better story if something else happened, just saying. Staten Island Summer also had a sleuth of SNL (Saturday Night Live) cast members involved, the director, writer, and a few other acting roles, which helped to show the world their acting chops. That said maybe the point of these type of films is to harken unto the days of being care free where worrying about how you were going to lose your virginity, while getting drunk or high was the least of it. Anyways, as for Staten Island Summer I gave it 3 stars for its pure entertainment value and rumpus tone.



Thursday, January 7, 2016

ART SHARE

We here at Able Abe Studios are hoping your 2016 is off to a great start. In this post we share a project we'd like to further in the new year, let us know what you think, would you like to see more. Enjoy! 











































For more from Able Able studios make sure to check out these great links ableabestudios.com , Able Abe photography , Able Abe Z store , and Able abe fan page .


...GO!!!

Saturday, January 2, 2016

NETFLIX & CHILL #11


Lil (Naomi Watts) and Roz (Robin Wright) are two lifelong friends, having grown up together as neighbors in an idyllic beach town. As adults, their sons have developed a friendship as strong as that, which binds their mothers. One summer, all four are confronted by simmering emotions that have been mounting between them, and each find unexpected happiness in relationships that cross the bounds of convention. Written by Anonymous (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

Within these crossing of boundaries ADORE directed & written by Anne Fontaine, and adapted from Doris Lessing’s book “Grandmothers” puts you in a place where desire and following your bliss seems to be paramount. The situation of events seemed feasible, although I think you take this story away from its surroundings of sun, sand, and surf and I think the outcome becomes different. Yet it is that hypnotic, and melodic sound of the crashing waves on the beach that puts you in such a trance to believe that the characters can live out their wildest dreams with no fear of consequence. In that bubble, allow time to take its course and that is when the idea of happily ever after is threatened. For me this is where the real story begins, although it took time in getting there with that incessant wave like pace. I think the film portrayed a provocative story leaving me with a resolution that left me wanting something more final and not so open ended. For that reason I give ADORE 3 stars as an intriguing story and reminding me of oh how I love the sun, beach and ocean.