Title: The Girl on the Train (2016) Release date: Oct 7, 2016 (USA) IMDB Rating: 6.6/10 Writer: Erin Cressida Wilson (screenplay), Paula Hawkins (based on the novel by) Director: Tate Taylor Stars: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux Genre: Mystery, Drama, Thriller Production Companies: DreamWorks, Marc Platt Productions Runtime: 112 mins
Review:
"The Girl on the Train" is the latest slice of that bittersweet
dessert, and it clearly aspires to the gourmet delicacies of the recent "Gone Girl," its married angst interrupted by bursts of violence. But a slightly convoluted script, a few flat casting choices and some uninspired direction leave it short. Emily Blunt is
Rachel, an alcoholic divorcee who remains obsessed with her since
re-married hubby -- so obsessed that, riding by their old house on the
commuter train, she can't help but spy on him. Except eventually her focus changes to a neighboring house - where a
young couple seems to live in blissful love. Seem to, until Rachel spies
the wife embracing another man. One night, a drunken Rachel hops off the train, determined to
confront her ex-husband's new wife. Except she blacks out. And when she
comes to, she's got blood on her. And it's the other, cheating wife who's disappeared.
Title: La La Land (2016) Release date: Dec 25, 2016 (USA) IMDB Rating: 8.6/10 Writer: Damien Chazelle Director: Damien Chazelle Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Amiée Conn, Terry Walters Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance Production Companies: Marc Platt Productions, Gilbert Films, Black Label Media, Impostor Pictures Runtime: 128 mins
Review:
It would be inaccurate to say there’s never been a film like La La Land — there have been movies like it many times before — but it’s been a while. Movie musicals these days are mostly lifeless exercises in prestige and Broadway adaptation, The original movie musical — with songs writing explicitly for the screen — is about as rare a species as the South China tiger.
So when Seb (Ryan Gosling), a struggling musician living in Los Angeles, says in La La Land that he loves jazz because “it’s conflict and compromise. It’s new every time — and it’s dying,” it’s clear he’s not just talking about jazz. Seb is also a conduit for La La Land writer/director Damien Chazelle to express his frustration with the state of movie musicals and, through Seb’s romance with an aspiring actress named Mia (Emma Stone), to do something about it. With infectious enthusiasm, charismatic leads, gorgeous songs, vibrant colors, and dazzling camerawork, La La Land restores the original movie musical to its former glory.
