Loved Manchester By The Sea! Agree that it had elements of Ordinary People in it. I loved how they threw a bit of humor in it from time to time, too.
@teriwtt Glad you enjoyed it like I did. Yes, I actually laughed quite a bit. Some clever, funny dialogue.
At first I thought they were going to make Patrick out to be an obnoxious teenager and didn’t want it to be that kind of movie, but then I really appreciated them showing the spectrum of his psyche as he tried to work through his father’s death and mom’s abandonment.
“The eagle is pretty charismatic herself, and turns out to be really good at doing the things that score points in Mongolian eagle hunting competitions.”
This may be the best review I’ve read of “Eagle Huntress” (which we enjoyed very much). 
A friend’s daughter was on the falconry team at the Air Force Academy. We strongly recommended that friend and daughter see the film. Friend told us a story about the daughter’s experiences which reminds one that hunting birds are a serious business: daughter was feeding her falcon quail chunks, lost focus on the task, and let the arm on which the bird was perched droop. Next thing she knew, the bird, seeking higher ground, was holding on to her upper arm. Which was not protected by anything more than a shirtsleeve. Next thing she knew, the bird tightened its hold, and its talons had embedded themselves in the daughter’s arm.
@teriwtt Of course, a little bit obnoxious is realistic for a teenager. 
The actor who played Patrick, Lucas Hedges, was superb in the range of emotions. I thought the acting across the board was very strong.
“A friend’s daughter was on the falconry team at the Air Force Academy”
Very cool!
DVDs, last week, with my daughters: “Spotlight” (second time for me; both girls liked it a lot, too); “Money Monster” (I wouldn’t give it five stars but it was entertaining and D2 and I liked the exterior shots of her NYC workplace); “Dope” (three suburban LA high school students get caught up in a drug deal); and “Obvious Child” (off-beat romantic comedy that 20-something women and their moms might especially like).
I thought Take Shelter was amazing. Not slow at all, in my opinion. I wasn’t sure whether I was interested in *Midnight Special/i but now I’ll make sure to see it. Loving too!
We saw Lala Land tonite and both of us were, to be honest, disappointed. All the rave reviews had given us high expectations; maybe it was inevitable the movie wouldn’t live up to them. As a musical, it sure had very few musical numbers–I think one song was repeated at least three times–and the less said about the vocal abilities of the stars the better. (What a breath of fresh air when John Legend’s voice was heard.) I have no particular interest in or fascination with L.A., so perhaps that’s why the scenery didn’t enchant me, although I did appreciate the whimsy and logistical feat of the opening scene (please don’t tell me it was all CGI). I really don’t understand the wild praise from the critics, and can only guess that they were thrilled to be able to see something pleasant, pretty, and undemanding during this dismal year. All in all, the movie is like a piece of angel food cake–light, fluffy and sweet, but with little depth of flavor, and quite forgettable. Really wish I’d battled harder to see Manchester by the Sea…
"All in all, the movie is like a piece of angel food cake–light, fluffy and sweet, but with little depth of flavor, and quite forgettable. "
Nicely worded!
@NJTheatreMOM - actually, I also loved *Take Shelter/i. We both still talk about that ending, even though we saw the movie five years ago.
I kind of want to see it again now!
Scout59, I’ve seen Take Shelter at least three times and would happily watch it again. Wanna make a date, lol?. It’s an amazing movie. We watch films that we get from Netflix DVD (more older titles than streaming) and last time I looked, it was still available there.
I’m glad that various people have been plugging Dope. It’s a terrific movie. I watched it on Netflix a few months ago. Very College Confidential – a smart kid from Compton tries to do what it takes to survive his neighborhood, get the girl, and get into Harvard, more or less in that order. As is the case with movies of this type, things rapidly spin out of control, and it takes all of his intelligence – the type measured by the SAT, and the type that isn’t – to deal with the challenges.
I heard that the LaLaLand voices were at least better than Inspector Javert in the recent Les Mis movie! I still want to see it, but my expectations are lowish.
We saw Money Monster in the theater and were very disappointed.
@rosered55 , I really think that August Wilson was a great American playwright of the stature of O’Neill and Albee. At least. I was lucky enough to see several of the plays on Broadway, with incredible casts.
There was an excellent TV broadcast of The Piano Lesson starring Alfre Woodard and Charles S. Dutton, amongst other great actors, that you might be able to see.
I went to add Take Shelter to my Netflix DVD list and saw it was already there! I don’t remember adding it although DH might have. I just moved it to the top of my list.
I saw Dope last year with my son when it was in theaters and didn’t know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. We both really liked it!
Yes, Russell Crowe set a standard of incompetence that will be tough to surpass. It’s hard to imagine anyone trying.
That wouldn’t be hard!
August Wilson was an acclaimed playwright, who was a Pulitzer and Tony winner. Ten of his plays have been produced on Broadway, an amazing accomplishment. I’m happy that both Washington and Viola reprised their roles for the film. They were both excellent in the Broadway revival.
August Wilson’s death at the young age of 60 was a huge loss. Some day I would like to see all of his plays. it would be great if some top African American actor(s) or producers with the ability to open a movie like Denzel Washington and/or Will Smith, Viola Davis, Shonda Rimes, et al would throw his/her influence behind producing all of them on TV or in the movies.
As of now, I’ve only seen Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (the incredible Dutton), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and The Piano Lesson.
Wow, @Consolation. I have come in just at this point and read only your comment thus far, and have to ask: Was Fences that powerful on film, as to move you to want see more of that powerful playwright’s work done in a similar medium?
I don’t think any comment could make me consider seeing it more than that one.
I saw Fences when it was on Broadway and thought the story and acting together a mighty force. I have enjoyed theatrical performances on PBS and when filmed in a kind of Black Box Theater way, but always preferred that I get my theater in a theater.
You may make me revisit that stance.
I was shocked at August Wilson’s passing (as I think we all were), as shocked as I had been at the meteoric rise and impact of his work in the American theater. I was delighted to have his work discussed and developed within the canon as I was deepening my own love for theater.
@NJTheatreMOM - I’d LOVE a movie date to see Take Shelter again! (I’ll bring the popcorn.) Unfortunately, I only have streaming Netflix, not the DVD service, so I don’t know when/if I’ll see it again.
Hope you like it, @Mom2jl