Category Archives: Film reviews

Film reviews

Magic Mike’s Last Dance

Leave a comment

The concept of the Magic Mike films did not grab my attention when Magic Mike was released in 2012. However, Steven Soderbergh as the director was what caught my attention and caused me to give the first film a shot. Soderbergh did not direct the second film, Magic Mike XXL, in 2015 which was directed by Gregory Jacobs. In the third and final film, Soderbergh is back which is why Magic Mike’s Last Dance is quite fun and cheerful. Based on my experience, Magic Mike’s Last Dance is a decent conclusion, because this film has more meaning and does not rely solely on provocative repeats.

What I mean by “decent conclusion” refers to the approach Soderbergh took with the way the third film begins. In Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Channing Tatum is back as Mike Lane. It seems as if Mike is just doing gigs being a bartender at events and other side gigs to make ends meet. It seems as if the world of being a stripper has been dismissed from his lifestyle. This all changes when, through the grapevine a rich socialite becomes aware that Mike has experience as a dancer. This socialite is Maxandra Mendoza, played by Salma Hayek. Mike instantly grabs Maxandra’s attention, and she brings him into a project in London to put on a show. For Mike, this may be a chance to redeem himself, but also prove he is more than he thinks. When bigger things abound in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, viewers will come to understand my opinion that this film is a  “decent conclusion.”

There is more exploration into the depths of talent that lies within Mike. Maxandra sees that in him as well. Soderbergh’s directing of the connection between the two invigorates their mindset regarding success and talent. This time around, the art of dancing can be taken seriously. Admittedly, I had a hard time taking the dancing seriously in the first two films. With Soderbergh back as the director, he places more emphasis on the skills that Mike has honed over the years and is now using in the show he is working on with Maxandra. Magic Mike’s Last Dance channels the artistic value in Mike’s choreography and those he trains for the theatrical production. The film continues to build on elements more spectacular than just partying and stripping. The seriousness lacked in Magic Mike XXL, but it is regained with Soderbergh back as the director.

The film thrives on the theatricals of dancing and blending intimacy while Mike proves he can play an important role. This time around, he has so much more to offer than his sexy moves. What stands out in Magic Mike’s Last Dance is that Mike is taken seriously for a change. Of course, there are many intimate moments with Maxandra, but for once there is a person in his life to prove what he is worth. There is more interest and value in Mike’s character in this movie.  While it is a conclusion of many fond memories from the previous two films, the film builds for a big shot for Mike. In Tatum’s final time playing Mike, he regains his confidence and finally realizes that there is more to his art and his moves than to just get the ladies excited.

Linking back to my “decent conclusion” assessment, the film includes several theatrical concepts to fulfill its mission of being a monumental finale. It begins where the previous two films left off but doesn’t involve constant dancing and stripping. In Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the dance performances have a higher purpose, and no one could play the roles better than Tatum or Hayek. Magic Mike’s Last Dance is a fun finale even though it’s still a bit cheesy in parts. Three stars for Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

Film reviews

Sharper Review

Leave a comment

Sharper is another name for a swindler, especially at cards. In the movie Sharper, there is a whole lot of that going on. Directed by Benjamin Caron, the film blends con artists with a mixture of other characters in a way that is genius and enticing.

Sharper begins with a manager of a bookstore, Tom (played by Justice Smith). He meets a girl, Sandra (played by Briana Middleton), who seems to be a hardworking student, and they find romance rather quickly. Things change when Sandra tells Tom she has a brother with criminal problems who also owes someone money. Tom offers to help Sandra, but she leaves to make money (supposedly) for her brother.


The film continues with Sandra, and there is more to her story than the we realize. Her life is a web of unexplained behaviors and situations. Sandra meets Max (played by Sebastian Stan), and he offers to show Sandra how to be a con artist. After this, Sharper continues down a dangerous road. Max meets a woman, Madeline (played by Julianne Moore), who is supposedly his mother. Madeline has a new man, Richard (played by John Lithgow), who is a wealthy entrepreneur. Max acts like he has lots of problems, but his problems are a lie and Madeline knows it—but what does Richard know? What does anyone know about each other in this film? What’s true and what’s a lie? The theme of Sharper is to trust no one.

Each character in Sharper has an ego, an addiction, or a resentment with someone. The tensions and secrets continue to stir the pot. Is Max really who he claims to be? Is Sandra who she claims to be? Is Madeline who she claims to be? Audiences will not know who can be believed, and everyone is a liar on some level. The con artists also present themselves as high-class, but they are actually anything but high-class.

The full picture of Sharper is hard to explain, but the complexity is one of the things that makes it heart-pounding. The lies, improvisations, and deceit are never ending. Tom, Sandra, Max, Madeline, and Richard all intertwine in a world of creative lies in their attempt to profit, and their lies take them down a dangerous slope of irreparable consequences. This clever and dangerous puzzle of a film makes for a stellar masterpiece. Four stars for Sharper.

Film reviews

Full Time Review

Leave a comment

Full Time is a compelling and overwhelming movie about being a committed parent coping with continuous stress. The realistic story has empathy and meaning.  There is no easy way out of the hard moments in Full Time. The film takes place in France and the focus is on a mother, Julie Roy (played by Laure Calamy). Julie has two young children and works as a lead housekeeper at a five-star hotel in Paris. She is always on the go and working hard to keep a roof over their heads. She never seems to get a break due to overdue bills, overdrafts, and home maintenance issues. The national transit strikes in Paris only add to Julie’s problems.

In Full Time, the strikes cause Julie to hit her breaking point. The opening of the film starts with Julie’s heavy breathing as she wakes up to start her day. From that point on, the audience will learn why her breathing is so heavy. She is pushing her limits to work, make changes, but also dealing with the constant trial and error that surrounds her life. I was astounded by the poetic energy of the stressors that kept coming at Julie because they were so real and spellbinding.

As the strikes continue, the stress and frustrations mount. Her boss, Sylvie (played by Anne Suarez), starts to get annoyed and concerned with Julie’s behavior as she is at the end of her fuse. She is showing up late and is not on her A game. Julie exclaims, “They can’t fire me for being late during a strike!”  Julie struggles to keep her personal problems at home which results in bringing her problems to work due to her lack of sleep and little support with her children.

Julie has a chance for a better job. However, her underlying problems and the strikes impact her chances of being hired and even her ability to display professionalism. The strikes create exhausting episodes for Julie, but that does not stop her from giving every opportunity a shot. Julie is a go-getter on many levels. She is beyond Full Time given how much she continues the effort for her children and herself.

Full Time gives us hope that Julie has a chance to succeed. for Julie. The issues she faces are detrimental and vivid.  The film is in-depth and realistic in terms of portraying parenting responsibilities. It reminded me how people do what they do best in good times and bad for the ones they love.

Julie loves her children deeply. But can she find more support? Can she find a better job? Will the national transit strikes ever end? Full Time is a graphic portrait of what life can be like for a single parent. The movie makes it clear that it is no picnic for any parent.

Full Time is a nerve-wracking experience. Julie faces much frustration in her aggravating ride as a single mom. The consistency of the pressures in Full Time are mind-boggling. Julie finds herself at risk of losing her current job. She also has anxiety worrying if she will be hired elsewhere or not. Deep down Julie is a good mom and a wonderful person, but she keeps getting thrown curveballs. Full Time is a meaningful film that shows what someone can do when they strive for a better life. Four stars.