“Jersey Boys” is an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Director Clint Eastwood makes a musical that actually has seriousness in it, compared to most musical films that’s primary entertainment is just the singing and dancing. Eastwood’s directing consists of great music, accurate make-up, and dazzling cinematography to make his audience feel they are in the time period of the setting of his movies. (The film had an issue of dragging in moments of enviousness between the singers.) “Jersey Boys” was done well technically and audibly; the reason why it lacks a bit is because it’s a film that is obviously made for Hollywood.

 

If “Jersey Boys” was intended to be a film for the holidays compared to the summer time, I see that there would have probably been more hype for this film. What musical adaptation opened on Christmas 2012 and made the big bucks? That movie was “Les Miserable.” What theatre productions sell-out crazy during the holiday seasons? Broadway musicals are the answer. “Jersey Boys” has been talked about being adapted into an adaptation but is not what viewers are expecting; the summer time is where musical films are not focused on all that much, compared to Marvel movies, romantic movies, and all of that other big-buck studio movies.

 

Eastwood takes big-name actors out of the picture and chooses actors that have actually been staged on the show Broadway version of “Jersey Boys.” Paul Dano, Dominic Cooper, and James Badge Dale were set to star in “Jersey Boys” but were rejected when Eastwood was directing. Originally, Jon Favreau was suppose to direct, but changed his mind and let Eastwood direct the movie.

 

The plot of “Jersey Boys” is the story of four young men: Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza), Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda), and Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen). All of these young men come from the small town of New Jersey, start singing together, and form the rock Group “Four Seasons.”

 

With musical talent these actors have, they got other issues ahead of them. They fall into disasters with gambling debts, mafia threats, and gambling situations that lead to disasters.

 

I do not love this movie, and I do not hate this movie, I just find it captivating, but at the same time having trouble to understand if the concept of the film is the music or the characters’ friendship. The writing for the film seems to be going all over the place. Marshall Brickman (the screenwriter) wrote the screenplay for the 1977 Woody Allen classic, “Annie Hall.” That screenplay had moments jumping back and forth throughout all of “Annie Hall.” However, in “Annie Hall,” the moments in non-chronological order had a purpose. For “Jersey Boys” it was just pure confusing.

 

I may watch this film for a second time. If I do though, it will not be to enjoy it, it will be to try and find portions of the screenplay that was hard to understand. Since I was having fun with some moments, and dozing off in others, I felt just the make-up was more attention grabbing than what is going on in the movie. It is an adaptation that is a mess with perfect technical elements, but the technical elements do not enhance it.

When I was streaming for movies on Netflix, I watched the thriller “Frozen Ground.” Given that “Frozen Ground” is based off of actual events, it was definitely a film that is serious, yet radiant.

The plot of the film is about an Alaska State Trooper named Jack Halcombe (Nicholas Cage) who is on the case for a girl named Cindy Paulson (Vanessa Hudgens). Paulson is a witness who was brutally raped and assaulted by the murder Robert Hansen (John Cusack). Halcombe has reason to believe that Hansen is the killer that has abducted young girls, sexually assaulted them, then kills them. Halcombe wants to put Hansen away for life.

The issue for Halcombe is that he does not have enough evidence to receive a search warrant for the premise of Hansen’s home. Due to this, his only help to the case is Paulson, which is a challenge since she is a junkie and is not always trustworthy. With very little evidence and not much time, Hansen is out just killing more girls and burning more evidence which builds a pattern that is a challenge for Halcombe to follow.

I was intrigued to see Cusack play the antagonist in this film, which was a haunting aspect and added a trait that makes viewers hard to believe that he is the killer in this thriller. Also “Frozen Ground” seemed to be as accurate as it could be to the actual events of what happened in real-life. The weapons that were used, the valuables of the missing girls, and the locations of where bodies were found all add up to make a puzzle that viewers will not be able to let go until it is resolved. Another great aspect of the film was the interrogation between Halcombe and Hansen, particularly because Hansen knows he is going to prison and his excuses do not add up to the evidence that Halcombe has proving he killed many girls.

“Frozen Ground” was also great because it builds a relationship between Halcombe and Paulson. In a scene where Paulson is not safe, Halcombe lets her stay in his home. Halcombe’s wife Allie (Radha Mitchell) is in shock that her husband lets her stay in their home. Jack and Allie argue, and Paulson listens to them crying, and it was heart-wrenching to watch. Reasons for this is because the premise is already disturbing, and it is creepy to know that Paulson is the one that is in danger given how she is so innocent and young. 

Overall, “Frozen Ground”is decent. A low-budget murder mystery not intended for Hollywood, but pretty good that is worth a viewing. With the acting, the scenery, and the intense moments, it was done well, just somewhat rushed and a little over violent, but a film to remember. Three stars.

The average summer comedy this year takes place in the wild west. And the witty cowboy actor is Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane is the director and co-writer of this film about a cowboy with no sense to win the girl of his dreams through challenges of the ridiculous wild west. After the film “Ted” there really is no comparison, besides the humor, given that the plot line is the complete opposite.

The credits open being cowboy themed and the narrating goes towards how this version of the wild west is messed up. Here is Albert (MacFarlane), a sissy farmer, that cannot stand his grounds at all.

For Albert, all he wants is to be a man in his life. Towards the beginning his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) dumps him. Albert is obviously not mature enough to handle a break-up situation. He just drinks a bunch of alcohol and gets on his horse drunk which leaves him to be very uncoordinated throughout the movie.

Albert meets Anna (Charlize Theron), the wife of a robber named Clinch (Liam Neeson). Anna is basically forced by her will to do what Clinch expects her to. He expects her to rob, steal, and kill. They both separate on different tides of Arizona (where the whole film takes place) and that is where her fun with Albert begins.

Albert realizes that Louise dating the high-class man of town Foy (Neil Patrick Harris), a man with a trademark mustache and owns his own shop for shaving products. For Albert, he just cannot stand how Louise finds Foy so perfect, so he dares Foy to a gun fight. This is enhances the performance for both MacFarlane and Theron, because their friendship begins to expand as Theron’s character teaches him how to shoot properly to win.

What I found funny about “A Million Ways to Die in The West” was how MacFarlane can incorporate society problems of the time period, and have them play a role into being the funny in the film. For example, a mayor is shot in their city and no one has done anything for three days until all of a sudden wolves come and drag him to their territory. There is a fair and every year people die at the fair. Another funny portion is the fact that people are even afraid to smile in photographs. I will not give away the reason why people are afraid to smile, because that would just spoil how it is funny in the context of MacFarlane’s screenplay.

About the film though, it was trying too hard at moments with its dialogue intended to be funny. What I mean by that is some of the conversations were going longer than they needed to. Also MacFarlane talks fast and is funny but sometimes he was just talking so fast whereI could not capture every moments of the funny. He is a funny writer with clever ideas, just needs to watch his timing more with how to be funny. It is like the formula of a stand-up comedian, which is joke, pause, and finally…the punchline! The punchline was not what I always got of the screenplay that was filled with jokes.

I will just say do not expect there to be very much similarity to a film like “Ted.” This is not a film about a teddy bear or friendship, it is about making fun of the wild west, and quirky violence to leave fans laughing.

Two stars.