Sunday, March 27, 2016

Room

When movies are inspired by books, the results can be mixed. The toughest critics at times are the people that read the book. Higher expectations from readers are difficult to meet, because movie directors and screen writers are charged with the responsibility to make the transition smooth from paper to cinema.

One movie accomplishes in my mind the transition with striking detail. Room, which is based on the book is a very good movie. I strongly believe (I have read the book) that people watching the book will find themselves doing what I did throughout the movie, and that is thanking the producers and directors for staying true to the story.

I also found the casting was outstanding. The movie was spot on regarding each character from the book. It was as if I closed my eyes and opened them to what I would imagine the character to be like on screen.. One of the worthiest transitions I have ever witnessed. This is the kind of story that casting could be a make or break a movie. The characters are rich, and the depth of the story has a critical point of change that requires strong acting.

If you failed to read the book, spoiler alert. Room brings you into a world we can hardly imagine. The darkest depths of humanity is represented in this movie. What I loved about the book is that it touches my soul, as I hear of stories similar to room in the news. How does one transition to what we perceive as "normal." The answer may just be hope. Rent or buy room, and you decide for yourself.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

From Rocky To Creed - The Legacy Continues

Rocky on a cerebral cinema blog? Of course! However this s a documentary about the evolution of Rocky. And, quite a good one. You will learn how art imitates life. Sylvester Stallone's life is quite similar to the original Rocky.

This documentary gives us insight in the evolution of Rocky as a franchise. Not all that glitters is gold in this documentary. It is about the fall from grace as much as it is about the success of the franchise.

Surprisingly, it also comes full circle with the movie Creed. The coming of age of Creed is hauntingly similar to the original Rocky. Stallone had closed the door to such an idea. Similar to the movie executives in the early 70s, the concept of Creed had to overcome some big obstacles. It took Stallone over a year to consider the concept.

For fans of Rocky, you learn a lot about Stallone. The development of the character is just part of the story. With a small budget, new innovations in production were used to save money. In a sense, less was more back then.

Stallone opens up to discuss his personal life when the first Rocky was in development. I enjoyed learning that his personal life was paved by hard work and resilience. A great lesson for kids to also learn. Check out Creed. Well worth the look. (Available on Epix and Hulu)