Movie Review by Kristin: IRREPLACEABLE YOU

IMG_1668Holy crap.

I admit that I can be a bit emotional at times during shows like This Is Us and movies like Love, Simon. None, however, have made me ugly cry quite like this one.

SYNOPSIS: Recently engaged couple Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) find their dreams for the future shattered when she receives a terminal-cancer diagnosis. Abbie copes with the news by attending a support group, and by trying to plan the details of Sam’s life after she’s gone — which includes finding him a new partner.

IRREPLACEABLE YOU is a bit predictable in the sense that the main characters, Abbie and Sam, discover her diagnosis so early in the film, but the way it’s handled is heartbreaking and lovely all at the same time. I also feel like it was a bit sugar-coated because we never saw Abbie get extremely sick the way that we know cancer can play out — but I’m kind of thankful for that. We know what’s happening, we don’t necessarily have to witness every detail. In that respect, I also think it’s very telling that you’re able to be so emotionally invested in this couple despite not seeing the very worst of this horrible disease. It says a lot about the actors in each scene.

The performances by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Michiel Huisman were very sweet and raw. You really felt the love they had for each other, which made the outcome even more beautiful and heartbreaking. With that being said, even though the ending is predictable, watching it play out in such a way had me hooked. It was also fun to see Christopher Walken play a friend to Abbie throughout the film and, ultimately, being the person who made her look at her life differently.

My only complaint is that we didn’t get enough scenes with Kate McKinnon in them! Aside from that, this was a great little movie. One of the moments that really got me was when Abbie tells Sam that she thought planning his future would hurt less than her accepting that she won’t be around to see it. UGHHHHHHH. If you like the odd concoction of sad, romantic and funny movies, I definitely recommend this one.

Side note: I absolutely loved Sam’s dimples in the movie, and I was absolutely SHOOK to discover that he played Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones! Yes, the one that hooked up with Khaleesi and got dumped! Funny what a pair of glasses and a shave could do!

Movie Review by Kristin: TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE

IMG_1526Happy Monday, everyone!

This weekend I had a moment to sit down and watch the highly anticipated TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE on Netflix, and I am SO glad I did.

SYNOPSIS: Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. Until one day when all the love letters are sent out to her previous loves. Her life is soon thrown into chaos when her foregoing loves confront her one by one.

What an adorable teen romantic comedy! I have to hand it to Netflix because they have not let me down with their Originals lately. I will admit that I had not read the book by Jenny Han prior to watching the film, so I had nothing to compare it to, but wow!

The cast was fantastic, the story was so cute and relatable, and it really tugged at your feelings while watching it. You felt for Lara Jean when her letters got out — the anxiety of someone knowing your personal feelings when you weren’t expecting them to and feeling like you don’t know how to stop what’s happening. I saw so much of myself in Lara Jean even though I’m in my 30’s, so I think it’s really a film that anyone can enjoy.

So many of us have had that experience where we’re not quite sure how to express our feelings towards someone we’re afraid of being rejected by. You’ve had that box hidden in the back of your closet with unsent letters containing your most private feelings at some point in your life. I know I have, and if those had ever been sent out, you’d probably find me in a cave somewhere hibernating until it blew over. No lie! That’s probably what made Condor’s portrayal of Lara Jean so likable is that even though she was mortified, she took control of the situation and didn’t back down.

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I know that with book-to-film adaptations, readers already have a preconceived idea of what the characters would look like and are often disappointed with the outcome. However, in this case, the majority of the readers (& viewers) seem to think Lana Condor was the perfect Lara Jean and Noah Centineo was the perfect Peter Kavinsky. So kudos to the casting crew in addition to the phenomenal performances from the cast!

This is definitely a modern day John Hughes film if I ever saw one. I honestly can’t come up with any complaints. In order to provide a little insight from a younger perspective, my niece, who is 14, also saw it with her friends and absolutely loved it.

If you’re into rom-coms, I highly recommend checking this out on Netflix when you can. If (and when) you do, let me know what you thought! I’ll just be in my little corner reading the book now.

NEW FILM TRAILER: Chris Pine seeks Revenge in David Mackenzie’s OUTLAW KING

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Chris Pine stars in David Mackenzie’s

OUTLAW KING

In select theaters and launching globally
on Netflix on November 9, 2018

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SYNOPSIS: OUTLAW KING tells the untold, true story of Robert the Bruce who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales.

Filmed in Scotland, OUTLAW KING reunites director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) with star Chris Pine alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Stephen Dillane, James Cosmo and Sam Spruell.

OUTLAW KING will debut as the Opening Night Film at the
Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

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