Tropic Cinema Promises to Keep You Occupied.
Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades
You can’t complain about not having plenty of movies to see in Key West. The Tropic by itself can keep you occupied -- seven films filling its screens this week.
The title of “The Meddler” gives you the plot. Susan Sarandon is a widowed mom who moves to LA to be near her screenwriter daughter. But mom proves to be too much of a good thing -- the texts, the unexpected visits, the … well, meddling. But this familiar story has a nice ending. St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells us, “Much like its main character, ‘The Meddler’ exudes an irresistible charm.” Tulsa World opines, “It’s Sarandon's best role, and her most complete performance, in years.” And Charlotte Observer notes, “We know where we’re going, but the Oscar-winning actors take us there with ease and charm.”
“Sing Street” is a happy musical about an Irish boy who starts a band to impress a girl. This is from John Carney, the director who gave us “Once.” Detroit News says, “As a testament to the power of music, the bond of brotherhood and the boundless possibilities of youth, ‘Sing Street’ just plain works.” And Sun Online advises us to “love the film, buy the soundtrack, paint your nails, put some blusher on and fall in love for the first time, again.”
“Papa Hemingway in Cuba” is particularly of interest here in the town where Hemingway made his home for so many years. But this movie is about his home after this one, in Cuba. What’s more, this movie was filmed inside Finca Vigia, Papa’s actual home in San Francisco de Paula. Rolling Stone says, “As the first U.S. film shot in Cuba since Castro came to power in 1959, Papa gives us sights to revel in.” And Chicago Sun-Times adds, “A film that is beautiful to look at but lacks clear vision.”
“The Man Who Knew Infinity” is the true-life story about a young Indian who had a genius for numbers. Dav Patel plays the savant and Jeremy Irons is the British mathematician who discovered him. Spirituality and Practice describes it as “A heartening drama about a slow-blooming friendship between two brilliant mathematicians.” And SSG Syndicate says it “engages the heart as well as the mind....”
“Dough” does Alice B. Toklas’s brownies one better -- a kosher baker’s bread becomes very popular after his assistant drops a stash of marijuana into the dough. San Diego Reader calls it “A culture-clash comedy at once so-bad-it’s-good and so-good-it’s-bad that it kept me laughing throughout.” And Philadelphia Inquirer says the comedy’s “formulaic structure is made up for by the dynamic chemistry between its leads. Jonathan Pryce and Jerome Holder play off each other with all the bluster and awkwardness of a real-life father and son.”
“The Boss” is another Melissa McCarthy comedy, this one about an obnoxious boss who tries to rebuild her image after getting out of jail for stock manipulation. Yes, you’re supposed to think: Martha Stewart. 3AW observes, “Hot on the heels of ‘Spy,’ Melissa McCarthy strikes while her iron’s hot with another pleasing lark, this one featuring one of her more daring performances ... It’s pretty impressive.” And Sensacine calls it “a rowdy comedy … committed to physical humor.”
Gory, yes. However, “Green Room” is a horror film that transcends its genre. Patrick Steward plays a club owner in Oregon who tries to kill off a punk rock band that witnesses a murder. Sunday Independent declares, “The body-count is high, but getting there is devilish fun.” And ABC Radio concludes that it “joins the canon of ‘under siege’ movies ... not with louder bangs, scarier invaders or more bloodshed but with originality, wit and subversion.”Lots of choices, lots of movies you’ll want to see!
srhoades@aol.com
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