Tag: ShaileneWoodley

Robots

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Owning a robot may be illegal, but that doens’t stop womanizer Charles (Jack Whitehall) and gold digger Elaine (Shailene Woodley) from using theirs to help them get by in life. Things get complicated when their counterparts fall in love, forcing Charles and Elaine to team up to put a stop to the shenanigans before people start to catch on that it isn’t actually them.

The most interesting aspect of this movie for me was the integration of robots into society. The fact that we are closer to a reality where we can exist with robots than not is a scary thought and I loved that it was explored here. Having the robots in work settings, doing housework and the like is going to be a reality before we know it and I very much enjoyed this futuristic take.

Whitehall was a great choice for the role of Charles. Slightly different than the usual comedian, it worked for him. Alternatively, this was something different for Woodley, who I’ve come to know for more dramatic parts. That’s not to say she wasn’t as enjoyable and I thought the two played off well against each other. The way in which they differentiated the leads to the robots was also impressive and definitely confused me at times!

The film may have had an interesting premise and good leads, but that is all it boasted. The slapstick comedy and raunchy jokes were a bit much at times. I think they would have benefitted by added some more heartwarming moments. This would have allowed them to reach

All that being said, Robots was perfectly fine for a casual night in after work. It served its purpose in providing enough entertainment, but could have been much better.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Fallout

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What starts out as an ordinary day for Vada (Jenna Ortega), Mia (Maddie Ziegler) and Quinton (Niles Fitch) suddenly turns into a tragedy that will change their lives forever. The way in which they deal with the aftermath may be different, but the bond they form will only grow stronger.

I don’t think I can put into words just how much this movie struck a chord with me. The subject matter, while extremely heavy, was dealt in such a poignant way that I have to give props to director Megan Park. Her approach was exactly the way it should have been.

Something I really appreciated was the fact that instead of focusing on the event itself, we got to see the aftermath of it. How these characters tried to not only move on from what happened, but make peace with it at the same time. Although they couldn’t be more opposite, the ways in which they lean on each other was not only realistic, but moving to watch.

Jenna Ortega knocked her performance out of the park. I’ve seen her in a few times before, but never anything on this level. She’s got a bright future ahead. The same can be said for Maddie Ziegler. To me she was always Sia’s protege, yet she really proved herself here. The rest of the cast in Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen and Shailene Woodley were outstanding too.

In spite of its heavy subject matter, The Fallout should be recommended viewing for everybody. I know it’s a movie I won’t soon forget.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Last Letter From Your Lover

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Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones) is a journalist who one day stumbles across a secret love letter from 1965. Wanting to learn more about Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and Anthony O’Hare’s (Callum Turner) love affair, her own love story unfolds with the help of Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan), an archivist who aids her in finding more letters.

Based upon the novel by Jojo Moyes, The Last Letter To Your Lover was something I knew I needed to add to my TBR before the film’s release. All I hoped for was that the adaption would be just as good as the book! Luckily I was not disappointed! The film followed the book rather closely and the few changes that were made were necessary.

The aspect that I liked most in the book was seeing how Jennifer and Anthony’s relationship blossomed and so I appreciated the way in which this was shown in the movie. The chemistry between Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner was super believable and a joy to watch. Despite knowing where the plot was going, I was still holding my breath in hopes that they would find their way back to each other.

Similarly I enjoyed the parallels between both female protagonists. I remember thinking that Ellie’s story could have been more fleshed out in the book and was therefore glad that there was more of her on screen. It really drove home her connection to the love affair and I liked how each scene seemed to be interwoven together.

There was something really charming mixing the two time periods together. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong year and I definitely found myself yearning for the 60s while watching. The fashion in particular was absolutely stunning and I coveted all of Jennifer’s outfits.

The Last Letter From Your Lover definitely lived up to my expectations. In some ways I actually think it was better than I was hoping for. It was dreamy, heart wrenching and utterly romantic. I highly recommend it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

The Mauritanian

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Mohamedou Ould Salahi (Tahar Rahim) has been detained and imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for six years. Never actually charged for a crime, the government believed that he was involved in the events of 9/11. Defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) work together with military prosecutor Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch) to uncover the truth of this conspiracy to hopefully set Mohamedou free.

The Mauritanian is not a movie that I would normally gravitate towards. This one spoke to me however, not only because of it’s impressive cast, but because it is based on a true story. Prior to watching, I had only heard bits and pieces of Mohamedou’s story. I never expected to be so deeply impacted by it when I learned more of the details. Despite having seen it a few days ago now, it is still at the forefront of my mind.

Watching this was, at times, difficult to watch. It is not to be taken lightly. I simply couldn’t wrap my head around what was unfolding in front of me. How could one man go through so much and for something that he didn’t even do? I couldn’t believe it and I’ll admit it made me emotional many times. It really goes to show just how unfair the system is.

Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley and Benedict Cumberbatch all gave outstanding performances. The additions of Zachary Levi as Stuart’s friend Neil and David Flynn as Kent, I was immediately transported into the past. Sometimes I forgot I was watching a movie because of how organic it was. The nominations (and wins) that they have received so far are 100% deserved. I only hope this will continue to be the case as the award season continues.

The Mauritanian was an eye opening movie for me. I’m always hesitate to dive into more serious genres but getting out of my comfort zone is important. This was a piece of history that I will never forget and I urge you all to check it out for yourselves.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥