Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz

Dear Readers,

Big Eyes is the true story of artist Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), and her second husband, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz). Walter was a consummate salesman who took public credit for Margaret's work.

Margaret's paintings of sad waifs with oversized eyes were a cultural phenomenon in the 1960s. Big Eyes is about Margaret's journey from a meek, shy woman dominated by Walter, to a self-confident woman who finally stands up for herself, laying claim to her life's work and reputation. I won't give away how Margaret does that, but it's my favorite scene in the movie!

Big Eyes is directed by Tim Burton, who has long been a collector of Margaret Keane's work.

Dizzie: In addition to her famous waifs, Margaret Keane also painted many portraits of cats and dogs, Boss!

Lilly Faye: That's right, Diz. Also, there's a pretty Toy Poodle in the movie.

You can watch the trailer for the movie here:  Big Eyes

Amy Adams won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Margaret, and Christoph Waltz was nominated for his portrayal of Walter.

Lana Del Rey also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. You can hear it here: Lana Del Rey--Big Eyes

Lilly Faye: Frank, tell everybody what you made for our movie night dinner.

Mr. Frank: Shrimp and Orzo with fresh tomatoes and basil, lemon broccoli, and garlic bread.

Alfie Cat: What did that have to do with the movie?

Mr. Frank: Nothing. But I got a good deal on the shrimp.

Lilly Faye: For anyone wondering how closely the movie hews to the truth, here is an excellent October 2014 interview with Margaret Keane in The Guardian newspaper:  The big-eyed children: the extraordinary story of an epic art fraud

Lilly Faye: I can't imagine letting anyone else take credit for writing the blog. It's the expression of my own creativity, and I pour my heart and soul into it.

Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: Two Paws Up! It made me want to find out more about the truth behind the movie.

Mr. Frank: Two Paws Up! As both a chef and a tuba player, I like stories about the artist's struggle.

Alfie: I'm abstaining. I left the room as soon as the shrimp was gone.

Lilly Faye: Two Paws Up! The actors did a great job, and I loved the 1950s and '60s fashions. I only wish I'd tried out for the role of Margaret's Toy Poodle.

Dear Readers,

Big Eyes is a fascinating look at the true story behind a cultural phenomenon, and a heartening story of a woman learning to stand up for herself. I recommend it.

Love,

Lilly Faye

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Paddington, starring Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, and Nicole Kidman

Dear Readers,

My friends and I watched Paddington over the weekend. It's based on a series of children's books by Michael Bond.

After an earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian jungle, a little bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) travels to London to look for a new home. The Brown family find him in Paddington Station. They give him a name, and offer him temporary lodging.

Paddington and the Brown family (headed by Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey and Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine) spend the next several days trying to adjust to each other. Unbeknownst to them, a museum taxidermist named Millicent (Nicole Kidman), aided by a smalltime thief (Peter Capaldi, Dr. Who), wants to capture Paddington and put him on display in the museum.

Lilly Faye: I thought this movie was quite sweet, and very well done.

Dizzie: Oh, come on, Boss! Where was the tension? Nobody believes a cute creature with soft brown fur, expressive eyes, and a big nose is going to come to any real harm in a movie like this.

Alfie Cat: Watch it, Big Guy. You almost stepped in some broken glass.

Lilly Faye: I thought Nicole Kidman made a very convincing villainess. Of course, this is a family-friendly movie, so there was no graphic violence. There were plenty of laughs, though, and I loved the scenes of London.

Dizzie: I liked the scenes with the orange marmalade, Paddington's favorite food.

Lilly Faye: Speaking of food, I'd like to thank my boyfriend, Frank, for making our movie night dinner. Please tell our readers what you made, Frank.

Mr. Frank: Since Paddington is a quintessentially British story, I thought our meal should be British, as well. I made Toad in the Hole, which is sausages and a savory, puffy, baked batter. I cooked sliced apples and red onions with the sausages.

Alfie Cat: But you cooked the sausages and the batter in two separate pans, Frank. So technically, your toad wasn't in the hole.

Mr. Frank: It all ended up in the same place.

Mr. Frank: I made an English Bread and Butter Pudding for dessert. It has more butter, but a lot less sugar than a typical American Bread Pudding. I served it with vanilla ice cream.

Dizzie: Your dessert was good, Frank. But Bread and Butter Pudding should be served with a proper English Custard. Try to remember the custard, next time.

Lilly Faye: Alfie, you didn't eat as much as usual.

Alfie Cat: The last toad I ate didn't set too well.

Dizzie: You know he's not talking about a sausage, right?

Lilly Faye: You can watch the official Paddington theatrical trailer by clicking here.

Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani wrote the Paddington theme song, "Shine." It's very catchy! You can watch the music video for "Shine" by clicking here.

Lilly Faye: Time to rate the movie, boys!

Dizzie: One Paw Up! It's a kid's movie.

Mr. Frank: Two Paws Up! Take it from me, an English Bulldog, you'll love Paddington.

Alfie Cat: Two Paws Up! I thought Nicole Kidman was deliciously villainous. 

Lilly Faye: Two Paws Up! I loved everything about it, especially the gorgeous scenes of London, and of course, Paddington, himself!

Dear Readers,

Paddington is an excellent movie that will lift the spirits of both the young and the young at heart. It is rated PG. (Parents of very young children should use their own discretion.)

Enjoy!

Love, 

Lilly Faye

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Boyhood, starring Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, and Ellar Coltrane

Lilly Faye: First, I'd like to thank my boyfriend Frank for joining us again this week, and for providing our movie night dinner. Tell our readers what you made for us, Frank.

Mr. Frank: I figured, what better way to represent an American boyhood than Mac and Cheese? I elevated the dish by using Gruyere cheese and rigatoni pasta, and added crumbled bacon, caramelized sweet onions, and Butternut squash cooked down into a sweet, creamy sauce. I topped it off with toasted sourdough bread crumbs.

To lighten the meal, I paired it with a salad of mixed greens, crisp young sugar snap peas, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes, avocado, and marinated artichoke hearts.

(Frank's Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese)

(Frank's Tossed Salad)

Alfie Cat: The Gruyere was a nice touch, Frank. I like expensive things.

Dizzie: I liked the bacon! And the pasta! And the cheese! And the bacon!

Lilly Faye: Am I the only one who appreciates avocados and artichoke hearts? Anyway, on to the movie...

Director Richard Linklater's Boyhood is a unique 12-year project, with the actors aging in real time. It follows a boy named Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane, from the age of six through his first day of college. Mason's parents (Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke) are divorced, but clearly they both want the best for him and his sister. Linklater's own daughter Lorelei play's Mason's sister Samantha, who is one year older than Mason.

Boyhood was filmed on location in Texas, in real homes rather than on sound stages, which helps give the movie an authentic look and feel. Linklater also takes advantage of Texas's open highways and beautiful natural settings, such as Big Bend Country.

The cinematographer used the same type of camera and lighting over the 12-year span, giving a nice continuity to the look of the film, despite the passage of time.

Boyhood is 2 hours and 44 minutes long, but it didn't feel that long to me, at all.

Dizzie: We did take a second intermission though, Boss. Come to think of it, that means I should have gotten a second dessert. Two intermissions should definitely mean two desserts. I feel cheated.

Lilly Faye: We all had plenty to eat, Diz. You weren't cheated out of anything.

Boyhood is character driven rather than plot driven. It's to be lived more than watched, and every viewer will see it through the prism of their own childhood or parenting experiences.

Boyhood has already won numerous awards, and is nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Director Richard Linklater, and actors Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke have also received Academy Award nominations.

The movie has a great soundtrack. I especially liked the main theme, "Hero," by Family of the Year. You can hear the song and see scenes from the movie here:

Family of the Year-Hero (Boyhood)

Lilly Faye: Time to rate the movie, boys!

Alfie Cat: Two Paws Up! I identified with Mason's sister Samantha, and having to share the spotlight with a dorky younger brother.

Dizzie: Are you referring to me? Because I'm not dorky. I'm as charismatic as they come. Ask any of the neighbors.

I give Boyhood Two Paws Up! It had lots of fun car rides.

Mr. Frank: Thanks for including me, Doll. 

Definitely Two Paws Up! Boyhood got me all choked up.

Lilly Faye's Movie Rating: Two Paws Up! 

Dear Readers,

I loved everything about this movie, and I highly recommend it.

Love,

Lilly Faye

Lilly Faye's Movie Review: Begin Again, starring Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, and Adam Levine

Dear Readers,

In the movie Begin Again, Gretta (Keira Knightley) and Dave (Adam Levine) are singer-songwriters and lovers who are trying to establish music careers in New York City.

Gretta has a simple, stripped-down approach to everything, from her personal appearance to her style of music. Dave wants to be a rock star, filling stadiums with thousands of adoring fans.

When Gretta and Dave break up, Gretta deals with her pain by singing about her troubles in a rowdy bar, where Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a washed-up former record executive who drinks too much and still carries a torch for his ex-wife, has gone to drown his own sorrows.

Can Dan and Gretta save each other? Will they win their exes back? Will Dan's idea to make a record on the streets of New York launch Gretta's career and revive his own? The answers aren't as obvious as you may think.

Begin Again was filmed on location in New York City. The plot isn't complicated, but it's a lovely ride. Music plays a huge role in the movie, to the point that it's almost a character all its own.

What did you think of the movie, Diz?

Dizzie: Keira Knightley turned in a good, solid performance. She even did her own singing. Adam Levine was quite believable in his first big screen role. And Mark Ruffalo, come on! Who doesn't love that guy?

Lilly Faye: I really liked this movie. It was very romantic. I particularly liked the song, Lost Stars, which figures in the story in a big way.

You can hear Adam Levine's powerful version of it here: Lost Stars, from the movie Begin Again, sung by Adam Levine

And you can hear Keira Knightley's gentle version of it here: Lost Stars, from the movie Begin Again, sung by Keira Knightley

I can't get this song out of my head. I've been singing it all day!

Mr. Frank: If you love it that much, Doll Face, I could learn to play it for you on my tuba.

Lilly Faye: Really? That's kind of romantic, Frank.

Lilly Faye's Movie Rating: Two Paws Up!