Q-Tips Reviews

2 POPES – Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Behind Vatican walls, a struggle commences between both tradition and progress, guilt and forgiveness, as these two very different men confront their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a future for a billion followers around the world.

Q-tips say: See it if you must. Found it slow, mumbling, and like the church, avoids the meat of the issues &  change. When it comes time to get to the darker material it cannot find a way to properly handle them, a fumble that will no doubt enrage those looking for a more serious inquiry of the recent history of the Catholic Church. When addressing the issues of present day, they cut out some of the conversation.

JUDY – Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Featuring some of her best-known songs.

Q-tips say: See it but be prepared that is not just fun and a feel good movie. Some is a little sad but good.  Judy … is happy to let [Renée] Zellweger take centre stage. Thank god, because it’s the performance of a lifetime.   Enjoy!

The Irishman – This biographical crime thriller follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) as he recalls his past years working for the Bufalino crime family. Now older, the WWII veteran once again reflects on his most prolific hits and, in particular, considers his involvement with his good friend Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance in 1975. In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) gets involved with Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran climbs the ranks to become a top hit man, he also goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) — a powerful Teamster tied to organized crime.

Q-tips say: See it! A long movie- almost 3 hrs but moves very fast. There are a lot of reasons to recommend this film, but the main ones can be summarized in surnames – Scorsese. De Niro. Pacino. Pesci.

The Art of Racing in the Rain –   THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is a heartfelt tale narrated by a witty and philosophical dog named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner). Through his bond with his owner, Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia), an aspiring Formula One race car driver, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition and understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life. The film follows Denny and the loves of his life – his wife, Eve (Amanda Seyfried), their young daughter Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and ultimately, his true best friend, Enzo.

Q-tips say: SEE IT!  An emotional roller coaster of a drama film about the bond between an owner and a dog. Sure, pet owners will love the film and cherish the moments their furry little friends keeping them company. The film has some fun, cute moments, and some emotional relatable drama that we all go through in life. It is also what I love about the film which balances the tone out with realistic drama being witnessed in the perspective of a golden retriever Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner).

A movie that will stir emotion. Good acting by all but Kevin Costner steals the show as Enzo the dog’s voice.  It may bring a tear to your eyes.  The movie was very well done. I loved the dog as the narrator. It was a very emotional movie.

ELI – ELI is the story of a young boy plagued with an unknown, debilitating illness that requires him to live completely sealed off from the outside world. After exhausting every option, his parents put their trust — and his life — in the hands of a doctor whose experimental, cutting edge treatments may hold Eli’s last hope. As Eli undergoes the tremendously intense process that could potentially cure him, he begins to be haunted by experiences that make him question who he can trust.

Q-tips say: See it. A good Halloween movie to watch at home with your popcorn & drinks. Mrs. Q says: Not for children but adults.   Eli has a couple of tense sequences, and decent jump scares, with an ending I honestly didn’t saw coming. Boy oh boy, those nuns.  Love it when a movie is willing to take such a wild swing. And swing they do … It won’t work for everyone, but boy did it for us.

Five Presidents – Wit Theater, Chicago-  There was only one day in history when all five of these U.S. Presidents were in the same room at the same time: the holding room prior to entering the memorial service for President Richard Nixon.  What’s left are the five living presidents, former and current, coping with that fact in April 1994. Cleveland’s premise is simple: get Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton alone in a room together and see what happens.

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. Five Presidents is remarkable, humorous, and honest play.  It brings them all up close and personal and shows them to be exactly what they were: flawed but honorable and decent people. In an era when loud insults are flung across the aisle daily in both directions and in which it is difficult to imagine even the somewhat strained civility that the play demonstrates, it serves as a reminder that such things once were possible, and a prayer that they will be again.  It will be impossible to walk away from “Five Presidents” without both a greater understanding of the challenges that come with the high office.