Q-Tips Reviews

BIRDMAN – Birdman is an ambitious technical showcase powered by a layered story and outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton.

Q-Tips say: See it but you if you rent it and you will be just as happy. It is ok. Different. Great acting by Keaton and Norton. A bit bizarre at times, and over-rated. The hype does not match what the movie really is. One of those movies that the critics and other actors just love.

Mrs. Q says: She could have enjoyed the movie more without the drumming in the background. Yes, that is different than music, but so?

AMERICAN SNIPER – “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to this true American hero than his skill with a rifle. U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, becoming emblematic of the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning home, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

Q-Tips say: YES, GO SEE IT! Based on a true story. Tells us about his life as a “Sniper” and also follows his trials at home and after affects on him after his four tours of duty.

Mrs. Q says: Definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN. Shame on Michael Moore.

Dealing with People You Can’t Stand by Drs. Rick Brankman and Rick Kirschner

Mrs. Q says: Do have a boss that is a bully, a tyrant or a co-worker who promises results but never delivers or perhaps a whiner who is driving you crazy? This book will help you deal with them. This book will help you identify 10 difficult behaviors and tell you how to deal successfully with each of them and more.

The Ten things you can’t say in AMERICA by Larry Elder

Mrs. Q says: LOVED THIS BOOK.. Written by a black man who covers such issues as:

1. BLACKS ARE MORE RACIST THAN WHITES
2. WHITE CONDESCENSION IS AS BAD AS BLACK RACISM
3. THE MEDIA BIAS, IT’S REAL, WIDESPREAD, AND DESTRUCTIVE
4. THE GLASS CEILING – FULL OF HOLES
5. AMERICA’S GREATEST PROBLEM: NOT CRIME, RACISM OR BAD SCHOOLS –
IT IS ILLEGITIMACY
6. THERE IS NO HEALTH CARE “CRISIS”
7. AMERICA’S WELFARE STATE: THE TYRANNY OF THE STATIST QUO
8. REPUBLICANS VERSUS DEMOCRATS –
MAYBE A DIME’S WORTH OF DIFFERENCE
9. THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS IS VIETNAM II P WE ARE LOSING THIS ONE, TOO
10. GUN CONTROL ADVOCATE – GOOD GUYS WITH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS

Return from Heaven by Carol Bowman

Mrs. Q says: Found this book a little creepy. Return from heaven is about beloved relatives reincarnated within your family. Topics such as: Memory of Death – to parent’s amazement, a child will matter-of-factly tell them they remember being shot, or dying in a car accident, or in a war, sometimes in explicit and clinically graphic details.

Mrs. Q says: There are certain relatives I would hate to think have returned within the family. However, there is no mention of anyone returning to the family from Hell, so all is well.

WHIPLASH – Cast: Miles Teller as Andrew Neyman, J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, Melissa Benoist as Nicole, Paul Reiser as Jim, Austin Stowell as Ryan, Nate Lang as Carl

Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man’s life. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity.

Q-Tips say: Great movie. Mrs. Q says: She thinks the young jazz drummer, Miles Teller should have also been nominated for an Academy Award not just J K Simmons. Strong performances from both.

THE IMITATION GAME – During the winter of 1952, British authorities entered the home of mathematician, cryptanalyst and war hero Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to investigate a reported burglary. They instead ended up arresting Turing himself on charges of ‘gross indecency’, an accusation that would lead to his devastating conviction for the criminal offense of homosexuality – little did officials know, they were actually incriminating the pioneer of modern-day computing. Famously leading a motley group of scholars, linguists, chess champions and intelligence officers, he was credited with cracking the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany’s World War II Enigma machine. An intense and haunting portrayal of a brilliant, complicated man, THE IMITATION GAME follows a genius who under nail-biting pressure helped to shorten the war and, in turn, save thousands of lives.

Q-Tips say: A great movie about cracking the unbreakable codes of German’s World War II and the personal lives of the people involved. Detailed account of the process and government difficulties encountered while building a machine that could crack the code. Yes, he was gay but a gay genius. No nudity, bad language, etc. Enjoy, we did!

THE NORMAL HEART – This drama tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts,
Alfred Molina.

Q-Tips say: A HBO Movie. An interesting graphic movie about HIV-AIDS and the struggle to get government funding in the early days of the disease. Was interesting to see the early struggle and watch as the gay men began to die from the disease, and no help anywhere in sight. WE have come a long way from then. Not for little ones, but older teens to see the struggle depending upon parental guidance.

Mrs. Q says: She is really not a fan of Julia Roberts, but she did a decent job in this movie as the Dr. There is a lot of screaming by the lead character, Ned, and after a while you start to tune him out. But the screaming probably was due to the frustration of not getting any response for help for those afflicted with HIV-AIDS.