Drama
Drama movie reviews
The Odd Life of Timothy Green Review
Life brings many surprises, especially for the Greens. Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton) are a happily married couple eager to start a family. However their dreams are shattered when the doctor tells them that conceiving a child will be impossible. While grieving their awful news, they fill a small wooden box with notes describing characteristics of what they hoped their child would be like. They dig a hole in their vegetable garden and plant their special wooden box. The next morning a 10-year old boy named Timothy appears at their house calling them “mom,” and “dad;” a true surprise, one they’ve always dreamed of. The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a Disney story about the trials and joys of parenting. This is a heartwarming film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets
Release Date: December 4, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Maybe
Talking Points:
Parents will enjoy this film, and will be able to relate to Timothy’s parents. They wanted to protect him, comfort him and wanted the best for their son! Timothy’s mom (Jennifer Garner) says, “It’s not that we wanted him to be perfect, we wanted it to be perfect. His childhood.”
Timothy is an odd character, though an adorable, loving boy. In the movie they say, “it’s okay to be different.” A good parent/child conversation.
Though Timothy’s parents loved him more than anything, they made mistakes, and struggled with different parenting issues; as we all do at times. When asked what they would do differently, they said they’d make new mistakes, maybe even more of them.
Kids may get bored as the film has a mature subject matter about parenting. Having said that Timothy is cute fun loving boy, which kids will enjoy. There are some funny parts geared towards kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Timothy and Joni (a girl he has a crush on) almost kiss. They have a cute relationship.
- Timothy’s parents decide to give him, “The Talk,” however they get distracted by a family emergency.
- Since Timothy came from a garden, younger kids may have questions about where they came from.
Violent Content: Mild
- Timothy gets bullied by his classmates.
- Kids smear food and ice cream on Timothy’s face.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s drink wine.
Will Kids Like It? Maybe
- I interviewed kids ages 6 to 8 who liked the movie. Having said that I feel that this is more of a grown-up film, one especially for parents!
Overall this is a wonderful, endearing story. Because of the mature subject matter, I’m not sure all kids will enjoy the film. However the content is appropriate for kids ages 6 and up.
Moneyball Review
Moneyball is centered around the 2002 Oakland A’s baseball team, who were lead by general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) to a surprisingly excellent season, even though they had the lowest paid players in the major leagues. Instead of scouting and using more of a traditional method of obtaining a team, Beane used statistics and mathematical analysis into player evaluations, which was not well accepted amongst fans, coaching staff and media. However, with determination and perseverance, Beane, and his young adviser Peter Brand, make it all happen! Whether your a baseball fan or not, this is a wonderful inspirational movie, good for the whole family!
Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: September 23, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, plus Abduction!
Talking Points:
This movie, as in most sport’s films, are not all about sports, it’s about the lessons instilled and the inspirational storyline. This is about Billy’s relationship with his daughter, his young adviser, and his team.
This is a story about perseverance, initially things weren’t going Beane’s way, and it looked grim for the Oakland A’s; even coaches and scouts thought Beane was crazy, but he stuck with his adviser’s strategy, and before you know it they began their huge winning streak. This could spark some great parent/child conversations about perseverance, and not giving up!
This is an appropriate film for kids, however parents need to know that there is quite a bit of swearing. Depending on the child, I think younger kids (7 and younger) may get bored due to the subject matter.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We hear a comment about a players sexual anatomy.
- In one scene two players are shown with their pants unbuttoned, however, you don’t see anything.
Violent Content: Mild
- When Billy loses, he gets very irate and irrational. He throws objects such as a chairs and radios; he even flips a desk over.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word is said a couple times while other swear words are used throughout the film such as: “a–,” “h—,”d–,” and “b–ch.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see Billy drinking at home.
- Several characters are shown spitting out chewing tobacco.
I’m not a huge baseball fan, my kids don’t even play baseball, we’re a lacrosse family…but my husband, kids and I thoroughly enjoyed this inspirational film, and I especially enjoyed Brad Pitt!
Man on a Ledge Review
I was on the edge of my seat as Nick Cassidy was on the edge of a ledge, 25 stories high. Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington), an ex cop, was on the ledge of a New York City high rise only to prove a point…he was innocent. Nick was framed for the theft of a rare diamond and was sent to prison; where he eventually escaped. He then wanted to attract the world’s attention and claim his innocence by threatening to jump. With the help of NYPD hostage negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) and his loyal brother, Nick anxiously awaited, on the ledge of the 25th floor, to see if his intricate plan would work; to reveal the identity of the real criminal. Man On A Ledge was an exciting, suspenseful movie, one the family would enjoy!
Rating: 4 1/2 buckets
Release Date: May 29, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Modeate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with “One for the Money.”
Talking Points:
I did not want to see this movie, but I ended up loving it. Not only were there likable characters, but it was an intense, fun movie as well… and did I mention eye candy? Sam Worthington, who played the man on the ledge, is now one of my new favorite actors!
People in the theater loved the movie. I interviewed kids and parents who all said they loved it.
There were some intense moments as he was on the ledge, I was scared he was going to fall. If you’re scared of heights, this may not be the movie for you.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We saw a character in her bra and undies, as her boyfriend was zipping up her outfit.
- There were sexual references, one character made a comment about the best sex she ever had.
- Couples kiss.
- Women wore low cut revealing shirts; showing cleavage.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There were several brawls and punches amongst the characters. We saw some injured characters with blood and cuts on their face, after a fist fight.
- Many gunshots were fired, and character’s held at gunpoint.
- It was frightening at times watching this man 25 stories above the ground.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The movie was so intense that I may have missed a couple words, but I do remember the f-word was used once, and the h-word, and s-word were used a few times.
- One character said, “stick your d-word in the door…”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters were shown drinking alcohol at a bar, and in a hotel room.
Overall this was a fantastic, exciting movie. Considering that this was a PG13, action movie, there was some violence, and some intense moments, but not too much. Depending on your child, I would recommend this for kids (especially boys), ages 10 and up.
Lincoln-Family Movie Review
Sixteenth president of the United States from 1861 to 1865, leader of the Union during the Civil War, dedicated husband/father, and a wonderful man referred to as “honest Abe.” Lincoln chronicles President Abraham Lincoln’s final months in office. We see his fierce determination to end the civil war and abolish slavery. We see his personnel struggles and the difficulties he had to face while pursuing his heartfelt goals as president. Lincoln is a dramatic war film, one that mature teenagers and adults will enjoy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 16, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes (mature teens)
Talking Points:
This is an educational film, one that mature teenagers will find very interesting. For example, in the beginning of the film we see Lincoln visiting troops; we heard soldiers reciting Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This film will spark great parent/child conversations. However, since the film is 150 minutes, and mostly dialogue, I feel that younger kids will get confused and bored.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- We see character’s stabbed with bayonets and beaten.
- Lincoln visits a battlefield filled with corpses.
- We see orderlies emptying carts of human limbs into a huge pit.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
We heard the f-word one time. Also “sh–,” “b–ch,” and “d–n” were said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s were shown drinking beer and wine.
- We see character’s smoking cigars.
Will Kids Like It? Yes (mature teens)
Overall this is a wonderful, educational film. It’s appropriate, however due to the mature subject matter I recommend this film for kids ages 15 and up.
Knowing Review
The movie starts in 1959. As part of a dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students are asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. Most of the kids draw pictures of what they thought the world would look like in 50 years, except for one mysterious girl, whose paper is covered with rows of numbers. Then 50 years later a new generation of students opens the capsule, and a boy named Caleb gets the sheet with all the numbers. Caleb’s father(Nicholas Cage), discovers that the numbers are dates of disasters, and the number of victims, from the past 50 years. At the end of the list there are 3 disasters that are left to occur, all within the next few days few days. So Caleb’s father takes it upon himself to try prevent the destructions.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: July 7, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
It has a clever premise.
The previews are deceiving. A lot people thought the movie would be like “National Treasure” from watching previews, but it’s not at all!!!!!! It’s really not a kids movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Comments on whether someone is gay.
- A male character is seen in the shower, only his upper body is revealed.
Violent Content: Excessive
- It’s very scary, silent, slightly menacing people, are haunting Caleb throughout the movie by following him, and whispering strange things to him, very creepy.
- There is a plane crash and subway crash, which are disturbing to watch.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “A–s,” d–n” and “sh-t” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- There is drinking throughout the film.
Overall it’s a very scary, creepy, unpleasant movie, with no redeeming elements.