RonenRecommends | All posts published by author 'Ronen Divon'

Ronen's Rating System:

*****	A must watch
****	Worth seeing
***	If you must watch a movie and there is nothing else out there
**	Don’t bother
*	It’s so bad its almost good... not... These are films I walked out on, or just fell asleep
(K: stars)	Rating by my children. As they are easy to please, would typically be higher than mine...

Mr. Turner (2014) ***

Posted on 3/8/2015 11:19 AM By Ronen Divon

Mike Leigh latest film, Mr. Turner, which tells the story of the accomplished British painter J. M. W. Turner’s (1775–1851) later years, is a film I appreciated but did not much enjoyed. It is a British, French and German production, falling into the biopic genre. While acting, art direction, camera work and other related production roles, are superb, at a 150 minutes, the film feels an hour too long. Mr. Turner is a film about a renown painter, yet it is the person behind the name that Leigh tries to uncover. It is a film that, as a friend of mine with whom I watched Mr. Turner commented, you appreciate more after the end-credits roll than during the show.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) ***

Posted on 3/8/2015 8:28 AM By Ronen Divon

Kingsman is a spy-hero action-comedy, directed by Matthew Vaughn to a screenplay by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. I confess that when the Kingsman’s previews were playing at theaters, months prior to the movie’s release, I was skeptic as to seeing it. Though the coming attractions were amusing, I did not fathom I would much enjoy this production. Coming with very low expectations, Kingsman was a pleasant surprise. If you feel like tasting a summer movie regardless of the weather outside, Kingsman is a good choice.

Selma (2014) ***

Posted on 1/26/2015 10:21 AM By Ronen Divon

A historical drama, Selma was directed by Ava DuVernay to a screenplay by Paul Webb and DuVernay. The story revolves around a turning point in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement; the events that took place in Selma around 1965. It includes the hate-crime in which four young black girls were murdered, followed by the bloody protests and the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, a march that was led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis.
Selma should be watched, just with lower cinematic expectations and a high focus at the message at its heart.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) *****

Posted on 1/20/2015 7:30 PM By Ronen Divon

Standing the test of time, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a real classic. As far as the genre of teen movies goes, if it has a sub-category of high-school films, and then a sub-sub-category of skipping school, Ferris Bueller's Day Off likely occupies the number one spot. Perfectly cast, well-paced, and confidently directed, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the sort of film that makes us laugh and, ultimately, reminds us that, as Ferris himself so eloquently phrases it at the movie’s end, "Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!" Thus this film excels above the humdrum and novelty of fart-teen-flicks to a form of true art.

American Sniper (2014) ***

Posted on 1/19/2015 3:52 PM By Ronen Divon

American Sniper is a biopic war movie, directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood to a screenplay written by Jason Hall. It tells the story of Chris Kyle who claimed 255 kills, 160 of which officially confirmed by the Department of Defense, is considered the deadliest U.S. military marksman in recorded history. He was killed at the age of 38, at a gun range, while trying to assist another veteran suffering from PTSD. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people lined up along the funeral procession to honor him.

Birdman (2014) ****

Posted on 1/16/2015 10:02 AM By Ronen Divon

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a semi-surreal drama-comedy, produced and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The story follows Riggan Thomson (masterfully played by Keaton,) a movie actor made famous for staring as a superhero in a series of films called Birdman. Years later, with his glory all but faded, Riggan attempts a comeback via a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver story.
Birdman, with its complex layers, surreal atmosphere and anxious pace, is not a film for everyone. Yet those who will take to the story will enjoy the film long after the end credits roll by.