Concussion

“Nothing hits harder than the truth”.

This 2015 Dramatic Biography starring Will Smith was supremely talked about. Partly because it was snubbed as a choice for Best Film for the 2016’s Oscars and partly because it was so good. Dr. Bennet Omalu was the Nigerian neuropathologist  who first made the discovery of CTE, an American-football-related brain trauma that affected many retired players. It was a remarkable discovery and a great role by Smith whom played Omalu. 

Bringing this unbelievable story to the big screen is Peter Landesman (Kill the Messenger, Parkland), who wrote and directed this feature. English Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Albert Brooks were among the actors that gave solid work. I wasn’t blown away by any single performance, but found the usefulness of the film’s message beyond significant.

The “America is my dream place and I want to be American” attraction by our lead Omalu played by Smith I felt to be a bit overplayed but overall it was a decent movie and impressive story.

Working Girl

Been a bit preoccupied lately - but that’s a good thing when you’re out there ‘working towards your dream’ - had the pleasure on my down-time to watch this lovely 1988 classic ‘Working Girl’ written by Kevin Wade and Directed by Mike Nichols. Recommended to me by a lovely lady, this Comedy-Drama-Romance was an ordinary story re-told in a wonderful way. Some of us know what it’s like to be taken advantage of; and some still know what it’s like to feel like your world’s been pulled out from underneath you. 

Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver and Alec Baldwin come together with exceptional comic-timing, passion and commitment to make the audience entranced all of the way. With an estimated budget of $28 million USD they made $64 million USD at the box-office, won an Oscar that year with another 10 wins and 14 nominations. Not bad at all for the usual ‘under-dog’ story told the right way.

Chock-full of hilarious and wise dialogue and a message that will make anyone’s heart soar; it’s a “feel-good” and inspirational movie that’s entertaining  to the max! I’ll leave you with a few quotes, but this is a good one to enjoy on a night you’re feeling a tad bit ‘down in the dumps’.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Me?”

“Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn’t make me Madonna. Never will.”

“You want another answer, ask another girl.”

“Dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably, they notice the woman - Coco Chanel!”

“The earth moved. The angels wept. The Polaroids are, are, uh…”

“You’re the first woman I’ve seen at one of these things that dresses like a woman, not like a woman thinks a man would dress if he was a woman.”

“Whaddya need speech class for, ya talk fine!”