davidthorpeal Reviews

Imperfections (2018)

Funny, Exhilarting, and Charming

[9/10 · 17 July 2017]

Comedy, romance, thrilling action; few movies can manage to include all of these elements at once, but Imperfections does so and uses each element expertly. Following Cassidy, an aspiring actor who – thanks to her financial situation – starts a job delivering diamonds for her mother's new boyfriend. When her boss's son reveals a way for them to steal diamonds without harming their business by faking a robbery, the two plot to get rich quick. Their plan is easier said than done however, and trying to put it into action leads complications, from the return of Cassidy's drug-dealing ex to entanglement with local gangsters. The cast, featuring familiar faces such as Zach McGowan (Shameless and The 100) and Virginia Kull (Boardwalk Empire), all seem to fit perfectly for their roles. The characters are realistic and relatable, and make you want to see them all succeed – even when they are at odds with each other. The writing in the film is phenomenal as well. Each character has their own hidden motives, all eventually revealing themselves and intertwining to make for a complex and interesting story. For a fun and unique heist movie, I have to recommend giving Imperfections a watch.

The Founders (2016)

An inspirational story of progress

[9/10 · 7 July 2017]

The Founders is an inspirational documentary that tells the tale of the founding of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, or LPGA. The organization was founded in 1950 – a time when women were not accepted as professional athletes. 13 women came together to start the organization, and at the time of filming only 4 were still alive. I loved the film's use of interviews with the remaining ladies, hearing a first-person account of their efforts and travels was fascinating. It was heartwarming to hear them recount everything they went through with their friends to create the legacy that they did. The film taught me a lot not only about the history of women's golf, but golf in general. They explain the way amateur tournaments differ from professional, an important distinction that held back a thriving women's amateur golf scene. Setting up a professional tour for women's golf in 1950 is an impressive feat, but that was only the beginning of the women's accomplishments. The scene where they recall Louise Suggs being the first woman to play against men in golf – and then winning – was great. Towards the end, the film features interviews with modern golfers and footage from recent women's tours that the women visited, showing the enormous impact that the founding women had. The Founders is a great film for any fans of golf and anyone who wants to see just what determined women are capable of.

Chief Zabu (1988)

Chief Zabu

[9/10 · 20 June 2017]

Chief Zabu is a satire about business and politics that, despite being made in the 80's, is still very relevant today. The film follows two men, Ben and Sammy, who think they can get rich quick after being roped into a deal by their shady business partner buying land in a Polynesian island called Tiburaku. The film is full of fast and funny banter and as the two fumble their way into riches and fame. The film takes an almost absurdist look at the American Dream and pokes fun at the fickle worlds of business and politics as the leading men find themselves in comical situations while their business strategy goes awry. The leader of Tiburaku, Zabu, is stuck dealing with the antics of all of the businessmen trying to make money off of his island while he tries to delicately deal his country's admittance into the UN. The fact that the film was made in the 80's is obvious from its Seinfeld-esque humor, but the subject matter is timeless and still makes you think to this day. The film was found by one of the directors under his stairs and was never released until recently, almost serving as a time capsule to the world of film in the 80's. Another interesting fact about the movie was that it was filmed in only 15 days. Chief Zabu was a great watch that was timeless; people who like the 80's aesthetic and funny satires will love this film.

Good Fortune (2016)

Good Fortune

[9/10 · 20 June 2017]

Good Fortune is an inspiring documentary about the rags to riches story of a man named John Paul Dejoria. If you haven't heard of him, you've almost definitely heard of his businesses – he's the founder and CEO of companies like Patron and Paul Mitchell. John Paul isn't your typical businessman, however. The film details how Dejoria grew up destitute and was at one point homeless and how that experience shaped him. Now that he is so successful, he gives back to over 160 different charities and activist organizations. The directors, Josh and Rebecca Tickell, have previously won awards for their other documentaries likes Fuel, and it is no surprise that Good Fortune turned out so well. I loved the pacing they used and the variety of the scenes in the film. There are narrative moments telling us about John Paul's life, there are interviews with his friends that give us a deeper look into the type of person he is, and there are scenes where we see John Paul in action running his businesses and doing charity work. The variety of these scenes keeps you engaged in topics like business and charity, and makes you invest emotionally into the story of John Paul's life. He has an amazing story that made for an amazing movie.

Urban Hymn (2015)

Urban Hymn

[9/10 · 5 June 2017]

Urban Hymn is an emotional, uplifting coming of age story about a young orphan named Jamie Harrison, portrayed by Letitia Wright, who has a passion for music. The director Michael Caton-Jones uses the gritty, realistic setting of life in impoverished London to drag the viewer into the realities of violence, drugs, and crime that the characters face. The expert use of this setting immerses the viewer and makes them seriously reflect on the methods the characters use to cope with the obstacles they face. Kate, a professor turned social worker, turns to her job to deal with the murder of her teenage son at the hands of troubled youths, just like the ones she works with. Jamie struggles to choose between her love for singing and the tempting life of crime and fun lead by her closest friend, Leanne. All the while, Leanne herself deals with the repercussions of her lifestyle and the distance that is growing between her and Jamie. Even if you haven't personally dealt with the problems that these characters face, their situations are authentic and relatable. The story deals with a myriad of themes from parenthood and friendship to abandonment and redemption, and still manages to balance them all into a cohesive narrative. No character is written without their faults, resulting in a very human story. For those of you like me who enjoy true-to-life characters and settings coupled with great stories, you will love Urban Hymn.

Danger Close (I) (2017)

Inspiring story of Rob Pirelli and Alex Quade

[9/10 · 26 May 2017]

Danger Close is a poignant military documentary from award-winning directors David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud. The duo is well-known for their previous military documentaries Citizen Soldier and The Hornet's Nest as part of the Heroes of Valor Collection. The experience of the directors is apparent in this film – the documentary is heartwarming, inspirational, and thrilling, all while telling the true story of a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. After Green Beret Robert Pirelli is killed in action in a firefight in Iraq, his family asks female war reporter Alex Quade to visit the combat outpost that Pirelli built to see if his legacy still stands. Quade was the only journalist who had this kind of unprecedented access to the military in Iraq, and this unique position provided the filmmakers with loads of great footage from the field and allowed for an engaging, firsthand perspective of the trials and tribulations that our soldiers face every day. One moment from the movie in particular left a strong impression on me; Quade witnesses and captures on video when a helicopter flying next to her – a helicopter she was originally meant to be riding in – is shot down by Al Qaeda forces. There are many of these hair-raising moments, but moments of touching emotional sincerity are present as well. Quade interviews soldiers who knew Pirelli and hears the story of how he diligently built the base they called home. Even more moving are the scenes of the Pirelli family reminiscing about Rob. If you want a documentary that showcases the courage and sacrifices our troops and their families in an interesting, original way, Danger Close is the film to watch.