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Boychoir (2014)
Inspirational, heartwarming, family friendly film. Loved it!
I am a fan of so much about this movie starting with its director François Girard, whose sensitive fingerprints are all over this lovely film, to what a perfect cast, to shepherd Ben Ripleys story which burrows deep into your heart.
This is one of Dustin Hoffman's best roles in ages, and it is a joy to see him again at the top of his game. Kathy Bates is exceptional as always, and the rest of the supporting cast brought life and heart to their performances
The new young star Garrett Wareing is already showcasing serious acting chops in this his first role and manages quite genuinely to evoke the transitory nature of life starting with his parents all the way to the very thing that saves him in this movie
the voice of an angel that will ultimately change. But isn't that what life is about? It's not what you deal with but how you deal with it? This film teaches us that lesson with a spoonful of sugar and the heavenly voices of the American Boy Choir. I was brought to tears more than once and the ending was genuinely heart touching and inspirational.
I saw this at Toronto and the movie was a true "crowd pleaser" in the very best sense. It received a sustained standing ovation.
A wonderful family film, and a holiday excursion into the heavens because wait until you hear not only the American Boy choir sing but also Josh Groban's song "Mystery of Your Gift" at the end of the film. It was breathtakingly beautiful and Oscar worthy.
I highly recommend it.
Hysteria (2011)
Feel Warm All Over
Mostly charming and just a bit naughty this film is a little gem of a romantic comedy. Maggie G. and Hugh D. are delightfully at odds while touching on issues of women's rights, class and medical practices of the day. There are some truly laugh out loud moments. Don't miss this one. I promise you, like the women in the film, you're going to feel much better afterwards!
From Indie Wire:
Director Tanya Wexler and writers Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer take full advantage, giving us a truly hilarious look at the oppressive scientific ideas that used to surround female sexuality.
The based-on-true-events story is that of Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), who is having trouble finding work in the squalor of London's old-fashioned hospitals (which are portrayed with the dark sensibility of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"). He finally ends up working for Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), an expert in female hysteria.
The basis of the practice, built around this now defunct sexually-associated diagnosis, is *ahem* manual stimulation. Initially Dr. Granville gets along just fine, developing well-intentioned feelings for his superior's morally fibrous phrenologist daughter Emily (Felicity Jones). Yet her sister, the passionate suffragette and social activist Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), throws everything ff-kilter.