Tag: Anna Kendrick

Blake Lively as Emily

A SIMPLE FAVOR

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Emily (Blake Lively) is the one who asks for a simple favor, and later, looks great in that orange prison jumpsuit, after she asks for it.

“A Simple Favor” is a smart, surprising, enjoyable, thought provoking, funny, and sexually intriguing mystery film.

There are lots of winning characters that each film-goer may identify with: the gay male mom (Andrew Rannells), the single mom (Anna Kendrick) , the super mom (Anna Kendrick), the career mom (Blake Lively) , the gay fashion CEO (Rupert Friend) , the good natured, warm hearted, insightful Black investigator (Bashir Salahuddin), the foreign national trophy husband (Henry Golding), the guilt ridden widow (Anna Kendrick), and last, but not least, the dynamics of being a twin (spoiler alert).

The music is another character. Composer Theodore Shapiro has great taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the French music. I was not aware that Brigitte Bardot could sing, but we are treated to several of her songs in French. That alone is reason enough to see this film over and over.

One of the important questions asked is how does ones background and ones parents affect who we become as adults? How much freedom should we give children? How can parents guide their children through ego/anger/grief issues?

And, who do we choose to marry and why? Both the wife (Blake Lively) and the girlfriend Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) are jealous of the relationship that Sean (Henry Golding) has with Beth (Melissa O’Neil) his teacher assistant, who appears to have his real affection, respect and partnership.

The husband, Sean (Henry Golding) has to deal with his demons of sex and greed. His marriage to Emily (Blake Lively) is way beyond his means as a struggling writer and professor, but full of fodder for his novels.

Henry Golding is also strong in his role as the “Crazy Rich Asian.”

I have seen this film twice, and enjoyed it even more the second time. I’ll be purchasing the DVD and the sound track for “A Simple Favor.”

Vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick)

Actress Anna Kendrick:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Kendrick

Actress Blake Lively:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Lively

Actor Henry Golding:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Golding_(actor)

Actor Andrew Rannells:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Rannells

Actor Rupert Friend:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Friend

Actor Bashir Salahuddin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashir_Salahuddin

Actress Jean Smart:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Smart

Cast of A Simple Favor:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7040874/fullcredits

Melissa O’Neil:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2047780/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Director Paul Feig:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Feig

Songs in A Simple Favor:

https://open.spotify.com/user/tunemunk/playlist/4hRN5ocMkMzKWnolpT1Rja

Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg songs:

https://www.what-song.com/Artist/8012/Brigitte-Bardot-and-Serge-Gainsbourg

Composer Theodore Shapiro:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Shapiro

Screenwriter Jessica Sharzer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Sharzer

Novelist Darcey Bell:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15188654.Darcey_Bell

The psychology of raising twins and multiples:

https://www.twins.org.au/news-and-events/blog/261-the-psychology-of-raising-twins-and-multiples

(l to r) Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), Emily (Blake Lively) and Sean (Henry Golding).

9/25/2018 # A Simple Favor

the-accountant

Dana (Anna Kendrick) watches in amazement as the accountant, Chris (Ben Affleck), solves a complex problem.

THE ACCOUNTANT

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Ben Affleck breaks the geek mold in “The Accountant” as an autistic, mathematics savant. If you know anything about high functioning autism, you may find this an interesting human study.

One of the things that doctors are very careful not to suggest in autism is that it is not caused by poor parenting. This film, however, is very politically incorrect.

In this film, our main character (Ben Affleck as Christian “Chris” Wolff) and his normal brother (Jon Bernthal as Braxton “Brax”) are deserted by their mother, and their colonel father has child abuse badges on his uniform.

The accountant, Chris, has the typical autistic focus and detail orientation, which suits him to a career as an accountant. And, thanks to his father, both brothers develop exceptional abilities in the self-defense arts.

Autistics are famous for feelings disconnect, so it is not surprising that Chris and his brother, equally share this quality, when it comes to killing or hurting others.

Chris’s skillset suits him for working with some pretty shady and powerful types. The world he creates for himself is as a loner, who needs to recover from human interaction and who can disappear at a moments notice.

Autistics are blunt and honest to a fault, and so is our accountant, Chris. His blunt communication style gives rise to many humorous moments in the film. The climax of this film is also such a moment.

His odd behavior is accepted by a sweet, Mid-West couple, who are very grateful for his tax help. They humorously discover his other skills, when he takes up their invitation to come to their property to shoot.

There is romance in this film. Anna Kendrick, of the Twilight film series, plays an accountant, Dana Cummings, who discovers a discrepancy in the books. Chris is called in to track it down. She expresses amazement of his focus and skill.

Our accountant, Chris, responds to kindness. Because of his tendencies, I found their relationship very similar to the vampire series, Twilight, very romantic and very dangerous. I loved the scene where Chris slowly closes the door, as he watches her sleep.

After doing a little research on autism, I discovered that many famous individuals and NFL players have autism. Amadeus Mozart, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, Andy Warholl, and Albert Einstein, were all famous autistic adults.

And, famous autistic athletes include Michael Phelps, Terry Bradshaw, Pete Rose, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jackie Stewart, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Nolan Ryan, Jason Kidd, Greg Louganis, Andy LaRoche, Alex Trevino, Derek Lowe, Scott Eyre, and Tom Gorzelanny.

I found “The Accountant” to be very thought provoking and entertaining.

Famous autistic people:

http://autismmythbusters.com/general-public/famous-autistic-people/

Diagnosis, Causes & Symptoms of autism:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit/diagnosis-causes-symptoms

10/18/16 # The Accountant