De Niro Hilarious in The Intern; Depp Mesmerizes in Black Mass

 
    When it comes to the sappy, feel-good stuff with movies, Nancy Meyers never fails to deliver. She has such a pleasant way of balancing emotion and humor in her films that they're really all pleasant experiences all around. Her latest film "The Intern" is a contemporary tale that just makes you feel good. Like, when the the credits roll you feel like you didn't waste your time. Who doesn't love that about a movie going experience? There's a lot of stuff to choose from when it comes to picking a movie to watch today and I'll say it here, The Intern is worth your viewing.

   70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker, played by the magnanimous Robert De Niro, has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. After trying endlessly to fill his days with things to do, he feels he may succumb to the black hole of solitude. When a strange new opportunity arises to join a growing online company through their senior citizen intern program, Ben seizes an opportunity to get back in the game by becoming a senior intern for founder Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). It's really an engaging story with lots of heart, humor and a wonderful message about finding your self-purpose in life.

   As with any story, characters are important. The cast in this movie does a fantastic job. I mean, Robert De Niro for crying out loud. He nails the bored retiree perfectly, which makes his experience interning for a start up online fashion company that much more hilarious. The movie is marketed as a comedy and it definitely brings the laughs, De Niro being the main source of said humor. However, there's a great deal of emotional tension and heart that really brings a more rounded experience when you watch it. Seeing both Ben and Jules' relationship blossom, it's truly a fun thing to watch. Hathaway brings such a warm tone to such a high-strung character, who not only deals with the stresses of running her own business, but juggles having a family as well. The movie does a great job at portraying how easy it is to forget the important things in life when perusing your ambitions. There's a level of compromise and commitment that comes with that, and the film really delves into this issue in such an emotional and funny way, Both De Niro and Hathaway do a fantastic job playing off each other, as Ben becomes more of a friend to Jules, you can't help but believe that budding relationship to be real.

   If you're looking for something funny, wholesome, and positive to see this weekend, check out The Intern. It's well-written, witty, charming, and will tug at your heart strings. The subtle, yet believable performances don't pander to the situations in the film but acknowledges them for what they are. You'll leave feeling good about your experience. It's really a wonderful film and shouldn't be missed.

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    "Black Mass" is a movie that needs to be seen. I mean, sheesh! Johnny Depp gives one of my favorite performances of his career in this film, completely losing himself in the role. I was engaged from the very first moment till the rolling of the credits. I'd venture to say that there's a possible Oscar Nom in the works for Mr. Depp and it would be well deserved.

   The film tells the story of  true crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) and his rise into infamy. John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and Bulger grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the late 1970s, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened between them - a dirty deal to trade secrets and take down Boston's Italian Mafia in the process - would spiral out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and, ultimately, to Bulger making the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. This is a gangster/mafia movie that will someday be ranked with one of the best.

   The performances alone are amazing. Depp blows it out of the water with his portrayal of Bulger, completely enveloping the character. We've become so used to seeing Depp play the cartoonish characters we all love that some may forget that under the silliness lives a performer who oozes with talent. Edgerton brings a bravado to Connolly that is equally engaging. And let's not forget his highness Benedict Cumberbatch who plays James' Senator brother Billy Bulger. Black Mass has some of the best acting so far this year. That in and of itself lends to an intriguing experience.

   As for the story, it's really quite interesting. Long, and sometimes drawn out, but interesting. I didn't really know much about Bulger and so I went into this open minded about what is being portrayed because let's face it, no film "based on a true story" is going to be 100% accurate. But it's still really gritty, bloody, intense, enlightening, and masterfully crafted with great cinematography, decent editing, and decent writing. But it's the performances that will stand out. If you're a fan of mafia films, check this out. Black Mass has been out for a week or two now and it's still making decent money. Whether it's the right pick for your Friday night out, that's up to you. But if you're looking for a movie that you can completely give in to the performances and let yourself go along for the ride, check it out.