A Simple Favor (Movie 2018)

It's been out for a while but I finally saw A Simple Favor. It is a fun little mystery/ thriller. Anna Kendrick plays Stephanie who is the over achieving mom. She will out do all the other parents at her kid's school by volunteering for everything. And in walks Emily played by Blake Lively who it's obvious in her high fashion clothes and shoes could care less about such mundane things as events at her son's school. She befriends Stephanie and the contrast between the two is really night and day. You definitely know something is off with Emily when she overreacts to Stephanie taking her photo. As the story goes on a lot of secrets come out and you start to wonder who's in on what. For me the stand out in this was Blake Lively. She plays this part with style, panache and you sense the wicked in her. The humor is slightly dark. A Simple Favor also stars Henry Golding.

The Old Man & the Gun (Movie 2018)

The Old Man & the Gun is an interesting character study based on a real life career criminal. It starts out in 1981. Movie legend Robert Redford plays 70 year old Forrest Tucker who has built a life on robbing banks and escaping from prisons. While making his get away from a bank robbery, he helps a woman played by Sissy Spacek with car trouble. He ends up forging a bond with her. You begin to see that for Forrest it is not about the money. For him it's the excitement and adventure of living this life. It's ingrained in him. He never used the gun. It was just a threat which of course still doesn't make it right. But even though he is criminal you end up, like Jewel (Sissy Spacek), liking the guy. I do enjoy seeing a resurgence of these smaller, lower budget movies where it's about storytelling and not special effects. This film also has a great supporting cast with Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, and Tom Waits.

A Star Is Born (Movie 2018)

A Star Is Born is not a new tale. The first big screen version was in 1937. Judy Garland starred in the 1954 movie. The one most remembered was from 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristoffeson...until now. Bradley Cooper has brought the story to 2018 by co-writing, directing, and starring with Lady Gaga. What all these versions have in common is the basic premise of a young, struggling female artist who gets taken under the wing of a male artist who has made it but has seen better days. In 2001-2006 I watched Bradley Cooper in the tv series Alias. Back then I had no idea he would one day turn in this kind of a solid performance. He really transformed into this singer Jackson Maine who is battling so many demons inside of himself. Lady Gaga has become a revelation. I knew she could sing and write songs which sometimes in the beginning did get a little over shadowed by some of the interesting ways she liked to present herself. But in this movie she has been able to show just what an incredible talent she is. Her acting was effortless. It was natural for her. Her singing was powerful. A great soundtrack for this film. What this film spoke to me about was love and all that comes with it-the joy, the agony, and the sacrifice. And more importantly, how we'll do anything for it.This movie also stars Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, and Andrew Dice Clay.

Phil Collins, TD Garden Boston, MA 10/09/2018

Phil Collins brought the Not Dead Yet Tour to TD Garden. There's no doubt this man has a sense of humor about his physical limitations these days. He walked on stage slowly using a cane and sat in a chair that was down center stage. Phil greeted the crowd and explained that he would be sitting most of the show because of his back and pointed down and said "the foot is fucked." This candor got the audience laughing. He opened the show with Against All Odds (Take A Look At My Now) with his band behind him still concealed somewhat by a sheer curtain.The curtain went up and the band came in hard on Another Day In Paradise. This song moves me now more than years ago being more aware of just how many homeless there are and how so many of us live paycheck to paycheck. We got the song I Missed Again and he had fun with Who Said I Would. He did a beautiful duet of Separate Lives with one of his back up singers and the sweet You'll Be In My Heart from the Disney animated feature Tarzan back in 1999. Since Phil isn't up to playing the drums anymore we got the proverbial chip off the old block. Behind the drum kit on this tour is his 17 year old son, Nicholas Collins. And when he got to do a drum solo this kid could give veteran drummers a run for their money. It was great to hear Something Happened On The Way To Heaven. And Phil only stood up to sing for one song the entire concert and that was In The Air Tonight. With the lighting on him and the power he gives that song it had all the drama and dark atmosphere you'd expect. The crowd had so much fun with You Can't Hurry Love, Dance Into The Light, Invisible Touch, Easy Lover, and of course the one and only Sussudio. And for the encore Phil took us home with Take Me Home. At the end it showed up on the giant screens someone holding a sign that said "Thanks for doing the tour Phil." Have to agree there. He mentioned at the beginning how he had said he wouldn't do this again but changed his mind because he missed all of us. We missed you. The body may not be as strong Phil but damn you can still sing those songs we love.