a&e | FILM & TV CONT’D FROM P. 57
The Angry Birds Movie 2 relationship with his human pals, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia) and Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and what it means to be there for them in times of need. Fiesta 5
O Biggest Little Farm (91 mins., PG) Perhaps the biggest triumph at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival was The Biggest Little Farm, a fascinating documentary on the humble beginnings, struggles, and ultimate success story of Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark. Urban refugee filmmaker John Chester rolled camera(s), extensively and obsessively, on the project he undertook with his wife, Molly, tracing the radical transformation of a neglected plot of land in Ventura County into a wildly diversified farm— now a model of sustainability worthy of visitor tours. Sidestepping the “dry doc” syndrome, the film depicts their so-far seven-year adventure and arc of selfeducation with seductive visuals and an engaging dramatic moxie. On the sonic front, Jeff Beal’s Disney-fied orchestral music seems all wrong for such a literally organic tale, which cries out for something acoustic and rootsy. That quibble aside, The Biggest Little Farm charms and inspires with an epic DIY story from deep inside the 805. (JW)
Riviera
O David Crosby: Remember My Name (95 mins., NR) Remember My Name, taken from the title of famous/infamous Santa Barbaran rock star David Crosby’s masterpiece album, If I Could Only Remember My Name, finds the hirsute vet in a strangely candid, openly self-reflective mood, partly thanks to the fluffresistant interrogations of interviewer Cameron Crowe. Santa Barbarans tend to be overly familiar with the Crosby saga-in-progress, but a weird charm is embodied in this refreshingly honest, one-stop historical overview of Crosby’s large-living life story—from the Byrds to Crosby, Stills and Nash and assorted entities, alienation from long-suffering friends like Graham Nash, a Texan drug-related jail stint, and creative rejuvenation of recent years. (JW) Riviera
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (102 mins., PG) Isabela Moner stars as the titular Dora in this live-action cinematic version of the popular Nickelodeon animated television series. As Dora begins high school, her parents are kidnapped, and the intrepid explorer and her friends must venture into the deep jungles surrounding a lost Inca civilization to rescue them. Fairview/Fiesta 5 The Farewell (98 mins., PG) Awkwafina (Ocean’s Eight, Crazy Rich Asians) and Tzi Ma (Man in the High Castle) star in this dramedy about a family who gathers together one last time before grandma Nai Nai’s passing.
O Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood (161 mins., R) Love letters typically come in the form of words on paper; from Quentin Tarantino, they come as passion-filled cinematic pieces. His latest, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, is a nostalgiainducing ode to Los Angeles and classic film. For his ninth offering, the director/screenwriter teases a fairytale from the very real 1969 tragedy—the brutal murder of Sharon Tate and her friends by the Manson Family. Eschewing his trademark merciless brutality from opening to end credits, Tarantino instead sprinkles scenes throughout that bristle with the threat of violence, keeping the emotional tension simmering close to the surface. Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate brilliantly evokes the wideeyed wonder of a young ingenue. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a sympathetic performance of aging TV actor Rick Dalton, who requires the constant moral support of his stuntman Cliff Booth, brought to electrifying life by Brad Pitt. Although the storyline develops leisurely, Tarantino nonetheless delivers an engaging snapshot of a moment in time with a thrillingly ruthless finale in this valentine to Hollywood. (AM)
Paseo Nuevo
Camino Real/The Hitchcock/ Paseo Nuevo
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (134 mins., PG-13) In this spin off of the Fast & Furious franchise, Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and former British Special Forcesturned-mercenary Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) pair up to help Shaw’s sister, Hattie (Vanessa Kirby), an MI6 agent tasked with bringing down rogue MI6 agent Brixton Lore (Idris Elba).
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (111 mins., PG-13) This Guillermo del Toro–produced horror film is based on Alvin Schwartz’s kids’ book series of the same name. Set in 1968 Mill Valley, a group of teens comes across an old book written by Sarah Bellow, a young girl who, generations ago, wrote her horrible secrets down as scary stories. As the teens read, Sarah’s tales become all too real.
The Kitchen (102 mins., R) Director/screenwriter Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center, Straight Outta Compton) helms this crime drama about three Irish mob wives — Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire (Elisabeth Moss) — who decide to take over when their husbands are sent to prison. Fairview/Fiesta 5
Spider-Man: Far from Home (129 mins., PG-13) Still mourning the death of his mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man, Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) resumes life as a high school student and goes on a trip to Europe with his classmates. While there, former SHIELD director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) teams him up with Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) for a special mission to fight the evil Elementals. Fairview
Camino Real/Metro 4
The Lion King (118 mins., PG) Jungle Book director Jon Favreau helms this photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney’s 1994 animated original, which tells the story of lion cub Simba as he fights to remain heir of the Pride Lands. Includes the voice talents of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and James Earl Jones. Arlington/ Camino Real
Camino Real/Metro 4
Angel Has Fallen
The above films are playing in Santa Barbara FRIDAY, August 16, through THURSDAY, August 22. Our critics’ reviews are followed by initials: AM (Antonio Morales) and JW (Josef Woodard). The symbol O indicates the film is recommended. The symbol ➤ indicates a new review.
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AUGUST 15, 2019
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