FILM REVIEWS

Variety Fills Tropic Cinema’s Screens

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

Assuming you’ve already seen “Mud” -- Matthew McConaughey’s new film that breaks him away from his rom-com roots -- the next one you’ll want to put on your list to catch at the Tropic Cinema is “The Sapphires.”

These are two very different movies. But both great in their own unique ways.
“Mud” is the coming-of-age tale about two Arkansas boys who stumble upon a wanted murderer hiding out on an island in the Mississippi. I call it Mark Twain Updated -- a modern-day Huck and Tom helping a leathery-skinned man on the run (McConaughey). Reese Witherspoon, Joe Don Baker, and Sam Shepard provide a great supporting cast, but it’s the two boys (Ty Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) who carry this story about a man whose name is Mud. The San Francisco Examiner calls it “fully satisfying.”

On the other hand, “The Sapphires” is a soulful musical -- albeit with dramatic moments. In it, an Irish talent scout (Chris O’Dowd) convinces four Australian Aborigine singers to go Motown for a tour in war-torn Vietnam. The soul sounds are great … what talented voices here. You’ll laugh and cry as the singers confront their own demons while dealing with a crazy Irishman who’s urging them to sing “blacker.” The Denver Post calls it “sweetly sublime.”

Also new to the Tropic screens is “Reality,” an Italian dark comedy about a man who wants to be a contestant on a TV reality show … but reality and surrealism become confused as Luciano (newcomer Aniello Arena) seeks his 15 minutes of fame. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls it “A dark allegorical comedy.”

Add to that “A Place at the Table,” an alarming documentary that examines hunger in America. Not here, you say? Think again. Jeff Bridges and others help expose this national disgrace: nearly 50 million Americans can't afford to buy enough food. The Toronto Star says it’s “a shocking indictment of how people are starving in the land of plenty ...”

And finally -- for those who didn’t choose to leave Old Town for this top-notch sports film -- we have another run of “42,” the story of one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Jackie Robinson. Here’s the story about how Number 42 (Chadwick Boseman) broke the color barrier with the help of Brooklyn Dodgers exec Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford). Jam! Movies points out “You don't have to love baseball to love the film.”

There you have it: Mississippi meandering, Down Under soul music, Italian reality TV, hunger in America, and a homerun for “42” -- what exciting variety at the Tropic.
srhoades@aol.com

See more at TropicCinema.com/blog… where you can leave comments on all the films.

IN THE TROPIC GALLERY

Rodger Stuart Davis' ephemeral, computer-printed photographs and handwritten Post-It Note haiku, entitled "RodStuDa's Photo of the Week" cover the walls of the Tropic Gallery through June. Admission to the exhibition is free of charge. Signed photographs, e-photos and e-books are available from Davis at RodStuDa@gmail.com.

Davis writes about his show:
"My project started out as a weekly treat for a few friends and a desire to put some
discipline in my art. Over the past 4 years a few friends has grown into an international
list of subscribers anticipating their weekly photo, accompanied by a personalized
three-line poem.
I seek through my photos to capture the complex beauty that has kept me in Key West
for 20 years after a life of wondering, while also making it more than just a picture
of something, more than just a moment in time. My artistic goal is to create visual
thought. "