[ By DAN DEMING ]
[ ENTERTAINMENT CONTRIBUTOR ]
“Midway” may be the worst movie I recommend you see this year if you go to the theater for stimulating thoughts, deep plots, great acting, spectacular production, entertainment substance or humor. You’ll find none of those in this World War II feature about one of the War’s most important, tide turning battles in the South Pacific.
What you will find is a dramatic close up of what human aerial combat used to be, the unbelievable bravery and heroism of pilots and others who fought those battles. Although with specific effects lacking in modern standards, but effective enough to help tell an amazing story that many in today’s generation have never been told, while others may have forgotten. Midway is also a perfect movie to see during Veterans week that helps drive home why the “greatest generation” is called just that. Midway did a surprising 20 million dollars in ticket sales last weekend which was enough to lead all opening films, several of which were deeply disappointing.
What “Midway” lacks in star power, depth and production, it generates in historical perspective by telling a story that should never be forgotten.
For the coming weekend, several studios are on edge hopeful that an adult auto racing film that presents a biographical sports drama will attract enough customers to justify its’ nearly 100 million dollar budget. The movie is “Ford v Ferrari,” and it carries an impressive 92 percent “want to see” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Ford v Ferrari” stars two Academy Award winners, Matt Damon and Christian Bale. It takes us back to 1965 and the founding of the Le Mans, France auto race. The focus is how an American auto designer and British race car driver worked to build a revolutionary car for Ford Mt. Company. It’s a risky film to produce based on its’ large budget and what happens will be interesting to watch. You can see it locally, along with “Midway,” at Hutchinson’s B&B Theatre.
“Movie news you can use” is a weekly feature submitted by Dan Deming. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Hutch Post or its affiliates.