Haneke’s ‘Happy End’ illustrates that money can’t buy happiness

“Happy End” – Money can’t buy happiness. After watching writer/director Michael Haneke’s new movie, one could easily picture the aforementioned, famous saying as the film’s title, because the wealthy family featured – the Laurents – lumber in a constant state of dysfunction.   Most Haneke fans – who appreciate this filmmaker’s frequent and wholehearted dives into cynical, offputting material – will embrace “Happy End” and leave the theatre satisfied, but not necessarily happy. With Haneke, that’s generally the point. Rather than driving home his points through a specific, sweeping story arc,…

‘Forever My Girl’ does not last

“Forever My Girl” – Eight years.  A lot can happen in eight years. A fourth grader will become a high school senior. A U.S. president can spend two terms in office. The French could build four more Eiffel Towers. Americans built a manned rocket that landed on the moon, and actually, it only took seven years from JFK’s famous “Moon Speech” to Apollo 11. The point is a lot can happen in eight years.   For Liam Page (Alex Roe), he left the love of his life, Josie (Jessica Rothe), at…

‘Small Town Crime’ is a middling curiosity

“Small Town Crime” – “Well, I was born in a small town.  And I live in a small town.  Probably die in small town.”  –  John Mellencamp, “Small Town” Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) lives in a small town, out west in the high desert, where blue skies reign, the ground sports varied shades of brown and snowcapped peaks hold court in the distance.  Writers/directors Eshom and Ian Nelms filmed outside Salt Lake City, Utah, but within the movie, the exact locale is not important. Mike’s own well-being is not terribly…