‘Irresistible’ successfully explores big, twisted political practices in Small Town, USA

“Irresistible” – “He’s a church-going Bernie Sanders with bone density.” – Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) Mr. Zimmer, a Democratic strategist, describes Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) of Deerlaken, Wisc. with the enthusiasm of an obsessed teenager yearning for a dance with the prom queen.  Jack, however, is no demure beauty.  He’s a farmer, a retired U.S. Marine Colonel, and a widower.  In other words, Gary sees this man as a perfect candidate, one who the Dems could use after Donald Trump’s 2016 famous – or infamous, depending upon your perspective –…

Theron, Reitman and Cody effectively wave an SOS flag for mothers everywhere in “Tully”

“Tully” – Parenting is hard. Just ask Marlo (Charlize Theron).  She’s an overworked mom and seemingly eight months and three weeks pregnant, but thankfully, she just left her job for maternity leave. Whew! Her 8-year-old daughter, Emmy (Maddie Dixon-Poirier), is starting to grow a little self-conscious, but the school principal describes her 5-year-old son, Jonah (Asher Miles Fallica), as quirky.  (In this case, quirky means problematic and disruptive.) Soon, Marlo’s and Drew’s (Ron Livingston) third child, Mia, is born, and despite running a household and three kids without a 9…