TwiView: The Upside (in theaters now). Kevin Hart (Dell) & Bryan Cranston (Philip) form the unlikeliest of friends in this touching, urbanely funny, and spirit lifting dramedy. After stumbling onto a job as a care companion for Philip, an agitated paraplegic billionaire, Dell discovers hope, challenge and change are in store for them both as each helps the other to recognize ‘the upside’ to their very different but equally difficult lives. For Dell, an estranged father to his son and girlfriend, there are lessons of humility and responsibility. For Philip, it’s learning that he can recover the pieces of his life he’d long thought gone based on his crippling condition. The film is light hearted enough and full of adventures between the two as the curmudgeonly Philip is shown a new way of looking at life by the optimistic and one-liner filled Dell. The true standout in the film is Nicole Kidman (Yvonne), who works for Philip as an Executive household secretary of sorts (even though she’s Harvard educated and capable of so much more). Kidman’s ability to showcase command of Philips home staff, while simultaneously displaying frailty over her own life and choices was mesmerizing. ‘The Upside’ is funny, yes – but at its root is a story of redemption – for both Dell & Philip. See it with a friend or date and see if you can gauge if in fact that is Julianna Margulies (TV’s ER & The Good Wife), portraying Philips long time pen-pal turned blind date. B+

Hart & Cranston from an enjoyable albeit unlikely friendship

TwiView: A Star Is Born (2018), Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) stars and directs this immersive and beat banging remake.  From the start you’re treated to a barrage of original soul, blues, and rock music courtesy of co-star Lady Gaga (Machete) and Cooper, who each co-wrote the bulk of the films tracks.  This age old tale (redone for the 4^th time?) follows an aging rocker, Jackson Maine (Cooper) who still has the fans and the sound, but is fading in a pop music world.  After accidentally discovering Ally (Gaga), they begin developing music and a relationship together.  No ‘rock love story’ ends happily ever after, and Jackson’s eventual descent into a booze and pill ridden lifestyle eventually takes its toll with he and Ally, his brother and manager (played so powerfully by the great Sam Elliott), and even on him.  If you’re a fan of blues-rock ‘ala’ Santana, Clapton or Page/Plant, the rock track ‘Black Eyes’ will slay you.  On the softer side is Cooper’s ‘Maybe It’s Time.’  This film will definitely garner some awards nominations; for Cooper it’ll be Oscar level for gaga it’ll be an MTV award.  The film runs a bit long at 138 minutes and you feel it in the 3^rd act which seems to drag to its conclusion.  In the end, it’s a soulful and rocking good time watching these two blossom and the ultimate downer to see how their relationship falls apart.  B+

Bradley Cooper (Jackson Maine) and Lady Gaga (Ally) share a tender moment

Avengers, Infinity War (in theaters this week!) No spoilers for the MCU faithful. I was pleasantly surprised the film could squeeze that many heroes into a storyline and still manage to give the viewer a sufficient helping of each including backstory. This has to be the most ambitious MCU film to date in terms of effects and sheer firepower on display. Josh Brolin (Thanos) is a great villain who is surprisingly not one-sided. Be prepared for an ‘Empire Strikes Back’ type ending where you are both elated at the possibilities for the storyline while simultaneously being a bit depressed. For the diehards, there is one post-credit sequence and it’s all the way at the end of the credits but it’s worth waiting for as it caps the film off and gives a great teaser to what’s coming next. B+ (Weekend Box office prediction: $265M domestic)

                                   Spoiler Alert: Hulk doesn’t actually appear in this scene