Tag: Missed Movies

Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck”: A Few Thoughts for Those Who Haven’t Seen the Film . . . and a Few for Those Who Have

“The Life of Chuck,” based on a Stephen King novella, is a heartfelt movie that has several things going for it even if it does not quite reach the stars.

From the reviews and various online comments, one may see that people are somewhat divided about the movie The Life of Chuck (2025), based on a 2020 novella by Stephen King. Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, and Mia Sara star in the movie, which was written and directed by Mike Flanagan. The film also includes narration by Nick Offerman.

The film is marketed as a feel-good movie in the vein of the heartfelt films based upon King’s other works like Stand By Me (1986) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Few movies can reach those heights, of course, and it is better to think of The Life of Chuck as something of its own.

The Life of Chuck is one of those movies better seen without knowing too much about it. So, below I provide a short review for those who have not seen it, followed by some thoughts for those who have seen the movie.

For Those Deciding Whether to Watch The Life of Chuck

So, should you watch The Life of Chuck? While I did not find the entirety of the film a great movie, I did appreciate its ambition in presenting the story of an ordinary man in an extraordinary way. If you are looking for something a little different with a little bit of heart, you should watch it without reading too much more about it. All you need to know is that it is a movie looking at someone’s life and doing it in a somewhat unusual (and non-chronological) way.

If you do not like movies with sentiment, then you might instead go watch an action movie. But it also may depend on your mood. Those in a certain mood or stage of life — perhaps feeling frustrated with the world — may like many others find the movie a wonderful respite with scenes that will stay with them.

There are movies that are middle-of-the road popcorn films that are entertaining to many people. But those movies do not stay with you. The Life of Chuck might be one of those movies that stays with you. So if you are willing to take a little gamble with two hours of your life in the hopes that it might pay off , go for it.

For Those Who Have Seen The Life of Chuck

The following discussion contains some spoilers if you have not seen the movie.

Act III, the first segment of the film, was truly wonderful. But that is a problem, as the rest of the movie could not live up to that section.

Act III captured the end-of-the world feeling many of us has felt since the pandemic, as presented in other movies like Don’t Look Up (2021), Leave the World Behind (2023), and Knock at the Cabin (2023). Those movies, like Act III in The Life of Chuck, wonderfully portray how many of us feel with a world turned upside down during much of the last decade. Another plus in Act III was that Chiwetel Ejiofor, always a great actor, created a character that interested me more than any of the iterations of Chuck.

And then when the movie went into Act II and introduced us to Chuck with the dance scene, it is a bit of a shock. And even though the brief section where we see the adult Chuck played by Tim Hiddleston also presents an interesting character and a nice dance sequence, we again do not seem to get to stay with the interesting character long enough before going to the next act.

One of the joys of watching the movie is finally figuring out on your own what Act III was about. As others have explained, that first part of the movie shows inside Chuck’s head as he is dying. And the movie has beautiful moments, including the dances and the connection throughout the movie of Walt Whitman’s line “I contain multitudes” from Song of Myself.

The storyline about the locked attic in Act I almost seemed like a throwaway attempt to add a Stephen King supernatural element. But the film does a good job tying together that storyline with the rest of the movie. As we have discussed elsewhere and as explained in books such as Ernest Becker’s The Denial of Death, when one lives with an awareness of their mortality, they may live with a special purpose. And we see a glimpse of that where 17-year-old Chuck looks at his future and vows to live his life because he contains multitudes. And then the movie ends, somewhat abruptly.

In conclusion, the movie suffers because the most interesting section was the first section, so the rest of the movie never matches that section. The opening is well-paced, letting us get into the story, but by the time we get to Act II and then Act I, those sections feel rushed, as if they are focused on explaining things rather than developing character or telling a story. Maybe the movie would work better in some ways if it in chronological order, starting with the young Chuck? But then the movie would not have the story (or gimmick?) that lets us make connections on our own.

All of that said, I love ambitious movies, and I was glad I watched Life of Chuck. Yes, the heartfelt story was not as life-changing as some recent movies like About Time (2013), a movie that more successfully questioned how we live our lives. But I did find enough in The Life of Chuck that I felt compelled to rewatch the movie again the next day.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Nicolas Cage Shines In Modest But Surprising “Pig” (Short Review)

Nicolas Cages gives one of his best subdued acting performances in the drama “Pig” from writer/director Michael Sarnoski.

If you are looking for an entertaining and thoughtful drama as a break from explosive super hero films, look no further than Pig (2021), starring a scraggly Nicolas Cage. While the premise and the star may make one expect a certain genre, the film may surprise you.

In Pig, we meet Robin (Cage), living in the woods of Oregon with his only companion, a pig who helps him hung for truffles. The film never fully explains how Robin ended up in these living conditions, but we piece together much of the story, recognizing early on that Robin is grieving a loss.

Before we get to know more about the pig, though, thieves show up and make off with the pig. Thus begins Robin’s trip back to his former environment in the city to try to get his pig back. For much of this journey, Robin is joined by the man who purchases his truffles, Amir (Alex Wolff).

From there, one might expect Cage to go into full action mode to track down the pig-nappers. But the film goes in another, more serious direction as Robin leads Amir on an adventure that is as much about living and grieving as anything else.

The film, which also features Adam Arkin, is an impressive debut from writer/director Michael Sarnoski. I sought out the film after seeing several people on the Internet use superlatives about the film that I will not repeat here. I was perhaps a little disappointed as those comments made me think the film would be life changing. While it did not change my life, it is still a very good film and you should seek it out without me building your expectations too high. Take it for what it is, an excellent story with one of Nicolas Cage’s finest subdued acting performances. If then you find even more from the tale, then that is all good too.

Pig is currently streaming on Hulu and available for purchase or rental through the usual services.

What did you think of Pig? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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  • Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck”: A Few Thoughts for Those Who Haven’t Seen the Film . . . and a Few for Those Who Have
  • Tommy Lee Jones and “The Homesman” (Missed Movies)
  • Missed Movies Roundup: Contrasting East vs. West Edition
  • Missed Movies: Project Nim (short review)
  • Analyzing Actors’ Accents in Films
  • Is “Captain Fantastic” Fantastic?
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Is “Captain Fantastic” Fantastic?

    Captain Fantastic film

    The film Captain Fantastic (2016) is much better than one might expect.  Although a short description of the film sounds like a family television series, the movie rises above expectations so that the sum of its parts make it one of the more enjoyable movies of the summer.

    Captain Fantastic, written and directed by Matt Ross, stars Viggo Mortensen as Ben, an idealistic father trying to raise his six children away from society in the wilds of Washington state.  As the movie opens, we learn that Ben’s wife is away being treated in a hospital.

    Ben is serious about the education of his children, teaching them such activities as defending themselves with knives and rock climbing.  But he equally teaches them about politics, philosophy, and literature.  For example, the anti-capitalist family celebrates Noam Chomsky‘s birthday instead of Christmas.

    As the movie progresses, word about Ben’s wife leads him and the children to go on the road. Some of the more humorous moments involve the family clashing with modern society.  Ben also clashes with family members, in particular with his father-in-law Jack, played by Frank Langella.

    From a description, so much of the movie seems predictable.  But the movie works for several reasons.  First, the actors are outstanding.  Mortensen, of course, dominates the film.  But the actors playing the children do an excellent job of giving personality to the roles.  Actors Samantha Isler and George MacKay, for example, show that they have promising careers ahead of them.

    Another reason the movie works is that the characters are three-dimensional.  Producers of movies like this one are often tempted to make the father character perfect, but Ben is far from perfect, just as Langella’s character is not all bad.

    Captain Fantastic does not give a one-sided perspective.  Variety even argues that the film is both left-wing and right-wing.

    I will not say more about the movie because it is better enjoyed without knowing too much about it.  It is not a big-budget summer blockbuster, but it is an enjoyable movie that may be under the radar.  Is Captain Fantastic fantastic?  I will have to think more about the question, but the movie certainly does restore your faith in small summer movies.

    Rotten Tomatoes gives Captain Fantastic a 78% critics score and an 85% audience score.

    What did you think of Captain Fantastic?  Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Buy from Amazon

  • Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck”: A Few Thoughts for Those Who Haven’t Seen the Film . . . and a Few for Those Who Have
  • Nicolas Cage Shines In Modest But Surprising “Pig” (Short Review)
  • Bryan Cranston As LBJ in “All the Way” (Short Review)
  • Runaway Train (Missed Movies)
  • Tommy Lee Jones and “The Homesman” (Missed Movies)
  • A Balance Between Culture and Fun: “In Bruges” (Missed Movies)

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Runaway Train (Missed Movies)

    Runaway Train Movie If you have not seen the 1985 movie Runaway Train, it will take you back to the time when action movies were about more than explosions. Even though there is plenty of action this film, there also is a lot more.

    Runaway Train features one of Jon Voight’s greatest performances.  And it also has a meaningful story that has something to say about life and freedom.

    The movie opens in an Alaska prison, where Voight plays an inmate.  The inmate, Manny, is despised by the prison’s warden. Another prisoner named Buck — who is played by a young Eric Roberts idolizes Manny.

    When Manny makes a move to escape, Buck goes with him. Not long after getting out of prison, the two end up on a train, which as you may guess from the movie’s title, becomes a runaway train due to various circumstances.

    Although that is the basic plot, there is a lot more going on in the story.  Much of the best part of the movie is the interactions between the characters and what the story has to say about life, freedom, and death.

    In many ways Runaway Train is an existential movie about choices we make, either dictated by luck or by our own choosing. If the movie had nothing else going for it, the movie is worth watching for the final haunting scene.

    Runaway Train     also stars Rebecca De Mornay and was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. One may surmise that some of the depth of the film came from the original version of the screenplay that was written by the great director Akira Kurosawa.

    Kurosawa explored similar themes in his own movies, including in a much quieter way in the wonderful Ikuru (1952). The acting, especially by Voight, is also excellent, as both Voight and Roberts were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles.

    Conclusion?

    If you have never seen Runaway Train, you are in for a treat if you enjoy thoughtful movies. Although the movie features plenty of action, it does not have the myriad of explosions of modern movies.  This movie is really about something. Runaway Train is one of the great existential action films of all time.

    Other Reviews Because Why Should You Trust Me? On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an 86% critics rating and a 77% audience rating. If you do not believe me about the movie, Robert Ebert loved the movie, and Gene Siskel did not.

    {Missed Movies is our continuing series on good films you might have missed because they have not received the recognition and attention they deserve.}

    What did you think of Runaway Train? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck”: A Few Thoughts for Those Who Haven’t Seen the Film . . . and a Few for Those Who Have
  • Nicolas Cage Shines In Modest But Surprising “Pig” (Short Review)
  • “The Grey” Is Not the Movie You Thought It Was (Missed Movies)
  • Is “Captain Fantastic” Fantastic?
  • “The Magnificent Seven” Trailer With Denzel Washington
  • Tommy Lee Jones and “The Homesman” (Missed Movies)

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Buy from Amazon

    Tommy Lee Jones and “The Homesman” (Missed Movies)

    Tommy Lee Jones The odds are pretty good that you might have missed even hearing about a movie last year directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones that also featured Hillary Swank, Meryl Streep, John Lithgow, James Spader, Tim Blake Nelson, Hailee Steinfeld, and several other stellar actors. But through the miracle of DVDs, you may now catch up on the odd but fascinating movie The Homesman (2014).

    The movie is based on a book by Glendon Swarthout, who wrote several books that have been made into movies, including Bless the Beasts and the Children and The Shootist. Although the actors and crew argue about whether or not The Homesman is a Western, the film is set in the 1850s of what was the West at the time, the Nebraska Territory (although much of it is filmed in northern New Mexico). And, like many Westerns, the film features beautiful images of the open landscape with wonderful cinematography (by Rodrigo Prieto).

    Much of The Homesman centers on Mary Bee Cuddy (Swank), a resourceful, intelligent, and lonely woman living on the frontier. In several disturbing scenes, the movie shows us how harsh conditions and tragedies affect the mental health of three women who live near Cuddy. As a result of their deterioration, the townspeople select Cuddy to take the mentally ill women back to civilization. As she prepares for her journey, Cuddy encounters George Briggs, who through some odd circumstances she recruits as the “homesman” of the title, a term for someone who takes immigrants back home.

    Threads of mental illness, loneliness, and the harsh landscape run throughout the movie, which features haunting images throughout. Few movies present such scenes of oddness that touch on the fact that the Old West must have contained many disturbed characters, although we see flashes of it in somewhat odd movies like Missouri Breaks (1976) (with Marlon Brando in an odd portrayal of a character talking to his horse) and Dwight Yoakam’s interesting but messy South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000). Similarly, there is a standout strange scene in Dances With Wolves where Costner encounters a soldier driven crazy by his time on the frontier.

    Homesman is made up of many such images but ties them together in a fascinating story that seems real and honest. None of the characters are perfect and they all have their own demons and weaknesses. Because of that, the movie strays from the traditional Western format that focuses on heroes who save the day. The movie is not predictable, and while not perfect, you will not soon forget it. Tommy Lee Jones continues to show a unique directing eye as he did in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) and The Sunset Limited (2011).

    Conclusion? If you have a taste for an unpredictable honest raw movie about unusual but real characters, and if you enjoy beautiful shots of the desolate Western United States, you might enjoy The Homesman. While it is not a great classic, it is a memorable unusual film that generally received good reviews and is worth your time.

    {Missed Movies is our continuing series on good films you might have missed because they did not receive the recognition they deserved when released.}

    What did you think of Homesman? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck”: A Few Thoughts for Those Who Haven’t Seen the Film . . . and a Few for Those Who Have
  • Nicolas Cage Shines In Modest But Surprising “Pig” (Short Review)
  • “Lincoln” As Both Icon and Human Being (Short Review)
  • Missed Movies Roundup: Contrasting East vs. West Edition
  • Missed Movies: Project Nim (short review)
  • 9 Thoughts on the “Deliver Me from Nowhere” Movie and Springsteen’s “Nebraska” Box Set

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)