Forbidden love between hospitalized teens
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Caribbean L BQ ife, March 15–21, 2019 59
By Kam Williams
Stella Grant (Haley Lu
Richardson) is a typical
17-year-old in most regards.
However, she is also suffering
from Cystic Fibrosis
(CF), a genetic disease which
makes her very susceptible
to a variety of breathing disorders.
Consequently, she spends
much of her time in the
hospital receiving a “tune
up” for this or that malady.
She’s currently receiving
treatment for bronchitis on
a ward with several fellow
CF patients, including her
gay BFF, Poe (Moises Arias),
although there is a strictlyenforced
rule that they stay
at least six feet apart at all
times, because they could
easily infect each other.
That regulation is put to
the test upon the arrival
of newcomer Will Newman
(Cole Sprouse), a CF victim
with a bacteria which would
prove fatal should Stella
catch it from him. For, the
two kids fall in love at first
sight, so they find it hard to
resist their raging hormones’
urge to merge.
Luckily, nurse Barb (Kimberly
Hebert Gregory) is
there to monitor the movements
of the young patients.
She has been particularly
vigilant to prevent any rendezvous
on her watch, ever
since an incident that led to
a tragic ending.
Thus unfolds “Five Feet
Apart,” a bittersweet romance
drama marking the noteworthy,
feature film directorial
debut of actor Justin Baldoni
(Jane the Virgin). Baldoni
deserves considerable credit
for coaxing impressive performances
out of Haley Lu
Richardson and Cole Sprouse
who manage to generate convincing
chemistry in challenging
roles where they
can’t touch each other.
The movie’s sole flaw rests
in its unnecessarily adding
a melodramatic twist more
appropriate for a soap opera.
During the picture’s climactic
moment, we suddenly
learn that Stella’s prayers
for a lung transplant might
have miraculously just been
answered. A distracting rabbit
out-the-hat development
that almost ruins an otherwise
poignant love story.
“Five Feet Apart”
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity,
mature themes and
suggestive material
Running time: 116
minutes
Production Companies:
CBS Films / Wayfarer
Entertainment
Distributors: CBS Films
/ Lionsgate
Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse star in “Five Feet Apart.” www.rottentomatoes.com
Independent & Foreign Films
The Aftermath (R for
sexuality, nudity, violence
and some disturbing
images) Adaptation
of Rhidian Brook’s best
seller of the same name,
set in the ruins of Hamburg
in 1946, chronicling the tensions
which arise when a German widower
(Alexander Skarsgard) with a troubled
daughter (Flora Thiemann) is forced
to surrender his mansion to the British
colonel (Jason Clarke) in charge of
rebuilding the city. With Keira Knightley,
Fionn O’Shea and Kate Phillips. (In
English and Russian with subtitles)
Faith, Hope & Love (PG for mature
themes) Faith-based romantic comedy
about a recent divorcee’ (Peta Murgatroyd)
and a grieving widower (Robert
Krantz) who both get a second chance
at love after they meet and enter a
dance contest as partners. Supporting
cast includes Michael “Kramer” Richards,
Corbin Bernsen, Ed Asner and M.
Emmet Walsh.
Finding Steve McQueen (R for sexual
references and pervasive profanity)
Crime thriller, set in 1972, about
a motley gang of thieves’ attempt to
steal $30 million from Richard Nixon’s
slush fund of illegal campaign contributions.
Co-starring Travis Fimmel,
Forest Whitaker, Rachael Taylor, William
Fichtner and Rhys Coiro.
Kam’s Kapsules
By Kam Williams
The Hummingbird Project (R for pervasive
profanity) Finance drama about a
couple of cousins (Jesse Eisenberg and
Alexander Skarsgard) who hatch a plan
to make millions high-frequency trading
by constructing their own fiber
optic cable running from Kansas City
to New Jersey. Featuring Salma Hayek,
Michael Mando and Ayisha Issa.
The Mustang (R for profanity, violence
and drug use) Rehabilitation
drama about a convicted felon (Matthias
Schoenaerts) who is given a shot
at redemption when he is placed in
a horse training program run by a
no-nonsense vet (Bruce Dern). With
Jason Mitchell, Connie Britton and
Josh Stewart.
Yardie (Unrated) Idris Elba makes his
directorial debut with this adaptation
of Victor Headley’s crime caper of the
same name, set in the Seventies, about
a young Jamaican (Aml Ameen) hired
by a local drug kingpin (Sheldon Shepherd)
to smuggle a shipment of cocaine
to a British gangster (Stephen Graham)
located in London. With Shantol Jackson,
Fraser James and Akin Gazi.
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