Double Dipping: Celeste & Jesse Forever and The Good Doctor

Film: Celeste & Jesse Forever

Starring: Rashida Jones (I Love you, Man) and Andy Samberg (That's My Boy)

Director: Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind)

Genre: Comedy/Drama


As the months pass it becomes more apparent just how great this year's Sundance Film Festival must have been. We've seen an amazing crop of independent films that premiered at the festival such as Safety Not Guaranteed, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Robot & Frank and many others. One of the most recent Sundance selections to arrive in theatres is Lee Toland Krieger's own Celeste & Jesse Forever.

Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg play high school sweethearts Celeste and Jesse who fall in love and eventually get married. But when Jesse's lack of ambition becomes too large of an issue, the couple decides to separate ... kind of. With Jesse living in a studio attached to their old home and the two still spending almost every waking moment together, their friends begin to question the couple's decision. Either they reconnect or finally move on from one another.

Celeste & Jesse Forever is a heart-filled and honest film that's carried on the shoulders of its leading lady, Rashida Jones. Proving that, sometimes in life, timing is everything, Celeste & Jesse Forever is the type of romantic comedy that keeps you laughing and tuned into the movie at all times. And although some of the actions and decisions made my the characters will surely irk you, it's a sincere relationship film that forms well to its pair of leads.


Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-





Film: The Good Doctor

Starring: Orlando Bloom(Pirates of the Caribbean) and Riley Keough (Magic Mike)

Director: Lance Daly (Kisses)

Genre: Drama/Thriller


I had the pleasure of catching numerous films at the Philadelphia Film Festival last October, but perhaps none creeped me out as much as Lance Daly's The Good Doctor. The feature's star, Orlando Bloom, gives a knockout performance as Dr Martin Blake, a young physician unable to garner the proper respect he feels he deserves at work. But when a pretty 18 year old patient named Diane (played by Keough) is placed into his care, the two form a strange connection. Dr Blake quickly helps Diane recover but when she's finally released from the hospital, we learn of Dr Blake's obsession and willingness to do anything to keep her around.

The Good Doctor is both a riveting and compelling piece of work. And although the natural sequence of events develops rather slowly for a 91 minute movie, The Good Doctor's twisted psychological story of obsession will crawl under your skin. Backed by a strong cast and a captivating plot, there's plenty to enjoy here for a mere hour and a half investment.

The Good Doctor is available in select cities and on Video On Demand. While there's no need to rush out to see the film, it's definitely the type of movie that you can catch when you have some down time. Chance are, you'll be shockingly surprised.


Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-