Because of our busy schedules we had to see this at the matinee. Had I not checked out the storyline I probably would have skipped it but I’m glad we didn’t.

Ben and his six children are living in the wilderness of Washington state. Ben’s wife has been away for several months and early in the show we hear she has committed suicide after a life-long battle with depression. The family, after some debate, board their renovated bus and head towards New Mexico to ensure her wishes for cremation are honoured. There are issues between Ben and his wife’s family that add to the plot.

It was fun to see the first part of their drive as we had just traveled those roads on our trip to and from Portland.

Ricky Baker is just one crime away from juvenile detention when he is sent to the New Zealand outback to be fostered by Bella and Hec. Although they have a rocky start the whole situation falls apart when Bella suddenly dies. Ricky takes to the wilderness and Hec tracks him but they are stuck in the bush when Hec falls and breaks a leg. Ricky’s child care worker is determined a crime has been committed (maybe by Ricky, maybe by Hec, or maybe by both) and a national man hunt is initiated to find them and bring them to justice.

The plot isn’t believable but it is a feel-good story.

With the cinematheque series underway it seems as if we are in the theatre every other night. There was absolutely nothing we wanted to see over the summer so I guess we’re catching up on our sweets and popcorn.

From the trailers we saw for this movie I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it; I find it takes me awhile to adjust to Matthew McConaughey’s accent. The main story takes place during and just after the Civil War in Mississippi (and yes Jackie I did do the little song to make sure I spelled it right!). McConaughey plays the part of real-life deserter and activist, Newton Knight, who organizes a band of men (white and coloured) who fight back against the injustices imposed by both the Confederate and Union armies.

As a small sub-plot we watch Knight’s great-great-great grandson being brought to trial 85 years later for his marriage to a white woman. It is argued in court that he is one-eighth black and therefore has broken Mississippi’s laws.

It is a great movie although, sadly, it would seem history was meant to repeat itself.

Meryl Streep seldom disappoints (if ever) and this film is no different. She plays the real-life character of Florence Foster Jenkins who may be the worst singer in the world, and definitely the worst to play Carnegie Hall! Streep does her own singing in the movie and her accompanist, Simon Helberg from The Big Bang Theory, handled most of the piano scenes himself.

Although Meryl played the part well my research tells me Jenkins was in her mid-seventies when she died; in spite of the makeup that made Streep appear much older she certainly didn’t look that age.