Lila & Eve (2015)

This may be predictable (to some more so than to others), but it does have a solid idea behind it and the grieving aspect of it, is more than rock solid and gives the whole thing a ground to stand on. Jennifer Lopez may not be headlining any big Hollywood movies anymore, but she can still pull off major roles like this one (even if it was initially offered to another actress who had to turn it down due to another commitment she had herself).While this is convincing, even in its way to turn things around, it does have this "break point", where people may get annoyed or disappointed where this turns to (quite literally too). But it stays in tune to the whole thing and gives a way into the mindset of our main character. Whether you agree or not and whether you think this is morally justifiable or not ...

I found this on Netflix streaming, my wife viewed the trailer and decided it was "too dark" for what she wanted to watch so I watched it alone.I can't say too much before the SPOILERS section below, but it is in Atlanta mostly in an area where lots of drug dealing goes on at night on the street corners. One night a teenage boy is walking home and was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. Was he the target, or was he just in the wrong place?The police have a number of these to investigate and seem to be bogged down. Meanwhile the grieving mother, Lila, goes to support group meetings where she and other mothers offer each other support. But Eve catches her eye after one meeting, and together they devise a different plan, one to track down and eliminate the drug boss who is responsible for the killings.There are some shootings but never are they sensationalized. Yes the story is dark but we can identify with the characters. Jennifer Lopez gets a lot of criticism from some quarters but she in fact is a fine actress and is good as Eve. Viola Davis is Lila and as always gives a great performance.SPOILERS follow: In a theme borrowed from 'Fight Club', Eve is in fact not real, only the alter ego of Lila. A common shot is to have Eve right behind a hesitant Lila, egging her on to do what needs to be done. While Lila is non-violent and cringes when she finds a handgun in her son's backpack, Eve is ready to hunt down and kill the bad guys. In the end she succeeds and Eve disappears as Lila gains more confidence in her mission. The cops strongly suspect Lila in several murders but each woman in the support group start to come forward to say Lila was with them when the several killings occurred. It appears that she would never be charged and at least THAT drug boss is dead.

While this film won't win an Academy Award or any other glamorous award for that matter, it is a good film. The cast, for the most part, is what makes it as good as it is. The emotion and drama that's displayed by Viola Davis' character is flawless. Viola Davis, as usual, gives a wonderful performance in this film along side Jennifer Lopez. Although Jennifer Lopez's performance isn't as high caliber as Viola Davis' they both made a great pair in this film. Not anything different or original, this film is about two women who seek out and take revenge on the men who murdered their sons, it's that simple, or is it. Fairly written with some drama and a nice plot twist this film is enough to be enjoyed.

I thought the film was a brilliant character study of the effects of a tragic death has on the living. Perhaps some thought that the film was a bit far-reaching but that is what film is all about… to push the limits, stretch our minds and continue the "what if" story. No doubt Viola Davis continues to impress with her amazing talent as a grieving mother willing to do anything to exact justice for her son's unnecessary death. Jennifer Lopez plays perfectly as the counter-part, cajoling her in further and deeper. What do we see movies for? Entertainment? Perhaps to step outside of our world and into another for a couple of hours? Well this is barely 90 minutes but it was certainly satisfying. I felt the pain and anguish of a mother who had lost her child. I understood her angst. While I also understood very clearly that her vigilante pursuit came with a consequences that left another wake of grief albeit loosely justified but to what means? While many were dissatisfied with the possible holes… I found the film to be refreshingly original, well written, great story line, plot and acting. Bravo! Those who gave this film a low rating have never tried to write anything other than a criticism, so take their opinion for what it is worth -- if you're wondering if you'll be entertained: yes. Watch it an enjoy it, it goes pretty deep… and in the end it will make you think, perhaps a little more. Another possible wink to the far-reaching understanding of the long-standing and ludicrous death toll derived directly from our nation's continued efforts on the "war on drugs," it is possible to also see that if "drugs" were regulated and available… the crime and death would be far less.