C’mon C’mon

 

C’mon C’mon (Amazon Prime)

Joaquin Phoenix is the consummate actor, playing roles from Johnny Cash to the Joker. In this movie he   portrays Johnny the title character as melancholy and moody. This sets the tone for the movie. It is shot entirely in black and white normally an effect of film noir. In some scenes characters are in deep shadow only showing part of their face.

Johnny is a radio journalist working on a project interviewing kids around the country asking them what they think about the future and their lives. He has not seen his sister Viv in a year since their mother’s death from complications from Alzheimer’s. Viv has to go away to take care of her estranged husband who is having a mental breakdown and she asks Johnny to look after his nephew Jessie played by Woody Norman. He is a precocious nine year old who gives an emotional performance of a child maneuvering the uncertainties of a family in crisis. The relationship with Johnny is rocky and over time a bond develops but not without challenges. Johnny finds out dealing with a kid is hard. Protecting him and reprimanding him is a balancing act. Much of the movie is interaction between Johnny and Jesse interspersed with scenes with Viv explaining how to deal with Jesse.

Johnny clearly loves Jesse and puts up a lot with his antics. This is not a straightforward feel good movie, it has many emotional speed bumps. If you have the holiday blues this is not your movie.

 

Don’t Look Up

 

Don’t Look Up (Netflix)

Don’t bother. This is an example of a film with a roster of A list stars and an awful script sprinkled with over acting. The star lineup includes Leonardo Di Caprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Mark Rylance, Jonah Hill and others. The film’s premise is a life ending killer comet hurtling towards earth. This is a rehashing of a number of other doomsday sci fi films.

The film starts out as farce, meanders into political satire and back to farce. Some scenes depicted far right comet deniers  with their red baseball caps. This was a veiled reference to Trumpers.

The acting was from bad to silly. Di Caprio is the lead scientist who hyperventilates and pops Xanax. Streep is the Lady President who is more worried about the midterm elections than the comet. Laurance is chicken little and no one heeds her warning. Blanchett is flippant talk show host who ignores the scientific warning.

What a waste of talent.

Being the Ricardos

 

Being the Ricardos (Amazon Prime)

The film is a drama bio, pseudo-documentary. The drama part incorporates story points to deflect some unpleasant realities. When the story starts there are three older individuals who worked with Lucy on the show. They intermittently  narrate the story presenting facts or fiction.

Lucille Ball was a phenomenal comedian. She was a master (mistress) of physical comedy. At the height of “ I Love Lucy” the  show had sixty million viewers. She was a perfectionist and to the chagrin of her comedy writers micromanaged scenes.  She was  an adroit businesswoman and a brutal negotiator. She was the first  pregnant woman on a TV program which was taboo at the time. The ending is a whitewash  to rehabilitate Ball’s reputation.

Arron Sorkin is the writer director. The film is disjointed. This is unusual  for Arron Sorkin who is an award winning writer. The film centers on a critical week. The days of the week serve as chapters.  Then the story pivots to other parts and the transitions are not quite clear. Lucy is portrayed as supporting her husband, Desi Arnaz, and desiring a home life. Desi’s philandering is an undercurrent in the movie but its toxicity is peripheral to the story.

Nicole Kidman plays Lucy hard. Lucy is a difficult  actress and a tough businesswoman. She does not shy away from consequences. Some nuanced reflection of her actions would have benefited the character. Javier Bardem is Desi Arnaz. He is a natural for the role with his Latin background. He plays Desi more as a businessman than an actor and the film suggests he was overshadowed by his wife. Wonderful performances were delivered by J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda and Tony Hale.

Unless you a fan of “I Love Lucy” ,which was excellent, or a big Lucy fan, I would not spend twenty dollars to see this film. It was for free on Amazon Prime. I do not know why the movie is for free but I suspect it is a way to advertise the movie and get feedback.

Licorice Pizza

 

Licorice Pizza

Quirky is the best adjective to define this movie. It is about two would be lovers who circle each other but have a hard time landing. Alana Haim plays Alana Kane a twenty five year old photographer’s assistant who meets a precocious fifteen year old Gary Valentine played by Cooper Hoffman (son of Seymour Philp Hoffman). Gary is obsessed with Alana but their courtship has many road bumps. The story takes place the San Fernando Valley in the 1970’s. The sets are festooned with 70’s long forgotten furniture and lots of polyester.

This is Alana Haim’s first acting role. She is part of the Haim Sister pop rock group. Her role as Alana Kane perfectly suits her. Her acting is self-assured and natural. She has comic chops and great timing. She and Cooper Hoffman have good chemistry. It is a bit strange for a twenty five year old to have a fifteen year old love interest (there are certain laws).The sexiest thing in the movie is a long denied kiss.

Gary is a hustler. He was a would-be child actor, a purveyor of water beds, and a pinball parlor impresario. Off and on Alana teams up with him in his ventures which do not always succeed. Their relationship is fractured and they have tertiary liaisons to their mutual annoyance.

Usually the principal actors are the focus of the film. What makes this movie succeed besides the interaction of Gary and Alana are the hilarious vignettes by the supporting cast. John Michael Higgins (Best in Show) opens a Japanese restaurant. His sketches with his Japanese wife/wives are uproarious and border on offensive. Sean Penn plays Jack Holden based on William Holden. The Jack Holden character could not be further removed from the actual Sean Penn. He plays Jack as an actor who has peaked and does stupid dangerous stunts for his fans. Bradley Cooper should return his paycheck because he is having too much fun. His acting is over the top and very funny. Also the entre Haim family is in the film, albeit with bit parts. The are other well-known actors you need to keep an eye out for.

I knew very little about Licorice Pizza, but I give it five Yelp stars.

p.s.- Licorice Pizza was a chain of record stores with 34 locations in LA. By the time it was sold in 1985 and eventually rebranded as the national chain Musicland (and later Sam Goody)

Belfast

 

Belfast (Amazon Prime, Apple)

Belfast, a heartfelt beautiful story. Belfast is loosely based on  the autobiographical story of Kenneth Branagh, the writer and director of the film. The film starts in color showing present day Belfast with impressive architecture and public sculptures. To depict 1969 Belfast the film switches to black and white. This is an effective devise giving the movie the feel of a documentary. The cinematography is direct and wonderful for its clarity. 1969 is the start of the “Troubles”, sectarian violence between Protestants and Catholics. Before the Troubles there was harmonious coexistence. The tranquil neighborhood was a place where a mother’s call for her son is passed along street by street by cousins and neighbors.

The close knit family consists of Buddy the nine year old played by Jude Hill, Ma played by Caitriona Balfe, Pa played by Jamie Doran, Granny played by Judi Dench and Pop played by Ciaran Hinds. Jude is outstanding. His performance reminds me of the child star in JoJo Rabbit. So poised and natural. He brings humor to the bleakness of the period. He has the normal adventures of a nine year old from misguided petty larceny to blossoming puppy love with a Catholic girl. Jamie Doran gives a natural easy performance. This is probably his best work without bondage. Ma of course is the rock of the family. Pa works in England to support the family and returns on weekends. Financial burdens and peril weigh on her. However, she can still  dance and sing with her husband. Granny and Pop are the extended family. Ciaran  Hinds gives a touching performance offering Buddy sage advice about girls and long division. Judi Dench has a modest but essential role.

This movie is uplifting. Family and a bit of humor are a potent mix.

 

Power of the Dog

 

Power of the Dog (Netflix)

A friend recommended this movie, I knew nothing about it. It is a Western set in the 1920’s in Montana about two successful brothers who own a large cattle ranch. The brothers are total opposites.

Phil, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is the stereotypical macho cowboy lean, rough, mean and unwashed. The polar opposite is George his brother, played by Jesse Plemons. George rides horses wearing suit with bowtie, is kind and  bathes. These comparisons appear stark but underly the complexity of the film. The film is in layers which unfold revealing repressed passions and temptations.

Benedict Cumberbatch is magnificent. He embodies Phil. He is an intimidating bully who always seems angry. His anger escalates  when George marries a widow, Rose Gordon, played by Kirsten Dunst. Phil totally despises Rose to the point she seeks refuge in alcoholism. This has to be one of Dunst’s best performances. The dejection on her face and persecution by Phil is palpable. Phil’s cruelties  are shrouded in his insecurities. Rose has a son, Peter played by Kodi Smith-McPhee. His delicate nature complements his willowy physique. His ten gallon hat consumes him. Smith-McPhee’s acting is sublime. Peter is a new target for Phil’s disdain and intimidation. But Peter does not cower and collapse like this mother. This willow has thorns.

The story is rich and complex. As the layers unfold the true nature of the characters emerge. Strong becomes weak and weak becomes strong.

The title of ‘The Power of the Dog’ is a reference to a verse in Psalm 22 of the Book of Psalms, which is a part of the Christian Old Testament as well as the third section of the Hebrew Bible. Since I am not a theologian I will leave interpretations to others.

This amazing movie is for free on Netflix. It cost $30-$39m to produce for a box office of $160,000. Hollywood accounting is arcane, but this suggests the streaming platforms are more concerned with prestige rather than profit. A small box office do not rule out nominations.

 

Tick Tick Boom

Tick Tick Boom (Netflix)

I am not the right person to review a musical film. I though an octave was something you bought at  the farmer’s market. This film has energy, warmth and pathos. It is about Jonathon Larson and his artistic challenges to write a Broadway musical. In case you do not know who Larson is, he wrote and composed Rent (which my wife reminded me we saw). The film has musical numbers but also dramatic scenes depicting Larson’s struggles to write a  musical. The creative process is a mix of failures, emotional turmoil and success-even if only brief.  

Andrew Garfield gives a bravo performance. On the “Late Show” Garfield said he never sang before, but Lin-Manuel Miranda, the director, wanted him for the part. Garfield took singing lessons. When I made the remark that Garfield was just mouthing songs my son corrected me saying I knew nothing about melody, range and hitting the notes. According to Wikipedia there are loads of cameos from famous theatrical composers and musical actors. I have no idea who the are but they were  great.

Besides Garfield’s outstanding energetic performance the film has a strong supporting cast. His girlfriend played by Alexandra Shipp, presents Larson with the pivotal question; when do you stop striving for the impossible? Of course they break into song. His boyhood friend Michael, who gave up on acting, went to the dark side and got a job in advertising. It is a dear friendship and Michael is there even when he is pushed away.  I am not sure if they broke out in song but probably they did. A poignant scene is when an actor portraying Steven Sondheim gives Larson positive feedback. As you may know Sondheim recently passed.

The film is not about his famous play Rent, but rather a play he labored over for many years, Superbia, which was never produced. Tragically Larson died of  aortic dissection at age 35. He posthumously won a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He died on the first day of Rent’s off Broadway preview performance.

 

  

King Richard (HBO Max)

 

King Richard (HBO Max)

Richard Williams is a dedicated father but he is an annoying person. This is a Horatio Alger story but here Horatio is black and female.  His drill sergeant  method guiding  his daughters  to tennis stardom is admirable but dictatorial. He had an 84 page plan for the girls tennis stardom but he could not succeed without the remarkable talent of Venus and Sarina. As he said he has two Michael Jordans.  The film is a biopic, it tells a good story but lacks dramatic tension. The story could have been as effective on PBS. Surprisingly on HBO Max it was for free.

Will Smith gives his usual performance. This is a toned down “Bad Boys” act. Same face contortions, same leaning over into your face, same eyebrow lifts, same tone. As he demonstrated in “Ali” he can do better but he did not try here. Aside from the two delightful young girls who played Venus and Sarina the other character of note was Aunjanue Ellis who played his wife Oracene “Brandy” Price. She is a partner in her husband’s quest for their daughters success but she corrects the course when she things go wrong. The two young girls who portray the future tennis greats are very sweet and almost never push back on the intense regiment they have to follow. May we all have teenagers like them.

Names of famous tennis stars were dropped everywhere. From a historical perspective it was interesting to see how many tennis players had the same coaches. There were reenactments of actual tennis matches. The other actors were bit players mostly folding to Richard’s demands. While both sisters are showcased as potential tennis greats this is the rise of Venus and her early wins.

Not to dissuade you from seeing this movie other critics have given this film glowing reviews.

Dune

 

Dune

Seventy year old men should not watch Part One movies since seeing Part Two may be a bit tenuous. This is the first part of the epic 1965 sci fi novel by Frank Herbert. There are two books running 800 pages in all. The 1984 version of Dune was a box office flop. Dune was one of those 1970’s college campus must reads like Catch 22 and Slaughterhouse Five (I never read Dune).

This Dune has a lot of energy and an A rated cast. The plot is dense but it boils down to some basic elements: feudalism, palace intrigue, colonization, exploitation and a sprinkling of Zen. It is best to watch this movie in chunks. Dune is a great visual movie. The special effects are spectacular with futuristic spacecrafts traveling between planets. The battle scenes are different from other sci fi films in that they involve hand to hand combat. The costumes are unique and a key part of the movie. I am confident Dune will receive Oscar nominations for costume and art production.  

Timothee Chalamet plays Paul Atreides the ducal heir. He is still willowy but gives a strong performance.  He does not have the muscle mass of an epic hero. In one scene he disrobes to put on a desert survival suite and his back looks a portable xylophone. Oscar Isaac is focused and gives his usual strong performance. Jason Momoa provides an ample dose of arched eyebrows. Zendaya has a few scenes at the end of the movie but she does what she does well, smolder. With the exception of Chalamat there are too many diverse scenes for one character to have a sustainable dramatic impact, which is not a bad thing.

If you are a sci fi fan this is a must see. The movie’s visual effects alone are worth seeing. I did not watch the epic credit roll at the end because after 156 minutes I had to do what seventy year old men need to do.

Cry Macho (HBO Max)

 

Cry Macho (HBO Max)

If Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby were A+ and Grand Tornio was an A, this film is a sold C. I am reluctant to call this a vanity movie but at 91 Clint should hang it up. He looks like a 91 year old man with cellophane skin and bony hands. He plays a  former rodeo star and a washed up horse breeder. Stand-ins were a required for some scenes. In one shot Clint appears to be bucking a mustang but it was plain to see it was a stunt man. There was a cut away of Clint bouncing up and down to simulate the bucking horse. He punches out a bad guy sixty years his junior with one punch a la Dirty Harry. Clint still has that animal magnetism but rather than racy bedroom scenes there was a lot of hugging and hand holding instead. So much for Viagra.

Basically the film was boring. The movie is about Clint getting  the son of his ex-boss out of Mexico. The movie is an uneventful road trip. The acting of the supporting actors is uninspiring. The young actor playing the estranged son seemed to be reading lines rather than acting. The only actor of some standing was Dwight Yoakum and his screen time was limited. Clint directed this film. I cannot comment on the directorial merits but the film had a budget of $33m and a box office of $4.7m. Enough said.

I am not saying he should not go gently into that good night but he should start enjoying his Social Security. He earned it.

 

No Time to Die

 

No Time to Die

If anyone is counting this is my 200^th film review.

I saw my first Bond movie in 1962 with my sister, it was Dr. No. We had no idea what it was about but we were blown away. We never saw anything like it before with so much action and intense characters (every eleven year old boy was thankful for Ursula Andress). It was a thrilling experience and  Daniel Craig’s franchise has maintained the thrill.

This Bond movie has all the signature elements. Bond is suave and a dispassionate killer, gorgeous women of dubious  character, super villains who want world domination or large bank accounts, stunning stunts, gadgets to warm the heart of every man-child and that hallmark bass line. Bond movies have reoccurring characters from other movies such as M, Q and Moneypenny. Some are recognizable and others not. This film is so engaging all viewers will find it enjoyable.

The film has  many reveals, it is a must see. In fear of my life there is little I can say about the plot. This is Danial Craig’s last Bond movie after 15 years at the helm. He is a bit moodier in this outing. The femme fatale is Lea Seydoux. She did not strike me as the typical voluptuous Bond female rather she was more like the girl next door (I guess Ursula left an impression on me). Rami Malek is the uber villain Lyutsifer Safin. Every time I see Malek I have Freddy Mercury stuck in my head, but he really did a great job. He wasn’t cheesy and played the role as a low keyed psychopathic villain well. The newest character is Lashana Lynch as Nomi. I  absolutely cannot say anything about her. Felix Leiter is back played by Jeffrey Wright, a bit sweatier and chubbier. Christopher Waltz reprises his role as Bolfeld. His screen time is short but important to the plot. Q applies his wizardry to a new arsenal of weapons. Locations are a big part of the movie. The movie was filmed in Matera Italy, Jamaica, Cuba, Norway and the Pinewoods studios in London.

If you are a Bond fan, or not, you should really see this movie.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

It was pretty good, better than I expected. This is not a Kung Fu movie per se, although there is a lot of Kung Fu fighting. The fighting is in slowmo Kung Fu like Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger and not like Bruce Lee’s bone crushing blows. The story was not entirely set in a mystical Chinese landscape,  San Francisco streets were prevalent. With Marvel movies there is humorous banter provided by Awafina with her delightful Queens accent. The plot is pretty straight forward with a son/father conflict with a bit of Oedipus Rex sprinkled in. The evil guys are mythical Chinese creatures like the ones in the Chinese New Year’s street parade.

The protagonist , Shang-Chi, is played by Simu Lu a Canadian actor. He is affable akin to Jackie Chan. He does a fine job and I am sure we will see him the sequel (another Marvel tradition). Awafina has a supporting role as Shang-Chi’s friend, but not girlfriend. This uncomplication makes the film lighter and you can concentrate on the fighting. The perennial Michelle Yeoh plays Sheng-Chi’s aunt. She was a leading character in Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger and her presence gives the film credibility. Ben Kingsley reprises his role as Trevor Slattery as the Mandarin from Iron Man 3, another Marvel linkage. He gives a humorous performance. Special effects are a major part of the film.

Cruella (Disney)

 

Cruella (Disney)

Now that Disney has dropped its  price tag of $29.99 and streamed Cruella for free, I decided to watch it. It was quite entertaining. It is a mix of camp, comedy and  darkness. This move is very un-Disney. In an early scene one character meets a disturbing demise. Disney films have dark elements. Killing Bambi’s mother, Dumbo caught in a fire and a poisoned apple are not child friendly. Cruella has the distinction of the first Disney character to use a straight razor. She must have borrowed it from John Wick. A technical point: aside from an allusion to “1,001 Dalmatians” Cruella is far different.

Emma Stone must have had a fabulous time in the role of Cruella. With all the camping there were  dramatic scenes giving  balance to the movie. Stone’s voice and posturing  were over the top but appropriate for the character. The original Cruella was a nasty. Stone plays the role more with cunning and revenge rather than cruelty. However, the three dalmatians in this film do not come off well.

Emma Thompson is the villainess as the Baroness. She must have channeled Meryl Streep from the “Devil Wears Prada” for her over the top portrayal. With her ramrod posture and barely moving lips she takes snobbery to new heights. She is a cruel and narcissistic villain.

The supporting cast is wonderful. Cruella’s two childhood friends make up her gang. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauer play two street urchins who befriend her and become her henchmen. They provide comedy to the film. Mark Strong plays his usual granite faced persona. He plays the role with usual British reserve but strongly. There are many other characters who give wonderful performances.

Couture is a big part of the film. The dresses are excessive but not totally ridiculous. They have elements of legitimate fashion. The flaming gown was marvelous. This movie has an outstanding soundtrack of 70’s songs.

Was the price reduction worth waiting for, yes.

CODA

 

CODA (Children of Deaf Adults)-Apple TV

CODA is an oasis from the current stream of mega movies of men and women in thighs trying to kill each other and bold muscle bound men driving muscle cars. The movie is tender and heart felt. It is funny and touching. For you wimps out there prepare to shed a tear.

Ruby Rossi, portrayed by Emalia Jones, is the only hearing member of her deaf family. From a young age the family depended on her as their interpreter. She works the fishing boat with her father and brother while also attending school. The irony and genius of the movie is that Rudy is a talented singer and wants to attend the elite Berklee College of Music in Boston. So how do her deaf parents appreciate her singing? That’s the tearjerker part.

Training to be a singer conflicts with her role as their interpreter. Her choir master played by Eugenio Derbez, with humor and empathy, comes off as an inflexible task master but is actually her cheer leader and supporter. Their interaction is a counter point to her responsibly to her family. The script meshes her singing ambitions with the pull of the family to keep her as their bridge to the hearing world. This is the dynamic of the movie.

The acting is outstanding. The signing is so express you almost do not need captions. Cursing and lewdness are much more graceful when signing. The movie is also funny. The deaf father likes gangster rap because he can feel the vibration of the bass.

The actors who portray Rudy’s mother, father and brother are actually deaf. Their interactions are  expressive and a joy to watch. Nothing is lost from the story due to the lack of words. CODA belongs in the same level as “Children of a Lessor God” and “The Miracle Worker”. An Academy nomination is not out of the question.

If you cannot crash with someone who has Apple TV, which is streaming CODA for free, pay for the ticket. It will be money well spent.

 

F 9

 

F9

What can be said about Fast and Furious? What hasn’t been said about Fast and Furious? This is the ninth film in the twenty years run of the franchise. The worldwide gross box office is $6.8b at a cost of approximately of $2.1b. The films are formula driven. Fast cars, muscle bound  men, tough but attractive women, insane car chases and a plot that is an afterthought. Fast and Furious is character centric. Vin Diesel is the main character Dominic Toretto who has appeared in nearly all the films with his posse of  actors which he refers to as family.

This movie is a reunion of all the past FF characters. One character died in an earlier movie, but that did not stop the writers. Missing from this reunion is Dwight “The Rock” Johnson. Apparently there is bad blood between Johnson and Diesel. Johnson is a by the book kinda guy; on time do the shoot. Whereas Diesel is a tardy slacker who likes to schmooze with the crew. However, both manage to make $20m a film each.

The new element in this film is Dom’s estranged brother Jackob played by John Cena. I think they brought Cena in to make Diesel’s acting look better. Vin Diesel’s acting is like a car with one gear. He depends on his signature sneer to carry his acting. To dramatize the fall out between the brothers they used two younger actors as versions of Diesel and Cena. Aside from one having a round head for Diesel and the other a rectangular face for Cena, they looked nothing like them.

The film has some fantastic stunts which are either real or CG. One scene is just imbecilic with  two characters in outer space in a car with a rocket engine strapped to the back. A “ jumping the shark” moment.

The bottom line is if you did not see any prior FF films this is not for you. If you have, you know what to expect. FF 10 is in the works and will be released in 2022. If it is the last one I think it will open the door for Cena . He needs to work on his sneer.

Summer of Soul (Hulu)

 

Summer of Soul (Hulu)

This is a documentary of a forgotten musical festival in Harlem in 1969. It was formally known as the Harlem Cultural Festival and  was called the Black Woodstock. It took place over a six week period in Mount Morris Park in Harlem attended by  nearly 300,000. The concert film was overshadowed  by  Woodstock and relegated to 50 years of obscurity in a basement.

 The Harlem Cultural Festival was a series of music concerts held in Harlem during the summer of 1969 to celebrate African American music and culture and to promote the continued politics of black pride. The sounds were R&B, blues and jazz.

The film is directed by Ahmir Questlove Thompson (band leader of the Roots). It won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the US Documentary Competition. It features Afro/Latin music from some of the great artists of the time. Some of the acts were Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, BB King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Max Roach, Mongo Santamaria and Sly and the Family Stone. The performances are shown whole and not just clips along with enthusiastic reactions from the audience. It is worth seeing the film just to see Steve Wonders’ virtuoso drum solo. The Black Panthers provided security for Sly and the Family Stone when the police refused. The music is amazing and still fresh.

The film is also social commentary. 1969 was a heady year. Apollo 11 landed on the moon and the country was still raw after the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy in 1968. These assassinations erupted in riots in across major cities. New York City was spared from rioting in part due to the efforts Mayor Lindsay and the concert was seen as quelling emotions and show casing black pride. The Reverend Jessie Jackson spoke at the concert to offset the pain of the MLK assignation.

Regarding the moon landing the residents of Harlem had a more earthly opinion of the landing. They felt the money was better served addressing the poverty of their neighborhood. How can you be enthusiastic about the landing if you cannot afford a TV?

This documentary  is a resurrected jewel and is an important complement to black and American history.

Kajillionaire

 

Kajillionaire (HBO and HBO Max)

This is a funny and poignant film. It is in the style of the theater of the absurd. The family are grifters and petty criminals. They treat their daughter more as an accomplice rather than a daughter. They named her Old Dolio to entice a lottery winner of the same name dying of cancer to give them part of his winnings (unfortunately he spent the money on medicine) . The family code is to split everything one third each. Their home is an empty office adjacent to a soap factory. Every day the walls leak copious amount of soap suds. They owe back rent and their attempts to avoid the landlord are hilarious.

Their relationship is more like associates rather than a family. Old Dolio is emotionally stunted  from  lack of love from her family. She is played by Evan Rachael Wood (Westworld) who is emotionless and as drab as her tired track suit. She participates in the family’s schemes including stealing  blank checks from home bound elderly people and forging their signature.

The father, Robert Dyne, is played by the incomparable Richard Jenkins. He plays the role as a real low life without any redeeming values. He displays great comic timing in his usual understated performance. The mother is played by Debra Winger. Devoid of love for her daughter she is nearly transparent. She is the partner in crime to Old Dolio rather than a mother. The absence of motherly tenderness deeply affects Old Dolio.

Gina Rodriguez is the outsider who joins the family. She is a Latina, specifically Puerto Rican. Emotionally   she is the exact opposite of the family. She is sexual, demonstrative and engaging. She is also larcenous and awkwardly fits in with the family. Her performance was endearing and passionate serving as  a counterpoint to the family’s shallowness.

This film is a little jewel quarantined by Covid. It is worth seeing,  you will enjoy it.

 

A Quite Place Part II

 

A Quite Place Part II

A Quite Place Part II is the sequel to the original 2018 film. This takes place about a year later than the original.  It is less tense than the original film because we know about the sightless long legged monsters with hyper hearing terrorizing the locals. But there are still enough moments in the film to make you jump.

I thought this was going to be an origin movie. Aside from a brief appearance by John Krasinski and fire balls raining from the sky the main part of the film is the family’s struggle for survival. Emily Blunt is the heroic mother protecting her children played again by Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and a cute uncredited baby. New to the film are Cillian Murphy and Djmoun  Hounsou. Murphy takes on the male role after Krasinski death however Blunt is the family’s matriarch protecting the family. Jupe is still the boy terrified by the monsters and his sister the brave young girl who confronts them. The family is still trying to survive in the hostile environment where the monsters hunt humans attacking at the slightest sound. Besides caring for two older children Blunt has to take care of a baby which presents new obstacles. The contrast of a deaf girl battling monsters with super hearing is the main juxtaposition of the movie.

There were some clever elements in the script that kept the movie fresh. Some of the monsters’ vulnerabilities were revealed and the children’s bravery were showcased. These scenes highlighted Krasinski’s directorial skills.

All the actors were excellent. It is still intriguing how Simmonds uses signing to complement her expressive performance.  Cillian Murphy is the reluctant protector of the family. He gives a strong intense performance. Regrettably Djmoun  Hounsou  only has a brief appearance.

This clearly is a post pandemic film. Seeing this on a TV screen, even a large one, does justice to the film and especially to the sound effects. If there is a part three maybe unanswered questions will be resolved.  Why did the creatures come to earth, what is their purpose and who is keeping the lights on?

In the Heights (HBO Max)

 

In the Heights (HBO Max)

In the Heights is a delightful film. It is the cinematic version of the popular Broadway show. There are energetic dance numbers and lots of singing with typical immigrant stories of assimilation and reminiscing for a lost past. The pathos of the immigrant story is subsumed  by festive song and dance.

The choreographer is  Andy Blankenbuehler. The dance numbers are like La La Land with  large groups of synchronized dancers. One sequence in a public pool is a homage to Busty Berkley (for does under 40 you can google him). The songs are typical Broadway narrative renditions of hopes, dreams and lose. There is a smattering of rap which is  mercifully  comprehensible unlike Hamilton’s version of rapid rapping.

Some actors will be recognizable, other will be new. Marc Antony makes a minor appearance as an alcoholic negligent father. Jimmy Smit has a larger role as the aspirational father. All the actors do a great job.

The film is a sanitized version of the Heights. There is no crime, no drugs and the closest thing to sex is some modest dirty dancing. I can’t help making a comparison to West Side Story. Both are about tough Manhattan ethnic neighborhoods. West Side Story is kinetic and gritty whereas In the Heights is mellow and a fantasied version of reality.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is brilliant. To go from Hamilton to the Heights displays his range of  talent. Given the predictable onslaught of summer testosterone block busters, the Heights is a refreshing reprieve.  

Those Who Wish Me Dead (Netflix)

 

Those Who Wish Me Dead (Netflix)

I first took notice of Angelina Jolie in the 1998 HBO film “Gia”. She gave an impressive performance. Then in 1999 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Girl Interrupted”. Jolie is a serious accomplished actress. Then came Lara Croft, Maleficent and Salt. Everyone needs to pay the bills. This film is lacks luster and makes no demands on her acting skills. In this movie you know from the start who dies and who survives.

Jolie plays a hotshot fire fighter who is suffering from post-traumatic stress as a consequence of the death of three children during a forest fire. Later on she encounters a boy fleeing assassins who killed his father and are after him because he is carrying incriminating  information. It is a bit shady who the bad guy or organization is, but professional killers are the main antagonists. This film is supposed to be an action thriller, but it does not have the right vibes. There are no dare devil car chases like in the Fast and Furious movies or a Jason Statham round kicking a bad guy in the head. There is a lot of Jolie out running a forest fire.

The bad guys are brothers played by Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult. Gillian is becoming the perennial bad guy as he proves in this movie. Nicholas Hoult is the grown up version of the sweet little boy in the film “About a Boy”. It is just incongruous to see him as a heartless assassin.

Let’s wait for Tomb Raider 4.

 

Woman in the Window

 

Woman in the Window (Netflix)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Alfred Hitchcock would take a pass. This film is near a rip off of his “Rear View Window”. In Rear View Window Jimmy Stewart uses his binoculars to spy on a neighbor across courtyard who he suspects of murder. Amy Adams is also spying at neighbors across the street who she suspects of murder using binoculars. Like Stewart she takes clandestine photos of the neighbors. Stewart is stuck in his apartment because of a busted leg; Adams suffers from agoraphobia and is home bound. In “Rear View Window”, Raymond Burr is the bad guy with bleached white hair. Here too one of Adam’s antagonists has a head of white hair. In both movies there is a mysterious murder.

The imitations here did not produce a good film. Ironically, the film features an outstanding ensemble of actors. Besides Amy Adams there is Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Anthony Mackie. Aside for Adams neither of the other stars have much screen time. Great performers can not save a film with a weak script and mediocre direction. This is a psychological thriller but the suspense of the film is not orchestrated well. Hitchcock’s method for building suspense was like slow fuse. Here key elements are like firecrackers, they just happen and are uncoordinated. The film would have benefited from more revealing back stories. There are even web sites trying to explain the ending.

As the protagonist Amy Adams is an emotional wreak isolated in her home. Her acting range is limited by her character’s depression and isolation. She looks frumpy  wearing a rob all day and stuck in a rambling house. Depending on one main character to carry a film is a gamble which did not pay off here.

Do your self a favor and watch “Rear View Window” instead.    

 

Without Remorse (Amazon Prime)

 

Without Remorse (Amazon Prime)

Michael B. Jordan has a twenty inch waistline and no body hair, which is weird. He is more buffed than a ’67 Chevy. However, this film is just an excuse for carnage and car wrecks. This is a Tom Clancy pot boiler which is better left to paper back. The film substitutes action for suspense.

I first saw Jordan in “Creed” for which I did not expect much. But I was impressed with his acting. He also gave an effective performance in “Just Mercy”. He can do better than this film. He has the body of an action figure but the potential of a serious actor. The film starts out as revenge movie but morphs into a conspiracy . The full conspiracy is revealed in the tail end of the film. The movie would have been more suspenseful if parts of the plan were introduced earlier in the film.

Jodie Turner-Smith is Lieutenant Commander Karen Greer. She is an attractive navy Seal. She seemed uncomfortable in the role and her acting was stiff. Originally a model her languid long legged body is more suited to the runway than to a Seal’s obstacle course. She was more effective in “Queen and Slim” as a fugitive girlfriend.

Guy Pierce plays Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay. Although a catalyst player, his scenes are limited. This is an under utilization of a talented actor who came to prominence for his well-received performance in the film “Momento”. Also his suits were ill fitted.

Jamie Bell is the CIA operative. His character is unlikeable and he plays it well. Jordan and he have good chemistry, even if it is toxic.

Mercifully if you have Amazon Prime you can watch the film for free without remorse.

The Courier (Amazon Prime)

The Courier  (Amazon Prime)

October 16^th, 1962 was my 11^th birthday and the start of the Cuban Missile crisis. We were watching Walter Cronkite and on TV and there was a map of the United States with arrows pointing to cities targeted by nuclear missiles launched from Cuba.  New York City was in the bull’s eye. I remember saying to me mother I was too young to die. The Courier is the true backstory of the Cuban missile crisis. Benedict  Cumberbatch plays Greville Wynne an unassuming Englishman who gets recruited by MI6 and the CIA.  Cumberbatch gives a riveting performance in this tense spy thriller. It has the feel of a John le Carre novel but it is true. Cumberbatch plays a middle class businessman with just the right accent and not too stiff posture. He is convinced by his handlers as a courier he would not be in much danger if something went wrong. Spy tradecraft in 1962 was elementary compared to today but the depictions  in the film authenticated the period. Using a Minox camera and a hollowed out can as a drop off to pass on material was the state of art at the time. The duplicity of espionage is one man’s hero is another man’s traitor.

The arch of Cumberbatch’s character goes from ordinary businessman to reluctant spy to a man of heroic conviction. Cumberbatch’s transition is masterful. Not to give too much away at one point he loses a tremendous amount of weight which  portrays his terrible situation. It is almost hard to watch.  

The supporting cast is excellent. Merab Ninidze plays Oleg Penkousky a Soviet military intelligence colonel. He plays the role of a conflicted Soviet hero who is patriotic but troubled by the recklessness of Nikita Khrushchev’s path to nuclear war. Ninidze is a native Georgian which fits perfectly with his role. Rachel Brosanhan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) plays Emily Donovan the CIA officer. Her role was more empathetic to the mission and concern for Wynne’s welfare. To match the period her hair was perfectly coiffed fortified with layers hairspray and she wore a  pillbox hat.

The casting director should receive an award for casting Keir Hills as Wynne’s young son. His resemblance to Cumberbatch is striking with blond hair and long mirthless face. The typical English schoolboy of the 60’s.

This October will be my 70^th birthday which I hope will be uneventful.

  

2020 Oscar picks

 

Oscar Nominations 2020

 

Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

 

Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

 

 

 

Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Peter Baynham, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jena Friedman, Anthony Hines, Lee Kern, Dan Mazer, Erica Rivinoja & Dan Swimer)
The Father (Christopher Hampton & Florian Zeller)
Nomadland (Chloé Zhao)
One Night in Miami (Kemp Powers)
The White Tiger (Ramin Bahrani)

 

Best Original Screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah (Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas & Kenny Lucas)
Minari (Lee Isaac Chung)
Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Sound of Metal (Derek Cianfrance, Abraham Marder & Darius Marder)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin)

 

Best Costume Design
Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Mulan
Pinocchio

 

Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul

 

Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People

 

Best Live-Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye

 

 

 

 

 

Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time

 

Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

 

Best International Feature Film
Denmark, Another Round
Hong Kong, Better Days
Romania, Collective
Tunisia, The Man Who Sold His Skin
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Quo Vadis, Aida?

 

Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Sound of Metal
Soul

 

Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet

 

Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet

 

Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio

 

Best Original Song
“Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah
“lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
“Speak Now” from One Night in Miami
“Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

 

The Father (Amazon Prime)

 

The Father (Amazon Prime)

Antony Hopkins is the tail end of legendary British actors: Olivie, Geilgud, O’Toole and Burton. His performances are masterful whether in lead or in supporting roles. His character, Anthony, who suffers from dementia is diametrically opposed to the vibrantly intelligent Anthony Hopkins of 83 years. Hopkins portrayal is painfully accurate.

For people of a certain age this movie will have a chilling effect. A neurologist once told me when you walk  into a room and you forget why you went there, that’s OK. When you cannot find your misplaced phone, no problem. But when you come home remove your shoes and put them in the freezer then you have a problem. Anthony’s condition is beyond kitchen appliances. Antony slips in and out of a state of  lucidness to befuddlement with vacant eyes and fingers fumbling for his missing watch. Dementia is a thief, robbing  you of memories of past and present. Certain words you have known all your life can not escape the tip of your tongue.

The direction and editing of the film gives a visceral example of dementia. In Antony’s mind different people are the same person and his residence is of uncertain ownership or location. A closest is a doorway to another place. It is a bit confusing to keep up with the film.

Olivia Colman (Favorite, and the Queen in the Crown) is the anguished daughter. In the post nuclear family her dilemma is whether to live her life or care for her father. His deteriorating condition is a challenge to her and a carousel of spent caretakers. Colman’s anxiety is relatable to caregivers or to people expecting care. She gives a bravi performs to a demanding role.

This is not an easy movie to watch. It is an excellent movie with outstanding performances. Both Hopkins and Colman are nominated for 2020 Academy Awards. As they should be.

 

 

The United States vs Billie Day Holiday (Hulu)

 

The United States vs Billie Day Holiday (Hulu)

This is the story of Billie Day Holiday’s short and notorious life. She was popular in America and overseas for her unique jazz and blues voice. She had a tragic life. Her mother was a prostitute and she was raised in a brothel. At age ten she was raped. She was a heroin addict and spent a year in jail. She attracted the wrong men or the wrong men were attracted to her; they beat her and took her money. She was also a pioneer in civil rights activism for her rendition of the protest song “Strange Fruit”. In her defiance to sing Strange Fruit she irked the ire of Herbert Hoover and was a target of the FBI for many years.

Andrea Day  gives a phenomenal performance. She resembles Holiday, but what carries her performance is attitude. Her portrayal of Holiday' defiance of the FBI and other authorities in her life is palpable. Day emotes Holiday’s theatrical persona. Holiday was temperamental and rash which Day brings these traits to the screen. When Day sings she embodies Holiday. She sings the songs in the movie. To mimic Holiday’s timbre she started smoking, drinking alcohol and cold water.

Lee Daniels is the director. He tells a great story but the flow of the film is a bit choppy and nonsequential.  The period wardrobes authenticate the film. Day is showcased in  gowns associated with Holiday. The excellent ensemble cast includes Tyler James Williams as Lester Young . He is the person who gave Holiday the moniker Lady Day. Trevante Rhodes plays Jimmy Fletcher, an FBI agent and one of her lovers (its complicated). Billie Day Holiday died at the age of 44 of cirrhosis.

I never heard of the song Strange Fruit nor realized its significance to the civil rights movement. It is based on a poem by Abel Meeropol, a.k.a Lewis Allan:

 

 

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

 

 

The Mauritanian (Amazon Prime)

 

The Mauritanian (Amazon Prime)

This film is a show case for the talents of Tahar Rahim who plays Mohammedou Ould Salahi. Salahi was detained at Guantanamo Bay for fourteen years with out charges and released. He subsequently wrote a book of his experience which is the basis of the film.

Essentially this is a four actor film: Tahar Rahim as Salahi, Jody Foster as Nancy Hollander, Benedict Cumberbatch as Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch and Shailene  Woodley as Teri Duncan. Rahim’s character displays a range of powerful emotions resulting from his captivity. Salahi is subjected to isolation, fear and terror. In these terrible circumstances there are scenes of claim and acceptance from the long confinement. He even manages to make friends with a fellow detainee which he never meets. He conveys the desperation of imprisonment and any little comfort is significant. The “Enhanced Interrogation” scenes  were horrendous and difficult to watch. I am sure they used a stunt double for some scenes but he did many himself. The emotional distress and mental break down were etched on his face. This is a demanding role.

Jody Foster is a multi-talented actor and director but her role as the lead defense lawyer Nancy Hollander was a bit one dimensional. She plays the hard as nails defense lawyer ready to fight. Most of  her screen time is in a secured room or on a plane limiting her performance. She does have good chemistry with Salahi after overcoming his initial distrust.

I think Benedict Cumberbatch is a brilliant actor but casting him as a southern prosecution lawyer with a pronounced drawl was amusing. Instead of a relaxed good old boy he came off like a stiff British colonel.  He played role well but someone like Mathew McConaughey would have been better suited.

Shailene  Woodley  character temporarily assists Nancy Hollander since she speaks French. When they first meet Salahi they were surprised he spoke English. When asked how he learned he said, “same as you, word by word’.

The film makes political statements but Rahim’s performance is reason enough to see the film.

Minari (Amazon Prime)

 

Minari (Amazon Prime)

Minari is the American immigrant story of hope, despair and fortitude. The Yi family moved from California to Arkansas  hoping of start a farm specializing in Korean vegetables. There are four family members plus a grandmother. Jacob the father, played by Steven Yuen, bought a parcel of land in rural Arkansas and a trailer home. The kids though a home on wheels was funny but their mother  Monica, played by Han Ye-ri , was saddened by its desperate condition. This would  be one of many hardships they endure. Their performance is emotive arising from the challenges of their new life.

Three other cast members are of note. Their son David played by eight year old Alan Kim is amazing. He is a big part of the movie and carries it off with poise and humor. He is adorable with very pinchable cheeks. As a child it is easier for him to acclimate to the new culture since his ties to Korea are less than his parents.

The grandmother is played by Youn  Yuh-jung. She is not the stereotypical dour Asian grandmother. She has unkempt hair, curses and does not really care how she looks. David rejects her as a grandmother since she wears men’s underwear. She is the generational bridge to home. She does not speak English and cooks traditional meals. She plants minari (water celery) in a perfect location by a river. The flourishing  crop is a sign of hope and literally a transplanting into American soil.

Will Patton is a veteran actor. He plays Paul who works with Jacob on the farm. He is eccentric and a religious fanatic but good hearted. Patton captures the intensity of a fervent believer and someone outside of the norm. His presence with family is awkward but the family accepts him as a friend. It is a challenging role which he does well.

This is a heartfelt story worth watching.

 

Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

 

Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

This war drama is not in the league of The Deer Hunter or Hacksaw Ridge, but the narrative from black soldier’s perspective is compelling. The film has a talented ensemble, a breakout performance by Delroy Lindo and  innovative cinematic devices. Lee incorporates social commentary which is a hallmark of his films.

 Four black Vietnamese veterans return to Vietnam to ostensibly recover the body of their troop leader “Stormin Norman” played by Chadwick Bosman. They also want to recover lost gold bars the CIA  intended to pay local insurgents to fight the Vietcong. Delroy Lindo’s character, Paul, suffers from PTSD which becomes more acute from returning to Vietnam. Delroy Lindo is not a household name. He is a “character actor” usually playing the heavy as a thug or a special operations commando. Here he  gives a forceful  performance of a tormented solder slowly sinking into paranoia. He forcefully conveys his inner terror from his past.

The other solders are Otis played by Clarke Peters, Eddie played by Norm Lewis and Melvin played by Isaiah Whitlock Jr. With Bosman’s character they call themselves Da 5 Bloods. They all have personal stories interwoven in the plot. Jonathan Majors plays Paul’s  estrange son. Jean Reno (The Professional) is the fence who moves the gold. Ofcourse nothing goes right and the story gets complicated. There is also a land mind clearing team which demonstrate the continued peril to the  Vietnamese from the war.

In flashbacks Lee does not use younger versions of the solders, rather he uses the present day solders. This narrative device clearly links past transgressions to the soldiers. Bosman appeared intermittently in film as the dead Stormin Norman. It is prophetic his role is as a ghost.   

Lee pays homage to other seminal Vietnam movies in shape and form. The film has clips from infamous moments of the Vietnam war. Two old former Vietcong soldiers buy drinks for the Americans marking the change from the past and a bow from soldier to soldier.

Lee intersperses black history facts in the movie. Black soldiers made up 16% of those drafted and 23% of Vietnam combat troops, despite accounting for only roughly 11% of the civilian population. A poignant clip shows Muhammad Ali’s espousing  his opposition to the draft saying the Vietnamese never did anything to harm him.

All these parts rolled up make a good Joint.

Nomadland (Hulu)

 

Nomadland (Hulu)

This is a melancholic, if not at times a depressing movie. Frances McDormand gives a powerful nuanced performance as Fran. In Fargo she was resilient. In Three Billboards she was fierce. Here she is resolute in surviving tragedies late in life. After losing her job in a gypsum factory and her husband to cancer she sells her belongings and goes on the road.

She is not off the grid but is neither fully plugged in. She lives in a converted van and stays at  RV camp sites. There is a tribe of nomads traveling the roads and have a loose affiliation. She survives on minimal social security benefits and finds odd jobs working as a seasonal worker at an Amazon fulfillment center, an attendant at a state park and flipping burgers. When she is offered the hospitality to reside in a comfortable house she declines. The question of whether  she needs to be on the road or she wants to be on the road is equivocal. She says she is not homeless but does not have a house.

She is stoic and endures hardships of the road but also its pleasures. When she visits the Redwood Forest or  the Badlands it is it is the expression on her face that conveys her joy. She is a consummate actor. The film uses real life nomads; Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells. They befriend Fran and give her survival tips. She is encouraged by their journeys and inspired by their love of the road. They convey authenticity to the film.

The other actor of note is the veteran actor David Strathairn who is a fellow nomad. His character is  subdued and the years on the road wear on him. His awkward attempts to start a relationship with Fran are blocked by her noncommittal position.

The film is shot in some beautiful and somber locations. The vastness of some of the locations convey the solitude of the open road.

This film has received numerous accolades and a 95% from Rotten Tomatoes. Frances McDormand has been nominated for best actress for the 2021 Golden Globes, which she richly deserves.

 

The Handmaiden (Amazon Prime)

 

The Handmaiden (Amazon Prime)

This is a wonderful movie. It is a 2016 South Korean erotic psychological thriller by the director Park Chan-wook. It is a multi-layered  story of deception, betrayal, love and revenge. It is a story within a story with dramatic reversals. The story is told in three parts and some of the plot points are not obvious. Part 2 is  flash backs explaining part 1.You may wish to read the plot in Wikipedia before or after. It is in Korean and Japanese subtitles. The Japanese subtitles are shown in yellow and the Korean in white, this is important. Normally I do not like watching movies with subtitles but this is a worthwhile exception.

The movie takes place in Japanese occupied Korea and involves a noble Lady played by Kim Min-hee, her Uncle played by Cho Jin-woong , her maid played by Kim Tae-ri and a fake Count played by Ha Jung-woo. The story has numerous story elements which are cohesive but complex. The story is about an elaborate swindle with unexpected twists and turns. The intentions of the characters are not obvious and there are dark secrets. The acting is excellent especially with the two female leads transcending language and conveying the character’s purpose.  The film’s erotica (not pornography) is fashioned on Japanese Shunga art. It is an integral part of the main characters’ development. There are some graphic torture scenes.

This is a female centric movie. They are victims but eventually victorious. The two female actors are controlled and mistreated by the men  but prove to be more clever and resourceful. This is an exception for an Asian film.

Three cultures are represented in the film: Japanese, Korean and Anglo; they maintain their individuality. The film is set in an English manor attached to a traditional Japanese minka house, with sliding doors and tatami mates. The costumes  include  beautiful traditional Japanese kimono  and Korean handok dresses and English period formal clothing.

The film won numerous awards and received a Rotten Tomato rating of 95%.