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.