Saltburn-Prime Video

 

Saltburn-Prime Video

Saltburn is a psychological drama with so many twists and turns you need Dramamine. It has a wonderful cast but the story is strange and some parts disquieting. Saltburn is a country estate the hereditary house of a snobbish English family. Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, is invited for the summer by his Oxford classmate Felix Catton. Oliver comes from a working class family which is the basis of growing friction. Oliver is the artful dodger on steroids.

Barry Keogan delivers an outstanding performance. He is a chameleon who deceptively ingratiates himself with the family. He gives a low key performance which transforms during the movie. Some of his scenes are unsettling.

Jacob Elordri is Felix Catton, Oliver’s classmate at Oxford who invites him to Saltburn. He plays the stereotypical English upper class gentry. His performance is laid back and sexy. Cary Mulligan is wasted in this film. She is on screen for about two minutes and wears an awful red wig and is nearly unrecognizable. She mumbles a few lines and is gone. Archi Madekwe plays Fairleigh, Oliver’s nemesis. They play well off each other, with overt and subverted jabs.

Rosmond Pike is Lady Elspeth, Felix’s mother. I think she was delighted in her role. She is over the top as an upper class lady. For all her sophistication she is clueless about her son and Oliver. Richard E. Grant is Sir James, lord of the manor. His performance is wonderful nailing all the snobbery, a mainstay of British films.

This film is interesting, but not for everyone. Not to be prudish, there is Full Monty nudity, which seems to be the de reguer of recent films. The performances are well done, but the story is a bit whacky.  A weakness of the film, the skullduggery is summarized at the end of the movie to explain the plot. A better written script would make that unnecessary.

 

Maestro

 

Maestro- Netflix

Leonard Bernstein was gay, a husband for twenty-seven years, he had three children, and was a world-renowned conductor; Leonard Bernstein was complex. He was also selfish. In the 1950’s some gay men married to hide their alternate lifestyle, not Bernstein. His wife knew of his attraction to men and he knew she knew. It hurt her greatly. Yet they truly loved each other. She also loved his music and genius as a conductor. This may have contributed to her tolerance.

Bradley Cooper plays Bernstein and is the director. His performance is powerful. He displays Bernstein’s passion for conducting and music. With a prosthetic nose and affecting a cultivated accent, he channels Bernstein. The resemblance is uncanny. Cooper shows how Bernstein coexisted in the gay world and as a husband and father with minimal conflict for himself.

Carey Mulligan plays  Felicia Montealegre, Bernstein’s wife. Her performance is outstanding. She displays love for her husband but at the same time is tormented by his homosexual liaisons. She appears placid and supportive but she has an inner rage. She is brilliant in portraying this duality.

The tension of the movie is how they remained married.  This is a new twist for better or worse. Bernstein has his liaisons and is absorbed by his music but he is devoted to his wife. When tragedy befalls his wife he tenderly cares for her.

The movie is free on Netflix and absolutely worth seeing. I think there will be a few Academy nominations.

Poor Things

 

Poor Things

Strange, weird, fanciful, and engrossing. The Frankenstein angle is a minor part of the story. The heart of the story is Bella’s journey. Bella is a reanimated woman who just committed suicide. Her new life starts in infancy. She spits out distasteful food and is petulant, smashing dishes at will. The story is about her discovery of her new life which is unencumbered by society's mores.  She is the one who defines herself as a woman.

The film has a fantastic quality. It reminds me of the movie “Brazil” with its unnatural setting and strange characters. With a few exceptions, the actors are boxed into their characters. Mark Ruffolo is a comical cad. He gives a wonderful performance and his acting is over the top but appropriate for the role.  William Defoe is the archetypical mad scientist. He is Bella’s surrogate father. He is part unethical surgeon, slicing and dicing cadavers but tender with Bella.

Bella is a challenging role for Emma Stone. In the beginning, she is childlike. In the course of the film Bella evolves. Bad romances shape her. For her prostitution is a means to buy chocolate eclairs. A word of caution, there are many sex scenes, more comical than arousal. There is lots of nudity, some nice others not. The sex scenes are energetic and more suggestive than graphic.

The movie is funny; the audience laughed more than I did. The costumes are extravagant and an important part of this eclectic film. In some scenes, the director Yorgos Lanthimos, uses extreme wide-angle shots distorting the frame adding to the surreal nature of the film.

The film won several accolades, including the Venice Golden Lion and a 92% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. It is a curious entertaining film.

Napoleon

 

Napoleon

If you are into history and especially military history this is your film. In full disclosure, real historians have criticized the film’s accuracy. For the rest of us, this two-and-a-half-hour movie may be a challenge. Given its epic proportions, this is basically a two-actor movie with a large supporting cast: Joaquin Phoenix is Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby is Josephine.

Phoenix’s emotional range is flat. He portrays Napoleon as stoic and dower. In other films, Phoenix demonstrated his great range of talent which was denied in this film. Phoenix displays Napoleon’s brutishness and as a great general Napoleon used his troops like cannon fodder sustaining sizable casualties. Phoenix displays Napoleon’s indifference to these massive fatalities. As a general Napoleon leads from the front and Pheonix demonstrates this steeliness. Phoenix executes Napoleon’s generalship with detachment and purpose. The film is humorless except when he copulates with Josephine; he breaks the land speed record.

As Josephine Kirby does the emotional heavy lifting. Her relationship with Napoleon is complicated. They love each other but the relationship is transactional. Kirby dramatizes the emotional burdens of loving a powerful man. Her feelings and persona are suppressed for the good of the nation. She is used for the greater good. She projects her hurt.

The battle scenes are spectacular and frankly too many. They take up a large portion of the film. The costuming is impressive and rich. The period pieces are museum quality. In the end, this is like a PBS production with a bloated budget.

Apple Studios is earmarking $1b a year on movies. So far with Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon they are rolling snake eyes.

Killers of the Flower Moon

 Killers of the Flower Moon

This is a true story and I recommend searching Wikipedia as background. This is a harsh and brutal story. The Osage Indians are  murdered and victimized by white residents jealous of their wealth  from oil revenue. This story does not have the full weight oi history it deserves. It took place in Fairfax Oklahoma a few years before the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1923. Both incidents involved white animus against minorities of wealth.

The first half of the movie is slow. Character relationships are established and a number of murders are committed without being investigated. Some scenes are graphic and gruesome. In the latter half of the film, after about an hour and a half, it becomes more interesting when the Bureau of Investigation (forerunners of the FBI) come to investigate the murders. Jesse Plemons is the lead investigator. He is  laconic and unflappable.

Leo Di Caprio plays against type. His character Ernest Burkhart is a spineless weasel manipulated by his uncle William King Hale played by Robert Di Nero. Di Caparo’s character is complex. He freely commits crimes against the Osage  but he has genuine affection for his wife and children. He says more than once in the film, he loves money. Whatever soul he had; he sacrifices it for greed.

For most of the movie Di Nero looked like he is sucking on a lemon. He has a sour puss looking down from rounded rimmed glasses. Di Nero has played tough guy roles so playing King Hale was not a stretch. He was duplicitous  pretending to be a benefactor while masterminding murders to attain wealth.

Lily Gladstone is Mollie Burkhart, Ernest’s wife. Her facial expression for most of the film was consistent. Her emotional highs and lows were narrow. She shows more range when she gets sick. The film features native Indians as actors.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the film 92%, so please do not be dissuaded by this review. This film is a bladder buster at more than three and half hours so sit next to the aisle.

The film cost about $250m with advertising. It has to clear $500m to break even. In the first weekend it made $30m. Apple produced the film so it should be streaming on Apple + at some point. 

 

The Creator

 

The Creator

This film is a combination of Blade Runner, Star Wars, and The Golden Child. It is visually impressive with special effects being its most appealing quality. The plot is about Artificial Intelligence posing an existential threat to humanity. This is a real theory in AI. It is called Artificial General Intelligence and in theory, can achieve cognitive computing. The big problem with the film is the script is muddled. I had a hard time following the movie, perhaps you will not. The film is in three parts which makes the flow of the film bumpy. Also, when simulants are killed an identical replica is made which adds to the confusion.

The main actors of note are John David Washington, Allison Janney and Ken Watanabe. The protagonist is a six-year-old named Madeline Yuna Voyles, called Alphie . She is nearly a dead ringer for the child monk in The Golden Child, and she too has abilities.

The acting was almost perfunctory. Washington plays a soldier battling humans and robots. He is also the protector of Alphie. Allison Janney is a tough mean Colonel who leads assault missions against the simulants. Ken Watanabe is a simulant soldier who gets killed twice. Alphie does a great job of being cute. Her English must be limited since she did not have much dialogue.

I was expecting more. As a Sci-Fi fan, I was intrigued by the coming attractions. The special effects are so good they may be nominated for an Academy Award.

Barbie

 

Barbie

There are many words to describe this movie, witty, clever, funny but most importantly smart. The film has societal messaging and comedy helps make the delivery acceptable. Not to be accused of spoilers there were scenes where the audience laughed out loud. The script is a balance between absurdity and seriousness. The word patriarchal defines the status quo and is a target of the Barbies.

The cast is full of talent. Margot Robbie is the perfect Barbie (what else) her comic timing is great. Just from the expressions in her eyes, you can see when doubt of her existence emerges. It is not all silliness, there are warm and tender scenes in the film and Robbie delivers. Her awkwardness and cluelessness in the real world are clever.

Then there are the Ken’s. The main Ken is Ryan Gosling. He is a buffed boy toy who is sexually naive. He does a lot of posing and his overacting works well. There are many Kens in the movie and Ken’s main rival is Simu Liu. They are rivals for Barbie. There is a great dance-off with all the Kens which is more entertaining than combative.

The one non-Ken in Barbie land is Allan played by Michael Cera. His low-keyed acting style plays perfectly for an outcaste in the perfect Ken world. He does break type in one scene to his surprise and ours. Kate McKinnon perfectly plays Weird Barbie. She is un-Barbie in looks and brains. Mattel actually made a limited edition of Weird Barbie (for $50).

Will Farrell is the real world president of Mattel. His trademark wackiness is on display. He provided some of the better laughs. Rhea Perlman (Danny DeVito’s wife) is the spirit of Ruth Handler the creator of Barbie (Barbie was named after her daughter, Barbara). Ruth gives Barbie sage advice.

Make sure to watch the opening scenes of the movie it is a witty parody of a classic sci-fi movie.

Barbie outgrossed Warner Brother’s The Dark Knight with $1.2b worldwide. Not bad for a doll.

Oppenheimer

 

Oppenheimer

This is a brilliant movie. I listened to the audio book “American Prometheus”. Christopher Nolan selected  historical events of the book and remixed them into a compelling  story. The story is not sequential but effectively jumps around . There is more to the movie than the  atomic bomb. Besides his scientific endeavors he had a superficial connection to communism, an extra marital  affair and was the subject of FBI surveillance.

There is a plethora of historical characters in this film. The four main characters are:

J. Robert Oppenheimer- Cillian Murphy

General Leslie Groves- Matt Damon

Lewis Strauss- Robert Downey Jr.

Kitty Oppenheimer- Emily Blunt

Cillian Murphy bears an uncanny resemblance to Oppenheimer. He plays the role with fragility and confliction to  the atomic bomb project. The atomic bomb project is the culmination of his scientific endeavors but he understands the dangers to humanity he is unleashing. He is soft spoken and not angered even when persecuted. It is challenging  playing an emotional role while staying controlled.

Matt Damon played the good guy and the sort of bad guy. General Groves likes Oppenheimer but he has to enforce secrecy “compartmentalization” at the camp. This is an easy role for Damon. Most  of the time his conversations are civil without  confrontation, although frustrating.

Robert Downey Jr. plays a pivotal role in the movie. This movie is equally about Strauss and Oppenheimer. Strauss was Oppenheimer’s nemesis. In the scenes for Strauss’ nomination for Secretary of Commerce, Nolan filmed it in black and white making it a film within a film. Robert Downey Jr. looked haggard. He plays the role as a conniving politician with a vendetta against Oppenheimer.   

 My main complaint with Emily Blunt is that her screen time was too short. Kitty was Oppenheimer’s anger. Blunt plays Kitty as a controlled explosion. With all their marital problems she remained by Oppenheimer’s side.

The rest of the cast is fabulous.  Their varied contributions were essential to the film.

It is recommended to watch this movie in IMAX. I have never been a fan of IMAX and my position is unchanged. IMAX uses thunderous sound which sometimes makes hearing  dialogue difficult. As for the atomic bomb explosion at Trinity the scene lasted less than a few minutes out of three hours.  Buy popcorn instead.

There are two bloopers (that I saw) in the movie.

fyi- Oppenheimer died at 62 and his security clearance was  posthumously reinstated.

 

Indiana Jones-Dial of Destiny

 

Indiana Jones-Dial of Destiny

I saw Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. I was thirty years old, five pounds lighter and combed my hair. It was magical: the  huge round bolder rolling down, fighting Nazis and watching them melt when they open the Ark of the Covenant. This being the fifth iteration of the Indy franchise it is nostalgic but worth watching.

Jones is still cantankerous, teaches at Hunter College and lives on Eldridge street. He is still fighting Nazis past and present. A hallmark Indiana Jones  films are chases, automobile and other wise. The chases in this movie are clever and unique. For Ford the Indy character is like a second skin. In some scenes he is vulnerable and melancholy. The film has all the props, the hat the whip and a clever variation on snakes.

Mads Mikkelsen, a former Nazi scientist, is Indy’s nemesis . Mikkelsen is type cast as a villain and rightfully so. His cold eyes and menacing  voice are perfect for his character. He does not do much of the  fighting but leaves it to his henchmen.

 Phoebe Waller-Bridge is Helena Shaw , Indiana’s goddaughter. She is a scamp and duplicitous. She sees artifacts as items for auction rather than museum pieces. She does provide some comic relief.

Antonio Banderas has a brief appearance as an old friend. The role did not require his talent. Toby Jones is an archaeologist and  friend of Indiana Jones. He is also pursuing the Dail of Destiny. John Reys Davies is Indy’s’ Egyptian friend from Raiders of the Lost Ark who was a resourceful ally. Instead of riding camels now he drives taxis. Binding all five films is John Williams iconic movie score.

At times the film feels like one chase scene after another: some better than others. From the title  of the film, you may deduce the plot, but it has a nice twist.

Regrettably the film is a financial flop. It cost between $295m-$400m and to date earned $260m. The 18-35 year old male cohort off 1981 are now in their 60’s and 70’s. Gen z/x’s are more fascinated by their video games than watching melting Nazis.

 

The Flash

 

The Flash

Two Flashs, two Batmen and one Supergirl what else can you ask for. The movie is a bit convoluted, but it is lots of fun. For all his emotional and legal issues Ezra Miller gives a strong performance. He has great comedic timing and the audience laughed aloud. A running gag because of his super metabolism he has to consume food anyway he can get it.

The Flash lacks the square jaw righteousness of Superman or the moodiness of Batman. The Flash is vulnerable; ironically he has a problem with being on time and is awkward around women. Uncharacteristically for a hero he is sometimes uncertain.

The story deals with alternate time lines/ alternate realities. The base story is Barry Allen (the Flash) trying to prove his father’s innocence in the murder of his mother. This quest takes him to another reality and this is when things get complicated. The Flash is assisted by other super heroes,  Batman and Supergirl. There are two Batmen, Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton, one does more than the other. Supergirl is introduced to the pantheon of super heroes. Her performance is more in line with what super heroes do, they battle. She is dynamic and her story is  a subplot of the film . She fights General Zod, a villain from a prior Superman movie. In an alternate reality it does not matter if you died in another movie.

The film has lots of Easter eggs. Many pay homage to past heroes living and deceased. A level of geekiness may be necessary to ID them. Some heroes only us old folk will recognize (hint black and white). There are also fun  cameos.

The film has been anticipated for a long time  generating lots of buzz. Rotten Tomato gave the film a modest 68%. I think this movie is critic proof and audiences will not be deterred. The box office is more challenging. The production cost is $200-$220m, which does not include advertising which normally is about  50%. With out a profit a sequel is questionable.  As for Ezra Miller, he needs all his super powers to remain as the Flash.

p.s.- Stay after the credits run.

RRR

 

RRR (Rise Roar Revolt)- Netflix

This movie is hilarious and poignant. Some scenes are outlandish and in a comic super hero fashion. Jumping over high fences, out running a wolf and single handedly tossing a motorcycle are some of the antics. This is a westernized version of Bollywood. The fight dancing scenes are hugely entertaining and energizing. This film won the 2023 Oscar for best original song, Naatu Naatu. This is a lavish production with colonial settings and period costuming. The cinematography is dynamic and sets the mood of the story. Although the scene of marauding wild animals is a bit hokey.    

The story involves a local village girl abducted by the wife of the British governor. Bheem, played by N.T. Rama Roe jr., is on a mission to get her back. A foe and ally of Ram is Alluri Sitarmara Raja played by Ram Charan. There is a lot of duplicity in the plot, and it is best to keep notes. It becomes really confusing when both protagonists grow beards and it becomes a who’s who challenge. Flash backs could have been better integrated to support the narrative. The fight choreography is action packed and a big part of the fun. The acting was a bit over the top, but effective.

The period is 1920’s British colonial rule, the Raj. The film makes a statement about the abuses and brutality of colonialism. Here too it is exaggerated but not beyond the pale. Colonialism is the dark underbelly of the British empire. Membership was not voluntary and abuses insighted rebellion.

The movie is free on Netflix, so what do you have to lose? It runs for three hours so stay close to the toilet.

AIR

 

Air

I originally went to see Dungeons and Dragons-Honor Among Thieves, a mistake. Now I know why I never became a gamer.

On my way out I snuck into theater 15 and watched Air which is an origin story about the creation of the Air Jordon sneaker and how Nike signed Michael Jordon to their brand. A fabulous movie with a stellar cast. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck plays Phil Knight, Jason Bateman is Rob Strasser, Chris Tucker is Howard White, and the always wonderful Viola Davis plays Jordon’s mother. Besides the strong chemistry of the cast this is a great script. This is not a jock movie; it is a story of believing in some one and making a full commitment.

Over many years and movies, the relationship between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck is well established.  However, with good roles their collaboration remains fresh. Affleck is Phil Knight, CEO of Nike. Damon is pitching Michael Jordon and creating a line of sneakers on one player, which was very risky for the company. In 1984 Nike was not the juggernaut it is now; it was competing against and behind Adidas and Converse. Signing Jordon was the golden ring.

Matt Damon is a true believer and is willing to bet everything on signing Jordon. This is to the consternation of Affleck who as the CEO has to balance Damon’s passion with hard business calculus. Jason Bateman delivers his trademark understated performance. There are some funny exchanges between him and Damon. Chris Tucker was reserved but even the way he speaks is funny. Another character is David Falk played by Chris Messina. He is Jordon’s agent and some of the funniest scenes are between he and Damon. Viola Davis is the boss. She is the gate keeper to Michael Jordon. She does not negotiate she just demands. Davis plays his mother as confident and tough.  

The movie employed a gimmick. You never actually see Michael Jordon. They show the back of his head or a shoulder. I do not know if there was a copywrite issue, but it was a bit silly. The movie’s sound track is great with 80’s songs.

So, either Dungeons and Dragons or Air. Make your pick.

 

 

John Wick Chapter 4

 

John Wick Chapter 4

John is back. This film is campish and cartoonish. If you are a fan of the John Wick franchise or appreciate this genre, this is your film. Besides the mayhem there are other appealing aspects. The venues are an important part of the movie taking place in New York City, Paris, Osaka and Berlin. The staging and productions are luxurious from Versailles to a throbbing Berlin disco. The plot is about revenge and cashing in on Wick’s bounty. Before seeing this movie, you may want to take a fresher on chapters 1, 2 and 3, especially if you are over 70.

John Wick is somber like his black suit. His speech is sparse and communicates better with his fists and guns. For Keanu Reeves the John Wick character is a second skin and he wears it well. Even though John Wick is an assassin his character is likable. Presumably the villains he kills are worse than him.

The rogue gallery is back. Ian McShane is Winston Scott the manager of the Continental Hotel. Lance Reddick the hotel concierge, and Laurance Fishburne, the Bowery King reprise their roles. There are new characters. Donnie Yen is a blind assassin with unique skills. He uses motion detectors to dispatch his enemies. Bill Skarsgard is the main villain as the Marquis a powerful member of the High Table; his wardrobe redefines the term dandy. Dogs are an integral part of the Wick films and the dog here has a mean bite and a low target.

The stunts are a big part of the Wick movies. The car crashes around the Arc de Triomphe do not bode well for French drivers. Wick bounces off cars with little damage reminiscent of Wiley Coyote. Tumbling down the hundred plus stairs of Sacre-Coeur is almost comical. The gun fights are too numerous to count. John is a master of the head shot because everyone is wearing Kevlar armor or suits. DuPont should pay a fee for product placement.  

If you are into it the film is fun.

Babylon

 

Babylon (Amazon Prime)

Babylon is a movie of ascent, descent and excesses.  The period is the tipping point for silent movies with the onset of the talkies. Handsome silent screen stars now had to talk and some with Jersey accents.  The silent film industry was at its apex, awashed in money, sex, and drugs, descending into debauchery. Some scenes were excessive and in bad taste. The more colorful sex scenes could have been implied and rather than depicted in technicolor. These drawbacks are the fault of the writer and director who in this case is the same person, Damien Chazelle.

The cast is impressive. Brad Pitt is Jack Conrad a matinée idol in descent. Pitt’s best performance depicts Conrad’s decline. He is a metaphor for the silent screen. Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy who is absolutely manic. She is at her best when she is depressed and paranoid. Some scenes are over the top and instead of being impactful they are cringe worthy. Unlike Jack Conrad she rose from the bottom to the top of stardom, but her descent was the same as his but quicker.

Diego Calva, who plays Manny Torres, gave the best performance. He goes from being a truck driver to being a film executive and down again. He plays the role with passion and without histrionics. He loves Nellie but she is toxic and he suffers.

This is not a religious movie, but there was a resurrection. Eric Roberts, the estranged brother of Julia Roberts, was cast as Nellie’s father. His appearance was brief, but the snake fight scene was hilarious. Jean Smart plays the gossip columnist Elinor St. John. She tried to groom Nellie’s appearance and diction but utterly failed. Tobey Maguire is a brutal sadistic gang boss. It is wonderful to see someone play against type. Even with hideous make up and evil intent, he is still your friendly Spiderman.

This movie cost $80m to make and took in $63m, the price of a bad script and poor directing. Watch it at your own peril.

 

Women Talking

 

Women Talking (Amazon Prime)

This is an outstanding drama. The film is sparse and intense. It has the feel more of theater with dialogue being the main element of the film. The film is based on a book by Miriam Toews, but the story is true. In a colony of Mennonites living in Bolivia, the colony’s women were raped in their sleep by the men using a cow tranquilizer to seduce them. It is implied the rapes were going on for some time. A group of women meet in a hay loft to decide either to do nothing, stay and fight or leave. In their deliberations they give voice to their violations. The rapes are flashbacks with the victims awaking in their beds with bloody sheets and bruises on their legs.

Rooney Mara’s character, Ona, is a victim of rape and is with child. She gives a subdued but powerful performance. She is one of the main debaters of what the women should do. Claire Foy is the firebrand who is passionate about fighting and protecting her daughter (young girls were also raped). Foy’s character is unforgiving and capable of inflicting violence.

Frances McDormand has a brief but important role. She is called Scarface, because of a y shaped scar on her cheek. How she got the scar is not revealed, but violence is implied. She is a traditionalist and is for doing nothing and remaining. She shows forbearance but her price is heavy.

The only man seen in the film is Ben Whishaw as August. Since the women cannot read or write August is recruited to take the minutes of the meeting. As opposed to the brutalities inflicted by the men he is a gentle soul, soft spoken and sincere. The women hope he can teach the boys to grow to be caring men.

The movie gives the impression of being black and white given the lack of any distinguishing color. This approach sets the tone of the movie; the present is bleak, but the future may be brighter.

The film is Oscar nominated for best picture and best adapted play.

Triangle of Sadness (Amazon Prime)

 

Triangle of Sadness (Amazon Prime)

The Triangle of Sadness is the space between one's eyebrows where the struggles of life manifest as wrinkles. The phrase is only used once in the film, but other terms can be used. The film is a dark satirical comedy with farcical scenes combined with slapstick plus lots of poop. It is a story about the idle rich and the perils of being idle.

The movie starts with two “influencers” Yaya played by Charlbi Dean and Carl her model boyfriend played by Harris Dickinson. My British friends would call them a pair prats bickering over who pays the check. The tiff goes on too long and becomes annoying. From the start neither character is endearing.

The next big part of the film takes place on a luxury cruise on a $250m yacht. The guests are like a bunch of Agatha Christie extras. They are a comical bunch with crew members admonished to cater to the whims of the guests, no matter how ridiculous. The guests include Dimitry played by Zlatko Buric, The king of shit (fertilizer), Clementine and Winston who made their fortune making munitions and the captain played by Woody Harrelson. For Harrelson this was a cake walk. He played his usual no fuss character just short of a southern drawl. His part is narrow, and the director could have made more use of his talents. There is a captain’s dinner which takes place during a violent storm at sea. It was like a Monty Python skit with passengers projectile vomiting, pratfalling and toilets overflowing.

The last scene is akin to Lord of the Flies where a toilet maid is elevated to queen for a day (a few days). Abigale the maid, played by Dolly Le Lemon, does a superb job transforming herself from a lowly toilet maid to leader of the pack because of her skills. The ending is perplexing and deliberately made ambiguous by the director.

All the actors do an excellent job with the script they are given. If you like dark comedies in the spirit of Monty Python this is for you. The film was awarded the Palme d’or.  It is also nominated for 2023 Oscar Best Picture.

 

All Quite on The Western Front

 

All Quite on The Western Front

This is a brutal movie with scenes of carnage. If this bothers you do not watch this film. This is not a remake of the 1930 version, the classic butterfly scene is absent. It is based on the same book Nothing New in the West, by Erich Maria Remarque. Every cliché about war applies to this movie: the futility of war, the horror of war and the fog of war. The film’s message has been mitigated by modern history: World War II, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is still poignant.  

 The movie follows the main character, Paul Baumer, played by Felix Kammerer. He experiences horrendous battles all for a few feet of territory. Before becoming a soldier, he was an enthusiastic   schoolboy who wanted to enlist. Germany was gripped in the rapture of nationalism. A crack in this fervent facade is when the young recruits are given the patched-up uniforms of dead soldiers. There are some joyful scenes when the soldiers steal a goose and enjoy an eager feast.

The film shows a countdown to the date of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, armistice day. In the last fifteen minutes before eleven am, an aristocratic general ordered a futile attack on the enemy which caused more pointless deaths, epitomizing the senselessness of the war.

Aside from this gripping story an outstanding feature of the film is the cinematography. The battle scenes are brutal with detailed close ups of suffering soldiers. By contrast there are beautiful vista shots of the countryside.

This is a well-crafted film but be prepared for some brutal reality.

The Whale

 

The Whale

This is a sad but joyful movie. Charlie is a home bound six-hundred-pound English professor who teaches via zoom. He is trapped in his body. His partner Alan is dead, and Charlie is trying to reconnect with his daughter. This parental dynamic is one of the chapters in this layered story.

Brendan Fraser gives a hugh performance. Fraser portrays Charlie with deep pathos. On the surface he looks repulsive, and he hides his appearance from his zoom students and from the pizza delivery man. But Charlie is a caring individual who is not defined by his appearance. He pushes his students to write honest essays. He dearly loves his daughter and is torn by guilt by his absence. Fraser displays all these emotions. Castigating himself as pathetic, he remains resilient in the potential of people.

What makes this story rich are the supporting actors. Supporting is an inadequate adjective to describe their great performances. Hong Chau is his nurse and his only friend. She plays the role with tough love. There is a special connection between them that weaves into the story. She is tough but tender.

Sadie Sink is Ellie his estranged daughter. Sink performs the role with explosive energy. She is disrespectful, angry and belittles her father. At the same time, she feels abandoned by him and misses his affection. Her performance is eclipsed only by Fraser.

Ty Simpkins is Thomas, a missionary for the New Life Church. He is trying to bring Jesus into Charlie’s life and won’t take no for an answer. He is the object of abuse from Ellie. His role lightens the mode of the story.

On the outside the whale may not be appealing but it is a message of hope wrapped a different way.

The Fabelmans

 

The Fabelmans

The Fabelmans is a semi-autobiographical story by Steven Spielberg. It is a tender story of love with real life disappointments. This movie has three great things going for it: script, an ensemble cast and direction.

Gabriel LaBelle plays Sammy Fabelman who is the proxy for Spielberg. From a young age he had a passion for movies. His little movie experiments grow over time and won acclaim from family and friends. LaBelle gives a sincere performance. Family dynamics are challenging and school in antisemitic 1960’s Los Angeles is brutal. The come to Jesus moment in his girlfriend’s bedroom is hilarious.

Michelle Williams is incredible. She can go from playing Marilyn Monroe to playing Spielberg’s mother. As Mitzi she is a loving and a dedicated mother who has given up much for her family and her husband’s career, but she cannot deny her desires which reach a critical point. She plays the role as a woman on the edge and must make hard choices.

Paul Dano gives his usual laconic performance as Spielberg’s father, Burt. He is too focused on his career to see the effect on his family. He is a loving father and eventually comes to support his son’s ambitions. His relationship with his wife is complex and still loves her even when she is no longer his wife.

Seth Rogan is a delightful surprise. This a totally straight role for him without overt comic tones. However, even sitting in a chair he is funny. Rogan is Burt’s best friend and part of the family. They say comics make good actors because they have timing.

Judd Hersch is Boris, Sammy’s great uncle. Hersch is a joy. If he gets any crustier, he will turn into a loaf of bread. He was in the film business, and a lion tamer, and gives Sammy some wise advice about art.

This is the worst financial production for Spielberg. It cost $40m to make and only took in $16.9m in revenue. Which means it has a great chance for best picture at the Academy Awards. It won best picture at the Golden Globes.

 

Avatar-The way of Water

 

Avatar-The way of Water

Avatar the way of water is a pretty movie, a three-hour pretty movie. There are a few humans in the picture. Sigourney Weaver appears for a nanosecond, Jack Champion as Spider and assorted bad guys. The rest are voices of famous actors. Computer graphics (CG) is the star.

The story is not complicated. It is about family, tribes and fighting bad guys. The movie is visually spectacular. From the fantastic creatures to the stunning underwater scenes. A tender moment is when a boy meets whale, or a Tulkun in the Na’vi language.  A big part of the movie are underwater scenes. The battle scenes are impressive, but no surprise as to who wins (how else can you have a sequel).

To better understand this film, I recommend you seeing the first Avatar movie. What made the first movie compelling was the transition of the humans to Na’vis. The complicated relationship of the two main characters Jake Sully and Neytiri was the focal point. The Way of Water is more like a very expenses Saturday morning cartoon show.

 Avatar created its own mythology, which will serve for the three future films. There is a big tell at the end of the movie for the next one. For the senior crowd the way of water is a rush to the bathroom.

The Menu (HBO Max)

 

The Menu (HBO Max)

The Menu leaves a bad taste. It is described as a dark comedy horror thriller. What passes as humor are uncomfortable moments for the characters and the viewers. The problem with the movie is a lack of back story to give content to the film. The film takes place on a private island for an exclusive dining experience at the Hawthorn restaurant. What ensues is random mayhem and butchery.

Ralph Fiennes is the celebrity chef Slowik. Fiennes plays the role with controlled emotion which eventually erupts. The dinner is by invitation and the guests are specifically chosen. They have history with the chef, and he has scores to settle with them. Working for chef Slowik are a group of sous-chefs who dutifully prepare the meals and commit atrocities as easily as cracking an egg. One scene was brutal and unexpected.

Anya Taylor-Joy plays Margo who was not a designated guest accompanying Taylor played by Nicholas Hoult. Taylor-Joy gives a strong performance. She is not immersed in the epicurean experience and dares to criticize the overly complex food plates. Hoult is the opposite, even as chaos ensues, he is transfixed by the food and lofty preparations.

John Leguizamo is a second-rate actor who in the past insulted the chef. He was not funny or irreverent, a waste of talent. Hong Chau is Elsa, the maître d’hôtel. She is more gestapo than maître d’ enforcing rules and punishing non-conforming guests. There are other characters with ties to the chef.

Some scenes are there for shock value, and they hit their mark. Without some set up the relevance of the scene is obscure. As the story unfolds plot lines tie things together. The film would have been more effective with background. Cause and effect balance a movie, here there is more effect with cause lacking. In full transparency Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a rating of 89%.