The Darkest Hour

The Darkest Hour                                                                                             December 13, 2017

This movie will be challenging for American audiences. I am the tail end of the baby boomers generation and I think following generations will have less knowledge, or care about, WWII and foreign leaders. I do not mean to malign anyone, but I do not think millennials and their cohorts will be much interested in this movie. To date the box office is disappointing.

Gary Oldman resembles Winston Churchill as much as I resemble Dwayne Johnson (more body than face). Oldman’s transformation to Churchill results from copious application of makeup and prosthetics. My problem with this movie is the heavy emphasis on imitation. Accents (which are so important in defining class in England) and distinctive speech patterns were as critical as make up. Churchill had an unmistakable voice in tone and cadence. Oldman got it close.

The movie captures Churchill’s idiosyncrasies. Cigars perpetually in his mouth; whisky at breakfast, champagne at lunch and whisky in the evening. He preferred to walk barefoot at home and wears matching his and hers pink bathrobes with monogram.  I think all this emphasis on replication takes away from the performance. The film tilts towards caricature. When Danial Day Lewis played Lincoln, he did it without affectations; he became Lincoln.

The movie’s topic is 75 years in the past. The darkest hour has a dual meaning. It was a critical period for England with Europe capitulating to the Nazis and England on the verge of negotiating for peace. For Churchill his premiership was under attack from his own party. Certain licenses were than with historical facts.

The supporting cast is even more esoteric: Neville Chamberlain (the Great Appeaser), Lord Halifax (Foreign Secretary) and King George VI (same king from The King’s Speech) have critical roles. The movie gets deep into the weeds with terms of surrender, the Dunkirk disaster and the failure to get military help from America.

My review is going against popular opinion. Oldman already has a Golden Globe best actor nomination and most likely he will get an Oscar nomination. The life of a critic is perilous.

Roman J. Israel Esq.

Roman J. Israel Esq.

Roman J. Israel Esq. is struck in the 60’s. Afro, tweed jackets with wide lapels and an Angela Davis poster on his wall. He is the backroom lawyer of a two lawyer firm. When his partner dies he is rudderless. Roman is either a savant, on the spectrum, neurotic or probably all three. With his copious legal knowledge, he secures employment with new owners of the old firm.

I do not want to call the movie dull, but it only gets interesting two thirds of the way in. Being the consummate actor Denzel Washington deliverers a yeoman’s performance. He has the walk, stooped shoulders and talks without thinking which defines Roman. He has a fall from grace betraying his lofty ideals. As with all down falls there is a price to pay, and he pays dearly. His downfall gives rise to a predictable ending which eliminating   suspense.

The other actor of note is Colin Farrell. He is the counter point to Roman. Sauvé, well appointed, confident and not bad looking. Roman creates problems for Farrell and himself.

The film veers of course. It starts out as film focusing on social injustices then it turns into a conventual semi-suspense movie with a predictable ending. Denzel Washington has a string of successful movies, but this one is a misfire.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

The fiercest creature in the animal kingdom is a mother, meet Mildred Hayes. Mildred, played by Frances McDormand, is the fearless iron-willed mother whose daughter was raped, murdered and set on fire. The frustrating fruitless efforts by the local police inspire her to rent three billboards to write embarrassing remarks to egg on the police. The film is called a dark comedy; it tilts more to the dark. This film has many levels and the characters are complicated. The ensemble is terrific and deliver high caliber performances. When awards are given out they will be competing amongst themselves.

McDormand is a tour de force. Her steely determination seeking results is unstoppable. Putting up insulting billboards is the least of what she does for revenge. In a one and half hour movie she smiles once. This role is the antheses of the folky laid back character she won the academy award for Fargo.

 

Woody Harrelson is Chief Willoughby the target of Mildred’s ire. This is a bit of an unusual role for Harrelson who usually plays tough guys (True Detective, Natural Born Killers). He is frustrated and compassionate with Mildred. His role is brief, but it helps to frame the movie. He is a counter point to Mildred’s angst.

Sam Rockwell is phenomenal. He nearly steals all the lime light. He plays a red neck bigoted deputy who uses brutality first and doesn’t even ask questions later. During the movie he goes through a metamorphosis driving a critical part of the movie. If there is an awards contest it will be between Rockwell and McDormand.

Just a short comment on Peter Dinklage. He does not have a big role, but his character brings needed humanity. (I know I will burn in hell).

The ending was unique.

Thank God, we are nearing awards season and the studios are bringing out their serious films. Get a front seat and see this movie.

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water

Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors. He is a master of fantasy story telling. His oeuvre includes Pan’s Labyrinth, Hell Boy and The Devil’s Backbone. This is a tender love story between a lonely mute woman and an Amphibious man (merman) captured by the government for nefarious research. The mute is played by Sally Hawkins who is a janitor at the governmental facility. In contrast to the cruelty inflicted by Michael Shannon, who plays a military officer who found the “asset” in the Amazon, Hawkins affectionately secures the creature’s confidence and affection.  Since the creature cannot speak sign language becomes their common bridge.

The movie is set in the 60’s. Dresses, cars, music and bigotry all 60’s. Racial discrimination, homophobia and disparaging the handicapped were all prevalent. The creature is an avator for these derogations and his loving relationship with Hawkins is a repudiation of blind hate.

Sally Hawkins plays a difficult role as a mute, but this constraint does not limit her expressive performance. The signing was an interesting feature of the film (in real life Hawkins is not mute). Octavia Spencer is also a janitor and Hawkins’s friend. She helps to facilitate the romantic affair between Hawkins and the merman. She gives her usual understated performance which belies her strength and guile.

Michael Shannon has created on a franchise of being mean. His sadistic performance as Colonel Strickland is over the top and intense. He torments Hawkins and Spencer which in turn makes them cohorts to protect the merman. Richard Jenkins plays a terribly lonely middle aged closeted commercial artist who is Hawkins’s neighbor and close friend. Their mutual loneliness bonds them together and Jenkins is very supportive of the burgeoning romance between Hawkins and the merman. He puts himself in peril for their love.

Some parts of the movie are quite brutal. There is also magic, but I refrain from revealing it. One benefit, by the end of the movie you will be able to sign F… You.

Justice League

Justice League                                                                                                   November 22, 2017

The main battle was not in the movie Justice League rather it was between Marvel Comics and DC. Justice League was released about one week after Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. The box office was no contest. To date Justice League has made about $286m worldwide while Thor has $742m worldwide with a budget of $180m. Justice League cost $300m and expectations are low for making for a profit. DC continues to lag Marvel.

   

Justice League’s strength are the characters, new and old. There is Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and new characters the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. These new characters will most likely have their own spin off films. Ben Affleck is Batman and his performance is as stiff as plaster board. Gal Gabot is tough and sweet with more meat on her. Ezra Miller is the Flash and is the most affable and humors character. Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) is Aquaman. Momoa plays Aquaman as a loner and a reluctant team member. Ray Fisher is Cyborg. He is the most serious and dour. Ray Fisher is a black actor and this seems to be the next DC/Marvel dual when Marvel releases Panther with a black cast.

The plot is unwieldy and disjointed. The arch villain is Steppenwolf played in motion capture which switching from live action to animated is a bit disconcerting. Steppenwolf comes back to earth to retrieve three magical mother boxes and the Justice League must stop him. To add more to the mix the Amazon’s are back. There is one silly scene where on of the mother box is rumbling back to life and the Amazons are pointing arrows and spears ready to attack a mystical mist.

Acting is not a high standard and the plot is muddled. If you are a fan of super heroes the introduction the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg is very interesting. Rotten Tomato gave Justice League a 41 score and Thor a 92 score. In fairness they should both be adjusted. Thor in not Gone with the Wind and JL can be kicked up a few notches just for the characters.

Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049                                                                                                          October 6, 2017

Blade Runner 2049 (a.k.a. 2049) and the original Blade Runner are more like siblings than twins. They share DNA but are uniquely different. The original Blade Runner is classic film noir with gloomy rainy Los Angles of the future (2019) and murderous replicants hunted by Blade Runners. 2049 is a journey to find answers dating back to the original Blade Runner. At the heart of both movies are the perils and evolution of artificial intelligence.

 It is not necessity to see the original Blade Runner before watching 2049. 2049 is a sophisticated standalone sci-fi movie with a solid plot. Parts of the original Blade Runner are referenced in 2049 so seeing the original film will give a more holistic experience.

The movie is exhausting with a run time of 163 minutes (the original master piece is 117 minutes). There are some slow parts and surgical editing would have been welcomed.

Ryan Gosling is the replicant Blade Runner working for the LAPD. He is named K but is later called Joe. He shows some human tendencies making him reluctant to perform his duty. Gosling performance for the most part is monotone. A sadness permeates his performance. He is more introspective than Deckard (Harrison Ford).

His LAPD boss is Lt. Joshi played by Robin Wright. Wright gives her usual frosty performance. She is abusive treating Gosling like a disposable non-human. She tasks him with a secret mission.

K has a hologram girlfriend named Joi (what else) played by Ana de Armas (Cubana). When they have sex (very safe sex) another female is used as a proxy and melds with Joi. Not a critical plot point, but interesting to watch.

Jared Leto plays Niander Wallace. He takes over the failed Tyrell corporation and manufactures replicants. Eventhough, he looks like Jesus, he exudes evil. His screen time is unfortunately short but his performance is effective. Wallace’s replicant henchwoman in named Luv, played by Sylvia Hoeks (Dutch model). She beats the crap out of Gosling with round house kicks to the head. Aside from her physically she gives a very effective and surprisingly tender performance.

In last 30 minutes Harrison Ford finally shows up. He is best be described as grizzled.  Ford is in hiding in an abandoned Las Vegas like city. He gives an excellent performance. This is where parts of the original movie come into play. This is the crux of the movie. He and Gosling have great chemistry.

The director of 2049 is Denis Villeneuve director of “Arrival”. His directorial style is decidedly different from Ridley Scott’s. Both films are moody. The original is heavy with darkness and endless drizzle. 2049 is less damp but the mood is anticipatory of something profound to come.

In fear of my life I will not comment of the movie’s plot but I will say it is an intriguing extension of the original film. Philp K. Dick would have approved.

Kingsmen: The Golden Circle

Kingsmen: The Golden Circle                                                                       September 30, 2017

The first Kingsmen film was a sleeper hit racking up $414m in worldwide box office; a sure formula for a sequel. The original film was a fantastical secret agent film. This film goes further and is more cartoonish. The villain, Julianne Moore, has a 1960 replica “Happy Days” village in Cambodia complete with a diner and bowling alley. She dispatches a henchman into a meat grinder and makes hamburgers, something Wile e Coyote would do.  

The basic story line is that the Kingsman’s headquarters in London is destroyed. Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) go to Kentucky to get help from their American counter parts, the Statemen, who are cowboys headquartered is a whisky distillery. Code names for the Kingsmen are derived from Knights of the Round Table and their American cousins are named after liquors; Whisky, Tequila, Jack Danial’s. Jeff Bridges code name is Champagne, a name eliciting more chuckles than fear.

The marque actors: Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum and Michael Gambon have basically extended cameos.  The coming attractions oversells them. The exception is Halle Berry, Ginger Ale, the Statemen’s techie, who has a more featured role. Her character is drab and unglamorous and she has the most hideous hairdo. Her sex appeal is peeled away.

Julianne Moore plays Poppy Adams the drug lord, who infects narcotics users worldwide with a fatal poison. The role is kinder to Moore than to Halle Berry, showcasing Moore’s glowing Ivory Snow looks and bright smile. Unfortunately, her hands betray her age and are best kept out of frame.

Elton John is in the movie and mercifully plays himself. He is in full regalia with rainbow feathers, sliver platform shoes and rhinestone glasses. He is a bit overweight, as we all are, but he can still bang out the piano. In a farce, such as this film, acting is not a requirement.

A major subplot of the film is the resurrection of Harry Hart, Colin Firth, who was shot in the face point blank in the first movie. I will not say how he was revived but clearly the writers are devoid of any medical knowledge.

If you are a fan of the Kingsman or Elton John, by all means see this film. Otherwise rent the first one.