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.