I don't know why it has taken me so long to post this September blog but suddenly it is now February and the films just keep piling up, therefore the comments will be limited.
THE HOLDOVERS--Director Alexander (SIDEWAYS) Payne's newest film is a treasure--a fine mixture of laughs and drama, with three wonderful lead performances that constantly surprised me. Paul Giamatti is snarky, sarcastic, and painfully tragic as a teacher from a private boys school in the East, who is tricked into being the adult over the Christmas two week holiday taking care of a small handful of boys who have no where to go. DaVine Joy Randolph is the other adult--a cook grieving for her only son who has recently been killed in Vietnam and was a graduate of this school. Her grief is so real and sad that she can barely function, yet she has the ability to steal all her scenes. Dominic Sessa is a newcomer to acting, but his anger at his absent mother and father makes you want to cry, and he engages with others with skillful adolescence pranks and emotions. The film is set in 1971 and the soundtrack and look of the film gracefully capture the period. This is the year of OPPENHEIMER, but THE HOLDOVERS has a certain lock on Oscars for Giamatti and Randolph and possibly for original screenplay. GRADE-----------A
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON--Another fine film in the canon of director Martin Scorsese--a three hour epic that remains engaging for start to finish, about the sad true story of the murders of some rich Indians who have discovered oil on their land in the early 1900's by some racist white men who are jealous and greedy, and they have no scruples for their murderous actions. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert deNiro and Jesse Plemmons, but the heart and soul of the film is the wife of DiCaprio's character and she may be the first indigenous actor to win an Oscar for her moving portrayal. She is the most complex, since her husband and his uncle are the ringleaders to the murders, and most of the victims are her relations. GRADE-----------A
AMERICAN FICTION--A clever story about a black intellectual writer who becomes enraged that his serious, thoughtful stories don't get any attention, yet when other black writers tell stories filled with black cliches and dialogue and violence, they become best sellers, and celebrated for becoming true and hardcore fiction. As a joke, he churns out a ridiculous copy of such a trashy novel, but finds out some hard truths of his own. A career high for Jeffrey Wright and for Sterling K. Brown as his irresponsible gay brother have landed both with Oscar nominations, and the strong support cast includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Erika Alexander and Leslie Uggams. It's a funny and ironicly classic film. GRADE----------A
THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE--This German language film was my favorite at VIFF (Vancouver). It has been nominated for best foreign language film. A young, idealistic teacher becomes embroiled in student and teacher politics when she tries to find out who is stealing money from fellow classmates and teachers. GRADE------------A-
FALLEN LEAVES--Viewed at October's VIFF, the Finnish film director Aki Kaurismaki makes films that all look alike--stark, simple with drained color, and very serious with bursts of humor. FALLEN LEAVES is no exception, but this film remained very memorable with its deadpan humor about two quirky lonely working class people trying to find love in spite of whatever life throws at them. Oh yes, there is also, and always, a loveable dog in each film. GRADE---------------A-
SHE CAME TO ME-- Writer and director Rebecca Miller's comedy drama is a quirky, spunky affair about a composer with writer's block, his wife no longer interested in her husband, and a stranger who provides the catalyst. The talented cast includes Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway and a delightfully original Marisa Tomei. The plotting is breezy and casual--it is easy to watch. GRADE-------A-
FRYBREAD FACE AND ME--Wistful, lowkey, low budget and sincere gem about young Navajo teen cousins who spend a summer with their grandmother in 1990, learning about family, life and each other. A wonderful, heartfelt film, and a pleasant surprise. GRADE---------------A-
SALTBURN--The new film by Oscar winning writer Emerald Fennell (for PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN) tells the story of how a young Oxford student becomes "smitten" with a rich, handsome student who invites him to his family estate for the summer. There he becomes taken with the luxurious surrounding and decadent characters of the odd family, and slowly you realize that all is not what it seems with the family or the naive student. Some of the themes we've seen before in stories like THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, and BRIDESHEAD REVISITED but Fennell has thrown in some shocking scenes of sexuality and weirdness but keeps it all wholesome with beautiful scenery and charismatic acting by Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamond Pike, Richard E. Grant and Carey Mulligan. It may not be for everyone, but I found it decadently refreshing. GRADE--------B+
THE COLOR PURPLE--A musical remake of the book and earlier film. It doesn't shy away from abuse of the main character, and all actors are very strong, and the music fits in well. The final scene is especially moving. GRADE---B+
RADICAL--In Spanish, a teacher in a rough part of town finds new ways to reach and teach his young students. GRADE--------B+
STRANGE WAY OF LIFE w/HUMAN VOICE--Two short films that played as a double bill, these are both directed by Pedro Almodovar in his usual colorful and stimulating directorial style. STRANGE WAY is a western with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke in a loving relationship, and HUMAN VOICE 2020 has Tilda Swinton awaiting her ex-lover. GRADE----------B+
ANATOMY OF A FALL--This French/German film is mainly a courtroom drama where a woman is suspected of pushing her husband to his death from the upper floor of their chalet. The film is talky and visually static, but the wife played by Sandra Huller is compelling. She's an Oscar nominee for best actress, and also appears in the Oscar nominated film for best picture ZONE OF INTEREST below. The film is also a best picture nominee. GRADE---------------B+
ARGYLLE--Many reviews were negative, but I had a lot of fun watching this spy action thriller that flashes in and out of fantasy with a writer who writes so well that her plots match actual spy plottings. A fun popcorn movie. GRADE-----------B+
DREAM SCENARIO--Writer Nicolas Cage keeps popping up (menacingly) stranger's dreams causing a lot of bad PR for the writer and his family in this clever dramatic fantasy. Cage is great as usual. GRADE-------------B+
THE BURIAL--Flashy southern lawyer (Jamie Foxx) takes on the case of poor Tommy Lee Jones fighting fraud, in this entertaining, suspenseful courtroom drama, complete with many twists and emotional surprises. Based on a true story, and streaming on Amazon Prime. GRADE------B+
DUMB MONEY--Based on a true story, this clever and engrossing film deals with the GAME STOP situation where Wall Street tried to bleed money out of what seemed like a dying company, but fans of GAME STOP supported it with buying up a lot of GS stock. Excellent cast includes Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogan, America Ferrero Pete Davidson, Vincent d'Offrio and others. GRADE----------B+
ANYONE BUT YOU--Here's a bright, funny, sex comedy which benefits from an attractive cast (Rachel Griffith, Sydney Sweeney, Bryan Brown, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney etc) and lovely scenery filmed mostly in Australia, and a plot borrowed from a Shakespearean comedy (Much Ado About Nothing). Slick and amusing--what more do you need. GRADE---------B+
NYAD--True story of first woman to swim from Florida to Cuba, with strong actors Jodie Foster and Annette Benning earning Oscar nominations for their work. Foster for supporting actress, and Benning for best actress. Streaming on Netflix now. GRADE------------B+
THE BEE KEEPER--A killing machine of one, in this case Jason Statham, who promptly dispatches oh so bad bad guys that it out actions most of the Fast and Furious films with it's single mindedness. It's a guilty pleasure and popcorn film in one. GRADE----------B+
THE FLASH--One of more entertaining super hero films in the last couple years features two FLASHES (both played by Barry Miller) and three BATMANS (Micheal Keaton, Ben Aflect and George Clooney) and there are a lot of humorous scenes. Especially amusing is the first 20 minutes with Flash trying to save six babies in diapers as a building is collapsing. GRADE-----B+
THE PAIN HUSTLERS--A charming cast including Chris Evans, Emily Blunt and Catherine Ohara and Andy Garcia are streaming on this Netflex comedy/drama. GRADE--------B+
GRAN TURISMO--Another film based on a true story, this young gamer takes his experience on the video race driver games and makes it to actual race car driving. The racing scenes are exciting and profound, and the cast including Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, Djimon Hunsou and newcomer Archie Madekwe are all very effective. Deserves to be watched on a big screen, GRADE-----B
MUTT--Screened at SIFF and now on Netflix, this modest story takes place when a newly trans man returns to town to confront his ex-boyfriend, his half sister and his father all during a 36 hour period. GRADE--------------B
RUSTIN--Coleman Domingo is a deserving best actor Oscar nominee for portraying a gay man who is the main assistant to Martin Luther King during the time of his march on Washington DC speeches. GRADE---------B
MAESTRO--I don't feel I learned that much about the life of Leonard Bernstein, but the actors including Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan (his wife) are interesting to watch. GRADE------B
RED,WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE --The son of the US President and the son of the British King meet and promptly hate each other, but over the year find themselves meeting a couple times and begin a long distance, international romance , much to the horror of their families. Uma Thurman is the USA president, and Stephan Fry is the King of Englnd. It's a delightful comedy romance--a fantasy to be sure, but it goes down smoothly. GRADE---------B
BLUE BEETLE--A fun superhero film about a teen Latino who gets special powers from a beetle, but much of the fun comes because he lets his family in on the situation, and then must spent much time protecting them. Susan Sarandon is delightfully over the top as the evil company president trying to get the beetle for herself. A refreshing take on being a superhero, featuring lots of Latino actors. GRADE-------B
THE EXORCIST; BELIEVER--This is a first rate sequel to THE EXCORIST, and features the original actress Ellen Burstyn in a small but crucial role. There have been so many films that feature exorcists over the year that seem like cheap ripoffs. In spite of some holes, this one generates tension and has a few scares, and the final scene has stayed with me for months. I'm not sure having two possessed girls really works but it does provide a chance for different outcomes to be discussed. GRADE---------B
PRICILLA--The new film by Sophia Coppola is based on the book by Pricilla Prestley. It's a nice film and the two leads are what make it even better. Newcomer Cailee Spaeny very much looks the part of a teenage girl being courted after by Elvis, and Jacob Elordi makes a superb Elvis. I didn't know who he was until a month later I saw him in SALTBURN and was impressed by him again. GRADE-----B
BOY AND THE HERON--This new film by anime director Hayao Miyazaki is, as usual, a visual splendor although the plot becomes more chaotic as it goes along, but technically the film is well worth seeing for the color, imagery, music and visionary imagery. GRADE----------B
GENIE--This funny Christmas fantasy film stars Melissa McCarthy as the 2000 year old GENIE who tries to help an overworked husband and father get his house and life together after his wife and child have moved out. Richard(LOVE ACTUALLY) Curtis wrote the screenplay, based on his British TV movie from 1991, and while it's basically a minor affair, McCarthy has many witty funny asides, and I hope she soon gets a great film to work her magic in. GRADE-----------B
PERSIAN VERSION--A large Iranian immigrant family living in New York City and their struggles to fit in, and it centers on the older queer daughter who has run ins with her conservative mother who is carrying around a large secret that changes a lot for the daughter, and the daughter is pregnant. It's a comedy/drama, and wildly entertaining. GRADE---------B
THE GREATEST NIGHT IN POP--Documentary about the night that many of the top pop singers at the time (including Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, and a dozen others) gathered at the request of Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and Harry Belefonte to record a song to raise money for an African famine relief--WE ARE THE WORLD in January 1985, It is fascinating to see the energy and talent it took for this all to come together and also interesting to see what each singer looked and sounded like 35 years ago. Streaming on Netflix. GRADE----------B
NEXT GOAL WINS--This quirky odd comedy from director Taiki Waititi takes a while to get into the comic flow, and some characters are better than others, but the film has a wholesome feel and a positive end and the America Somoa location is exotic. GRADE---------B
MONK'S LAST CASE--Mystery comedy, now streaming on Netflix. GRADE-----B
LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND--End of the world drama, currently streaming. GRADE----B
BANK OF DAVE--British comedy/drama based on a true story, now streaming. GRADE-----B
BOYS IN THE BOAT--Based on a true story set during Hitler's Olympic Games, currently still in theaters. It's a smooth well mounted film, but could use some zip, GRADE--------B
EL DORADO: EVERYTHING THE NAZIS HATE--Documentary about a long running night club that was open from the late 1920's until the mid 1930's that featured drag shows, singing, gay and lesbian dancing and other sexy things in Berlin until the Nazis came to power. Streaming. GRADE-------B
THE ZONE OF INTEREST--A best picture nominee, this German film is set in a housing compound where a Nazi commandant lives with his family--it borders Auschwitz on one side, There is no violence or depiction of atrocities, but sometimes the soundtrack picks up gun shots and screaming while the visuals show what a peaceful and lovely place this house is. Sandra Huller from Anatomy of a Fall above, plays the wife. GRADE-------B
JOURNEY TO BETHLEHAM--The cast of this Christmas musical Nativity film is fine, and the pop songs mix well with the traditional music, and even an over the top Antonio Banderas as Herod is fun to watch. GRADE--------B
HAUNTING IN VENICE--An OK dark mystery based on an Agatha Christie story with Kenneth Branaugh as director and lead actor. Unfortunately the most interesting character is soon dispatched and no one else can grab our attention. GRADE-------B-
THE CREATOR--Science fiction that becomes chaotic and confusing. GRADE--------B-
THE MARVELS--All female superheros but the plot which has the characters leaping from one galaxy to another becomes hard to follow. GRADE-------B-
THE KILLER--Director David Fincher's new film about a hit man who makes a mistake has its moments, mostly belonging to star Michael Fassbenderf. Streaming on cable. GRADE----B-
MAY DECEMBER-- Streaming on cable, and suggested by the Mary Kay Letourneau story about a teacher who has an affair with a younger male student. The story is set 25 years later when the couple is married with kids. The actors are interesting, but I was sort of bored and nothing unusual was happening in the story. GRADE--------B-
WONKA--It's pleasant enough and colorful, but I wanted it to be more. Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Keegan Michael-Key each have a few moments, but most of the cast seems wasted, especially Ronan Atkinson. GRADE------B-
MEAN GIRLS--I never saw the orginal comedy so I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't realize it is an out and out musical. I finally relaxed and began to enjoy it about 20 minutes in. I enjoyed most of the jokes although some fell pretty flat. Tina Fey had some funny sly moments, and the four main girls each had some laughs. Some songs were better than others. I might enjoy it more on a second viewing. GRADE---------B-
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM--I really loved the first AQUAMAN feature--Jason Mamoa is the water beast, and Patrick Wilson is great too, but really the plot felt like more of the same and the supporting characters were not given much to impress. GRADE-----B-
FERRARI--The actors were OK (I didn't even recognize Adam Driver at first) but the plot was slow and plodding, and the serious film seemed like I was watching an Italian soap opera without any subtitles. GRADE-------C+
SCRAMBLED--Biological time clock for a baby is running out for a party girl, and it felt like I'd seen it all before. The string of her past boyfriends was a depressing cliche. Nice try for a low budget effort though. GRADE-----C+
MEMORY--Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard work hard at their characterizations but the dark images (literally) and themes of this ultra serious film (sexual abuse and mental illness) were a turn off for me. GRADE-------C+
BEST CHRISTMAS EVER--Streaming. Jason Biggs, Brandy, Heather Graham. Unmemorable. GRADE--------C
NAPOLEAN --An epic flop by director Ridley Scott. Plodding, dull and over long, and I learned nothing new or interesting, GRADE-------C-
FAMILY SWITCH--Streaming comedy of family that father becomes son in his body, and mom becomes daughter and vice versa. Seen it all before. GRADE------C-
CANDY CANE LANE--Unfunny Eddie Murphy comedy of family Christmas house decorations in neighborhood with magic involved. Yawn. GRADE------C-
DICKS: THE MUSICAL--Cast members pull out the stops (Megan Mullally, Nathan Lane, Megan the Stallion, Bowen Yang, etc) and I did laugh about 4 times, but the film is paper thin and most of the gags land with a thud. Probably best watched drunk or stoned or with a full house of perverts, but I saw it with only 2 other strangers in the huge theater. Possible midnight cult classic status in it's future. GRADE---C-
VINTAGE FILMS STREAMING OR DVD OR LIBRARY
NATIONAL VELVET 1954--Just about as perfect as a film can get. Everything works so well, especially a child Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, and the supporting cast gets great moments. I've seen it several times in the last few years and I'm so engrossed that I always forget exactly how the film ends. GRADE----------A
LAST CHRISTMAS 2019--When director Paul Fieg is good, he's very very good, and this underrated comedy drama set in London at Christmas is very good indeed. Emma Thompson co wrote the script and stars as the mother of Emilie Clarke--a cranky, irresponsible young woman who works in an all year Christmas store dressed as an elf, with boss Michelle Yeoh. Henry Golding is a charming man she meets and remeets and changes her life . I enjoyed the chemistry the would be lovers had, and I really fell for the big twist towards the end. The soundtrack is all George Michael (and WHAM) and though I'm not a big fan, the music is effective. GRADE--------------A-
BRIDESMAID 2011--Very funny, gross out female-centric film that was one of the big hits the year it was released, Co-written by Kristen Wiig who also stared in the film, this was an early role for Melissa McCarthy, and it resulted in her first Oscar nomination for supporting actress. Wiig also was nominated for her screenplay. Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne and Chris Dowd are also featured, and all have very funny scenes, culminating in a riotous scene when all the bridesmaids come down with food poisoning while trying on wedding dresses. Paul Fieg directed. GRADE---------A-
SPY 2015--Director Paul Fieg again, with a funny film full of slapstick humor featuring Melissa McCarthy as an unlikely spy. There are very amusing turns by co-stars Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Jason Statham and Alison Janney. GRADE------A-
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE 2018-- Ultra-violent but packed with humor, has a number of people checking in to a hotel that straddles the California/Nevada border--all searching for stolen money hidden under the floor boards of one room. A great, inspired cast includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthio Erivo, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth and Lewis Pullman. GRADE-------B+
FEAST OF THE FISHES 2019--A young man wants to go to art school instead of working at his family's retail store in this working class comedy drama set in West Virginia. Just before Christmas he meets a rich girl from another part of town and she's invited to a raucous feast made from many fish dishes on Christmas Eve, but when her boyfriend shows up things change. This is a charming, thoughtful film filled with interesting characters. GRADE-------B+
THE SCAPEGOAT 1959--Alec Guiness and Bette Davis star in this film based on a Daphne du Maurier novel about man tricked into being the replacement for another look alike man with a lot of problems with his business and his family. Intriguing and engrossing film. GRADE-----B+
SNAKE PIT 1948--Nominated for best picture, actress (Olivia deHaviland) and other categories, this drama based on a national best seller is set mostly in a mental hospital and deals with paranoia, mental illness, and abuse in public hospitals. A few topics are a bit old fashioned, but overall the film is a powerful look at mental illness, and deHaviland is terrific. GRADE---------B+
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY 1952--Based on a stage, a family gathers for Christmas Eve, and they all have different problems, with Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton and Denholm Elliott. GRADE-------B+
ROMANTIC ENGLISHWOMAN 1977--A Joseph Losey film with Glenda Jackson, Michael Caine and Helmut Berger about a marriage in crisis as the lover moves into the home of the couple. GRADE-----------B
FALLING FOR FIGARO 2021--Charming British film has high paid money manager near 30 years old quitting her job to train to be an opera singer. GRADE-----B
HOUSEBOAT 1958--Cary Grant mistakenly hires a princess as a nanny(Sophia Loren) for his two kids. GRADE--B
BLAZING SADDLES 1974--Mel Brooks comic satire of westerns and racial prejudice with a wonderful cast including Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn. GRADE-B
20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH 1957--Up to date colorization is great. Fun monster effects by Ray Harryhausen . Plot is a bit predictable. GRADE-----B
QUEEN BEES 2021--Netflix film has strong cast including Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margaret, James Caan and Jane Curtin. Woman new to senior living finds cliques, politics and romance. GRADE-----B
THE SCAPEGOAT 2011--Decent remake of duMaurier story (see above). GRADE------B
HOLIDAY IN THE WILD 2019--Rob Lowe and Kristen Davis find love in an African elephant reserve, over Christmas yet! Very charming and exotic. Streaming. GRADE-------B-
FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS 2022--Netflix film has Lindsay Lohan as heiress engaged but during a skiing accident loses her memory and starts to fall for a lodge manager. I liked her a lot better with amnesia (she looses her pretensions) and film has some charm. Set in small town over Christmas holidays. Also starring Chord Overstreet GRADE-------B-
TAMMY 2014--Lowbrow slapstick with Melissa McCarthy playing it with gross humor and laughs are a mixed bag. GRADE-------B-
THE TWELVE CHAIRS 1970--Early Mel Brooks film is leisurely but has it's comic moments, with Frank Langella, Ron Moody and Dom DeLuise. GRADE------B-
THE BIBLE: IN THE BEGINNING 1962--Epic looking film with John Huston, George C. Scott, Stephen Boyd, Ava Gardner and Peter O'Toole (who plays three angels in the same scene!) GRADE------C+
OSCAR SHOW SUNDAY MARCH 10th 4PM
The Oscar nominees this year for best picture are all a worthy bunch, and I wouldn't feel bad if any of the them won (although I do have my favorites!) Here are some of my predictions.
Pretty sure that OPPENHEIMER is the film to beat this year. It has an exciting and visual plot and the acting by all is strong, especially Robert Downey Jr. who plays the nemesis in not allowing Oppenheimer to keep credit for his work. I fully expect Downey (who has never won an Oscar before) to take home the Best supporting Oscar. Christopher Nolan will win for best director, and should pick up at least half a dozen technical awards including musical score, editing and script.
The top contender for Best Actor is Paul Giamatti for THE HOLDOVERS--never nominated before but having appeared splendedly in numerous fine films. The best supporting actress seems to be a lock for Da'Vine Joy Randolph, also for THE HOLDOVERS, as she manages to steal every scene she is in as a grieving mother. I think this film will also win for best original script.
Best actress seems to be strongly in favor of Lily Gladstone, and she would be the first indigenous Indian to win a top award for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. But there is a strong feeling for Emma Stone who played a child in a woman's body in POOR SOULS, a very unique quirky demanding film that may not be everyone's taste, but I certainly loved Stone and Gladstone in their films. Stone has won before so my preference is Gladstone.
Here are the nominees for the best picture Oscar according to my preference:
OPPENHEIMER
THE HOLDOVERS
AMERICAN FICTION
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
POOR THINGS
BARBIE
PAST LIVES
ZONE OF INTEREST
ANATOMY OF A FALL
MAESTRO
It's always hard to predict the BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE winner but of the two I've seen, I really enjoyed THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE from Germany. Although since ZONE OF INTEREST is also nominated for best picture, that means it will probably win this category. Again, the OSCARS are on Sunday March 10th at 4pm Pacific time.
