I keep thinking I'm going to blog with more frequency, but the summer activities have gotten away from me and suddenly I've over 20 films to report on!
There's no denying the power and skill with which Meryl Streep throws herself into a role, and that's amazingly apparent in the musical drama/comedy called RICKI AND THE FLASH. She dominates the film playing a mature mother of three who "abandoned" her family many years before to follow her dream of becoming a rock and roll singer--now she spends her days as a grocery clerk and her nights singing for the locals live at a bar that caters to her special talents. She is pretty good as a singer--you feel her energy and passion, but fame has eluded her and she lives from pay check to pay check, dating the lead guitar player (Rick Springfield) on a less than serious basis. When a family emergency calls her back to suburbia and her ex-husband Kevin Kline, she finds herself challenged and questioning her role as mother. All the supporting characters register strongly (including her real life daughter Mamie Gummer, who plays her suicidal movie daughter ) but Streep captures our attention and affection like no other whether she's playing the good, bad or indifferent mother. It many not be a perfect film, but she's the perfect actor in this role. GRADE---------B+
Director Guy Ritchie (the recent remakes of SHERLOCK HOLMES) is back with a reboot of the late 1960's TV series called THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Here's a wonderful example of the "less is more" issue that many movies about spies suffer from, including the newest MISSION IMPOSSIBLE below. They've taken the story back to the origins of the cold war time, forcing together an American spy with a Russian spy, and illuminating the relationship between Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, played ably by Henry Cavill (MAN OF STEEL 2013), Armie Hammer (SOCIAL NETWORK 2010), along with Hugh Grant and Alicia Vikander (EX MACHINA, TESTAMENT OF YOUTH). The pacing is carefully calibrated to allow the viewer to take it all in without getting lost in over the top plotting, and the action scenes are not improbable. It does not have the the improbable scene upon scene of the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE series, nor the stylish bling effect of many of the James Bond films, or the laughs of the recent SPY, or the dramatic power of the realistic films like TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY. It does, however, create a realistic time and place, believable characters, engaging patter, and a clever, solid plot. I anxiously look forward to the next installment with grateful enthusiasm. GRADE-----------B
I always enjoy watching each new version of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. --ROGUE NATION is the latest one, and I give it credit for keeping me diverted with a plethora of preposterous action sequences, any one of which would be incredibly unlikely to anyone other than Tom Cruise. Fortunately, Cruise still looks healthy and strong enough to pull off these romps, although for how much longer he'll be believed remains to be seen. Thinking back on the other four M:I films, they all run together in my mind, and because they consist of scene after scene after scene after scene of unbelievable moments, they don't have the staying power of , say, each new James Bond film. Still, it's good popcorn fun, and I'll probably see the next one in a few years. GRADE------B-
Finally beginning short runs after showing up at the recent SIFF festival, are a group of worthy films as follows.
TOM AT THE FARM (2013) was a favorite of mine two years ago. This French-Canadian film is directed by the writer and lead actor Xavier Dolan, and concerns a young gay man who travels to the country to attend the funeral of his lover, not knowing that the mother and brother do not know that the dead man was gay. The situation creates an atmosphere of dread, especially when it becomes clear the brother has his own bizarre, cruel agenda. GRADE------A-
BEST OF ENEMIES is a new documentary about the 1968 presidential conventions that ABC TV decided to cover using two witty, polar opposite commentators that erupted into tongue lashings on either side, changing TV forever, and making the way for the cruel "reality" TV that we have today.
Liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley proved lively and compelling adversaries and the film demonstrates that when it comes to extreme politics, things have not changed that much in over 45 years. GRADE------A-
Jermain Clement is an engaging newly divorced dad with young twin girls learning to live alone in New York City. He is shy and it's hard to start dating when he still has a thing for his ex. Not a lot happens here, but there are some pleasant and amusing moments in PEOPLE PLACES THINGS.
GRADE-----------B-
Two fine actors play writer and interviewer--Jason Segel is a marvel as novelist David Foster Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg plays the Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky, and that keeps END OF TOUR above the fray, although viewers not familiar with the novel or the situation may wonder what all the fuss was about, but the film illuminates loneliness, celebrity, fame, intellectualism and keeps our attention with the strangely polarizing personalities. GRADE----------B-
There are plot holes large enough for a truck to drive through, but the lead in the new German film PHOENIX helps cover a lot of faults. Nina Hoss plays a woman who escapes from a concentration camp needing a new face. She finds and baits her missing ex-husband without telling him her identify to determine whether or not he was responsible for her arrest in the first place. It's a curious, moody film. If you can swallow a lot of unbelievable twists, then this film has some interest. GRADE-------B-
THE FOLLOWING FILMS WERE VIEWED ON DVD--------
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957) is the perfect version of an Agatha Christie court-room novel, directed by pro Billy Wilder, and featuring Tyrone Power (his last film), Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester and Marlene Dietrich at their BEST. I've seen this film several times, but find myself drawn in and surprised by some of the stylish twists. GRADE------A
THE DROP (2014) is a modern crime drama about some low level characters who must handle the cash drops for some dangerous men who have bought the tavern. Tom Hardy, Noomi Pace and the late James Gandolfini (his last film) are all suberb and subtle, and the film has a haunting denouncement. GRADE----------A-
Director Anthony Asquith made only a few films that have stood the test of time, but at least two of those were both excellent. An early film of George Bernard Shaw's play PYGMALION (1938), later remade as the musical MY FAIR LADY (1964) has Wendy Hiller in an early role as Eliza Dolittle and Leslie Howard as Henry Higgins who makes a bet that he can transform the guttersnipe to act and sound like a countess in 6 months. The surprise for me was the meticulous dialogue of Shaw's play that not only fascinates, but it is clearly presented and directed with considerable skill. The musical remake keeps most of the same dialogue, and the play even has the perfect cues for the songs ie "I've grown accustomed to her face...." and "the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain..." Both Hiller and Howard are excellent as is the supporting cast. Another film based on a stage play is THE BROWNING VERSION (1951) featuring the incredible Michael Redgrave as a failed school teacher who is leaving his teaching job to take on another that he doesn't really want at another school. In spite of being unpopular, he gives a going away speech that galvanizes sympathy for him. Mr. Chips he is not, but it shows what might have been had his career gone in a different direction. He must also deal with a faithless wife, a deceitful friend, and a student who comes from nowhere to boost his morale. This film was so emotionally moving for me, and Redgrave creates much sympathy from such an unlikeable man. Both PYGMALION and THE BROWNING VERSION-------------------GRADE -----------A-
At the time, GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) was a big hit, and I'm pleased to say that it remains pretty darn good today, thanks to the laid back, droll delivery of Bill Murray, and the funny, scary scenes of demonic possession by Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis. Of course, who can forget the giant Sta-puff marsh mellow man. If you've never seen it, what are you waiting for? GRADE------B
The dependable Robert Mitchum and the "better than you'd expect" Marilyn Monroe shine as an unlikely couple forced to take a raft down a rapid filled river with dangerous Indians along the way in this Otto Preminger western called RIVER OF NO RETURN (1954.) Some of the plot twists may seem a bit predictable, but the film is a satisfying adventure. GRADE------B
CHEF (2014) is a newish film that is cashing in on the fascination with the foodie craze. Director/writer Jon Favreau stars as a chef who quits in frustration because he doesn't get to expand his food repertoire, then discovers his second career running a food truck. A lovely Sofia Vergara is his ex wife, although it is clear from the beginning that they both still have a thing for each other. John Leguizamo is his friend, and the relationships are all sweet and loyal, and the film is easy to watch. GRADE--------B
ANASTASIA (1956) is the story of a Russian businessman who tries to pass off an impostor as the Grand Dutchess Anastasia of the Romanov empire. She is so convincing that most Russians believed her story. Ingrid Berman won her second Oscar for the role, and Yul Brenner and Helen Hayes are believable in supporting roles. I saw a Biography episode that detailed the real details of the massacre and deceit that appears on the DVD, and it is a fascinating story. GRADE-----B
I'm not too familiar with Lana Turner's films, with the exception of THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE(1946) which is very good film noir. I was especially intrigued by the double feature DVD that contained two of her popular films. PORTRAIT IN BLACK (1960) is a melodrama that has her offing her ill husband with the help of her doctor/lover, only to become nervous and guilty when it appears someone is trying to blackmail her, and of course the relationship with her lover suffers, too.
Another melodrama, MADAME X (1966) had been filmed 4 times before, although none seemed to be as successful as this version. In it she is involved in the accidental death of a man who was trying to seduce her when her husband was gone. To save his career, she agrees to go away, abandoning her husband and young son. Ironically, years later, her now adult son is trying to defend her from murder of a man who was trying to blackmail her. Although the final 20 minutes is moving and emotional, it is also hard to swallow. In fact many plot twists were suspect. Turner is a very good actress, nonetheless, and she makes these films watchable. PORTRAIT IN BLACK and MADAME X both GRADED---------B-
The British film MORGAN! (1966) features David Warner as a psychotic man who fantasizes about animals, and thinks and acts like a gorilla at times. He won't leave his ex wife (Vanessa Redgrave) alone, although she still cares for him but can't stand his fantasies and strange rants and actions. It's an odd comedy/drama, irritating at times, occasionally humorous and can be moving if you can get into the eccentricities of the characters. GRADE---------B-
MY LITTLE CHICKADEE (1940) has the great Mae West and W.C. Fields appearing together in a western parody, and there were some moments of great amusement. West is run out of town for having an immoral relationship with the masked bandit. She meets and marries Fields on a train to provide her with some respectability, but they never consummate the relationship. He becomes sheriff (!?!) and she teases all the men in town. Not a great plot, and they've each been better in other films.
GRADE-----------C+
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