Quirky independent actress Greta Gerwig is now a triple threat film maker. In her first effort, she has written and directed the most insightful comedy drama of the year, called LADY BIRD, and that film zooms to the top of the best films of the year. Not only is this a possible best picture nominee, but she should be acknowledged for her direction and original script, and the film contains at least two actor nominees with the lead Saoirse Ronan (from BROOKLYN) and as her mother Laurie Metcalf (best known as TV ROSEANNE's sister). Ronan plays a high school teen trying to figure out her educational future, and she butts heads with her mother in a love/hate relationship that any mother/daughter can relate to. The supporting cast is also superior--Lucas Hedges from last year's MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is her first love, Timothy Chalamet from the fine upcoming film CALL ME BY YOUR NAME is her second love and the always resourceful Tracy Letts plays her mild but wise father and there are another half dozen actors equally fine. There are a lot of teen age coming of age films out there, but this one gives a fresh perspective to the material, and with such an excellent cast and direction (and great musical score and editing) pushes LADY BIRD to the top. GRADE-----------------------A
Now playing on Netflix and in theatres in major large cities, is the new film by Noah Baumbach with the long title THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES/New and Selected. The interesting actors include Adam Sandler--surprisingly effective, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Candice Bergen, Rebecca Miller, Elizabeth Marvel and many others. The story is about a dysfunctional, New York Jewish family that gathers together to celebrate the elder father's (Hoffman) career as an artist, but it soon morphs into some surprising conflicts as the three children (from two different mothers) become embroiled in estate planning and secrets and health issues. These are not necessilary lovable characters, but as things unfold, I found myself fascinated by the family dynamics and the way each member works at "fitting" into the family unit. Other films directed by Baumbach include KICKING AND SCREAMING 1995, SQUID AND THE WHALE 2005, FRANCES HA 2012, WHILE WE'RE YOUNG 2014 and MISTRESS AMERICA 2015, and he has written the scripts for LIFE AQUATIC with STEVE ZISSOU 2004, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING 2007, GREENBERG 2010 and MADAGASCAR 3--2012. Greta Gerwig has appeared in several of the above films, especially effective in FRANCES HA and MISTRESS AMERICA and they are now a couple. Her new film LADY BIRD seems to have eclipsed his own impressive achievements. See above. GRADE-----------------A-
It's rough windy sheep herding country where an isolated farm is run by an older man and his son--the lonely son goes to town regularly to binge drink and for violent sex. When the old man becomes disabled, a younger Romanian worker is hired on, and slowly an intense friendship develops between the two young men that leads to some surprising changes in the young alcoholic's attitude toward life. The film called GOD'S OWN COUNTRY, is one of the better love stories of the year--sort of a BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN set in Yorkshire. Beautiful scenery and strong acting help offset some hand held camera distractions. GRADE--------------B+
Here's another version of Agatha Christie's classic (and astonishing!) murder mystery thriller MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS which features over 15 passengers and crew trapped in snow on a stranded train in the first class cabins when a murder is committed, and it's up to world class detective Hercule Poirot to solve the mystery before the train can reach the next country. There is the usual assortment of could be killers, all played by a large able cast, including Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Penelope Cruz, Judy Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kenneth Branagh who plays Poirot with a ginormous mustache--he also directed this stylish production. What makes this version so special, even if you know who done it (and if you don't know who done it, what are you waiting for?????), is that this case affects Poirot so deeply that the film, despite some amusing, clever moments, becomes a tragedy for him, and manages to move the audience more than any other of Christie's many stories. GRADE------------B+
I never liked the first two THOR films much--to dark, too preposterous, too confusing with plot, etc....but the latest called THOR:RAGNORAK has a cheeky sensibility and a playful touch, and the characters don't take themselves too seriously, providing a lot of humor, and how can you go wrong with Cate Blanchet playing the delightfully evil Queen of Death (!), growing giant "horns" just before unleashing waves of death---to all her subjects! How will she ever take over the universe when she kills all her warriors when she is displeased? The reliable Mark Ruffalo has a big role as HULK, and Jeff Goldblum hams it up as the GRANDMASTER. The director from New Zealand, Taika Waititi often takes on roles in a lot of his films--two of his most recent ones I liked are HUNT FOR WILDERPEOPLE 2016 and EAGLE VS SHARK 2007. GRADE-----------B+
Last year the dismal BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, which I felt was bombastic and dull and I couldn't buy into the premise that Batman would (or could) want to kill Superman was directed by Zach Snyder, and when I heard he was directing the followup superhero film JUSTICE LEAGUE I became concerned. Just before finishing the filming, Snyder left the production due to a family tragedy, and Joss Whedon (AVENGERS 2012 and 2015, and new BATGIRL) was put in to finish it, and refilmed some major scenes. This seems to have induced some humor, casualness and smartness to JUSTICE LEAGUE. I also loved the new characters, especially Ezra Miller as Flash--who plays it like a cocky comedian. Jason Momoa makes for a wild, beefy Aquaman. The new character Cyborg doesn't get to make quite an impression due to having to share his scenes with his doctor/scientist father, but hopefully future films will give him more to do. I look forward to the next installment, which apparently has a lot to do with the return of Lex Luther (yawn)...... GRADE---------B+
The best film winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival, THE SQUARE, written and directed by Swedish director Ruben Ostund (FORCE MAJUERE 2014) is a satiric comedy drama about a wealthy museum director who makes some poor choices when confronted with some right or wrong
options when dealing with human issues and museum events. Much like the opening segments of his last film FORCE MAJUERE, where the father figure grabs his phone and leaves the restaurant and his family to fend for themselves when it appears a large landslide will wipe out the outdoor seating--this museum director makes some questionable choices when he is robbed, presented with an easy sexual conquest, and tries to entertain his benefactors prior to the opening of a controversial new show--by insulting his guests. I liked how the film makes you very uncomfortable, even when there is much humor and satire here. GRADE---------------B
The new film by Todd Haynes and based on a popular novel is called WONDERSTRUCK, and it is problematic, to say the least. Telling two different stories set decades apart, and working with two child actors and telling what at first appears to be unrelated stories, the film is ambitious in that a main theme--the difficulty of a non-hearing person in society and using a deaf youngster (a very distinctive Millicent Simmonds)--much of the dialogue is interpreted or put into subtitles or hand written on a tablet. This manages to slow down (or nearly stop) the action of certain scenes, and despite many wonderful and magical sequences, the tone of the film feels uneven and viewers become impatient. Julianne Moore is luminous in two key roles, and the speaking youngster who must later "play" deaf, played by Oakes Fegley, is admirable as well. I do recommend this unusual film especially for film buffs and those interested in hearing issues, even though it is often frustrating for a more casual viewer. GRADE----------B-
Another very ambitious film, from France, and based on a true story is the impressive but very overlong docu-drama 120 BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) which tells the French version of the ACT-UP political movement. Set in Paris, this group of doctors, educators, AIDS patients, homosexuals, politicians, and concerned public members, met regularly to force their government to first of all acknowledge the AIDS crisis that most governments in the 1990s refused to deal with, and secondly to get doctors and scientists to find a cure for AIDS. They took to the streets with parades, riots, protests, town halls and articles in public news papers. The film zooms in on the relationship between two activists, and a highlight scene--nearly 10 minutes-- is a relatively explicit sex scene between the two, complete with explicit and informative "pillow" talk. There are a number of excellent scenes, and a few turgid ones, including an overlong death finale. I appreciated the honesty and straightforward efforts of the protests--much of what was also occurring in the USA in most major cities. GRADE-----------------B-
A French film from 2014 but only now getting a minor release across the USA, THE PRICE OF FAME (LA RANCON DE LE GLOIRE) tells the "based on a true story" of two friends who decide to steal the recently deceased body of actor Charles Chaplin and hold it for ransom. The film is quite leisurely, and much of the dialogue feels a beat or two too slow, and the film drags because it tries to be as accurate as possible. I saw this several years ago at SIFF and don't remember much about it that would be memorable. GRADE---------C
VIEWED ON DVD/TV
UP THE RIVER 1930--Here's an early John Ford film about a man and woman who are trying to start a new life after prison, and the two convicts who try to help them. Not bad. A very young Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracey star. GRADE-----------B-
EFFIE GRAY 2014--She was married to art critic John Ruskin for six years, but divorced him because the marriage was never consummated, and later married artist and Ruskin friend John Millais. It should have been a juicy scandalous story, but the film is painfully austere and nearly uneventful, in spite of the writing and acting efforts of Emma Thompson. GRADE--------------C
