Plenty has been said already of the new Marvel comic book version of BLACK PANTHER--a film that has received the most buzz and comment of any film for many months, and most of that acclaim has been well deserved, especially for the themes the film espouses. Sometimes overstuffed with ambition, the film deals with pride, betrayal, customs, racial politics, tradition, and honor, all the while surging forward with exciting action sequences of good vs bad and life vs death. Many characters have attributes of several things all at once, including villain, royalty, warrior, genius and revolutionary, and the cast is splendid on many levels. Chadwick Boseman as the BLACK PANTHER has appeared in a number of excellent films--most memorable as baseball great Jackie Robinson in 42 from 2013 and this year as the first black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood MARSHALL. Michael B. Jordon is also quite effective as the "villain" (although that would be open for discussion) Erik Killmonger--he appeared to fine effect in FRUITVILLE STATION from 2013--a startling film directed by BLACK PANTHER director Ryan Coogler. Oscar winner from 12 YEARS A SLAVE Lupita Nyong'o shines and current Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya from GET OUT is effective as well. Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Forest Whitaker, and Angela Bassett all have some regal moments. This film feels so different from any other Marvel comic story that if feels fresh and innovative, even though there are the typical moments--the hero is at one point presumed dead, but...... Some of my reservations fall to the wayside just because the film, steeped in African tradition, culture and pride, is something we've rarely witnessed before in a super hero film. GRADE-------------B+
WATCHED ON TV/DVD---------------
MR. TURNER (2014)---A biographical impressionistic film about British painter JMW TURNER during the last 20 years or so of his life does not ingratiate audiences much because of his grunts, gropes or bellyaching, and the pacing is very slow. But the cinematography and settings are lovely, and actor Timothy Spall has never been better, and the cast and direction, once you start to get into the flow, casts a magical glow, as his masterful impressionistic paintings take center stage. It made me want to learn more about him. GRADE--------B+
THE FUGITIVE KIND (1960)---This film version of Tennessee Williams stage play ORPHEUS DESCENDING is probably the best that could have been done to Williams' odd, challenging drama, and features fascinating work by Marlon Brando, Anna Magnani Joanne Woodward and director Sidney Lumet. Brando was at his peak at the time--this was his first time earning one million dollars for a film, and although the film bombed financially, but you can still be gripped by his performance. I'm aware of Anna Magnani, but have never seen her other films (my bad, I know) but her presence here is magnetic, and I will look forward to seeing what else she is capable of. (She won her best actress Oscar in 1955 for THE ROSE TATTOO--another Tennessee Williams play/movie.) Woodward was younger here than I've ever seen of her roles, and a revelation. Ditto with Maureen Stapleton--a memorable portrayal. Especially impressive is the direction--it's an imperfect drama, but very effectively rendered by one of the great directors Sidney Lumet. Here's a list of just some of the great films he made--and many of them won Oscars for the leading actors: 12 ANGRY MEN, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE GROUP, THE PAWNBROKER, LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, RUNNING ON EMPTY, THE VERDICT, DEATHTRAP, SERPICO, EQUUS, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU RE DEAD, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 1974 and my favorite, NETWORK. GRADE--------B+
SNATCHED (2017)---It might seem to be inspired casting to have a rarely seen Goldie Hawn playing the mother to the hot new comedian Amy Schumer, and physically they do match up at times, but this not so funny comedy about a kidnapping in South America that turns all wrong and violent has a mess of a script. It's like the writer set up a situation, then didn't know how to resolve it, so the scene just ends and picks up the characters later--no explanation as to what happened in between times. Fortunately, a mute Joan Cusack has some amusing physical slapstick moments, and Wanda Sykes and Christopher Meloni have some wry, funny supporting scenes. GRADE-------------C
IT'S BEEN OUT FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS, BUT I JUST BOUGHT THE FULL JAMES BOND 007 BLU RAY SET (ALL 25 FILMS), AND I'M STARTING AT THE BEGINNING.
DR. NO--1962---This first adventure is a bit restrained from the later episodes, but all the amazing features are in place---an evil mastermind SPECTRE scientist (Dr. No, who has strong steel hands that can kill with a blow---unfortunately they are no good at climbing out of treacherous waters full of phirana fish since steel poles and steel hands don't work well together.....)---a beautiful young woman rises out of the water wearing an ivory colored bikini (model turned actress Ursula Andress, and side note, in 2001 her "rag" of a bikini sold for over 41000 pounds!)------extreme car chases against a tricked out Bond vehicle end tragically for the bad guys------deadly but sexy women try to seduce, then try to kill Bond---this film was the first of the three girl scenario--the first woman he meets at the casino who technically becomes the FIRST Bond girl is Sylvia Trench, then he beds the "great in a towel" evil Eurasian secretary, and finally the "good"Andress-ETC. This new film is a surprise big hit--the buzz started in the theatres when Bond utters "The name's BOND, James Bond" and in London the film plays for 11 months! The casting of Bond was convoluted--Cary Grant was considered too expensive, producer Broccoli felt David Niven was not tough enough, and he felt Roger Moore was too young and pretty! Patrick MacGoohan declined on moral grounds (!) Other names tossed around included Trevor Howard, Richard Johnson and Michael Redgrave. The producers liked new comer Sean Connery in his first leading role for Disney, DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, and Dr. NO director Terence Young had worked with Connery before, so it was finally decided. The only top tier decider who didn't want Sean: writer Ian Fleming who had created the James Bond books about 10 years earlier, because he didn't like Connery's Scottish accent! GRADE-----B
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE(1963)---There's a better plot, and more characterization to the characters--the evil seductress may not be so bad after all, and the active bad guy is a young, blond brutal killer Robert Shaw (who later played Quint in JAWS)--he and Connery were friends and had worked together, giving their scenes some extra tension, especially in the wild, tense fight scene in a small cabin aboard the Orient Express train. Lotte Lenya plays a cruel spy for SPECTRE who has deadly poison in knives in her shoes. Over all, the film plays like more of a cold war thriller and is more satisfying than DR. NO. One note: at age 31 when he started Dr. NO, Connery was already balding, and plays all of his Bond films in a toupee. It's a wonder they could all stay on his head with scenes that include thrilling running scenes, wild boat chases, train chases, car chases, etc. English singer Matt Monro sang the first theme song, but not too memorably in this film. GRADE----------B
GOLDFINGER (1964)--This film broke open the popularity of Bond films in general, grossing nearly twice what the first two films grossed, and it is still a high water mark for the number of memorable scenes. The spy in the center of the circle was there from the beginning, but now the other graphics became more explicit, with a woman in gold paint writhing in back lit profile (which foretells the death of one woman early in the film) and that booming music sung by Shirley Bassey which has to be the most popular and iconic sound from any of the other popular Bond songs. (According to Rolling Stone, and something I'd never thought about before, the Goldfinger song is actually based on Moon River, the theme from BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S--and if you hum it you realize that is true.)
Other amazing scenes involve hit man Oddjob and his killer hat, Goldfinger himself and his sneering deliveries. "I don't expect you to tell me anything, Mr. Bond--I expect you to die!!!! while Bond is ready to be lazered in two by a new deadly beam, and the updated special car that can shoot, protect, shoot fire, and eject from the passenger seat! and the climatic air plane fight that has the large Goldfinger ejected from a window while airborne. Certainly one of the more unusual Bond woman is Pussy Galore whose name provides many snickers from the viewers, and whose lesbianism seems a mere convience for the erotic tension. GRADE---------A-
THUNDERBALL (1965)-- The only thing I remembered from this film was the general atmosphere--nearly half the film takes place under water of the Caribbean where Bond is trying to track two stolen atom bombs by a diabolic mad man trying to control the world (a typical plot repeated a number of times in future films.) Visually on land it looks exotic, but under water it is hard to watch as the water is dark and murky at times, and when the characters are all wearing wet suits and masks it can be tough to tell who is who, although conveniently the good guys wear red wet suits and the bad guys wear black suits. Tom Jones sings the OK theme song. Still a bit tedious at times. GRADE---------B-
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE 1967--This smart looking film is filmed almost entirely in Japan, and starts with a startling scene where Bond is killed,but of course, just kidding. Nancy Sinatra sings the hummable title song. While not continuously exciting, there are a number of good set pieces--a car chase scene and an ambitious ninja attach inside a volcanic mountain cum evil fortress. GRADE------B
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE 1969---Holding out for more money and a shorter work schedule, Connery did not appear in this film--which featured the one time newcomer George Lazenby as a more than adequate Bond--in fact on seeing this for the first time in over 40 years, I wish that he would have made some more Bond films. He is a masculine, physical presence, he throws out the sarcastic bon bons as well as Connery and the plot is filled with great moments like trying to escape from a mountain top chalet by skiing down hill with more than a dozen gunmen coming after him--and then one of his skis breaks, and he must slalom the rest of the way! There's a fantastic car chase on icy roads that ends up in a car rally on ice, and a spectacular snow avalanche that endangers several participants. Best of all is the choice of the leading lady--Bridget Bardot and Catherine Deneuve were both considered, but both fell through due to other commitments. Fortunately, they all wanted Diana Rigg--fresh from the TV smash THE AVENGERS, and she is definitely the most memorable of Bond women--plus Bond asks her to marry him! She was well known for her work in British theatre, and they felt her professionalism would help Lazenby, which it seemed to do. They had a lot of chemistry, and their relationship packs a punch. Lazenby also has a great sequence in which he plays a stuffy Scottish professor while imprisoned in an all women's hospital clinic where he amusingly comes across to the woman as gay, but of course he doesn't hold out very long. GRADE-----------------------------A-
FAVORITE 2017 FILMS
No specific order--favorites first
THREE Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri--funny, fierce, literate.
LADY BIRD--smart, funny, moving--and the car jumper lives!
DARKEST HOUR--I didn't want it to end.
MOLLY'S GAME--literate script and fascinating Jessica Chastain
STAR WARS: LAST JEDI--one of the best episodes
WIND RIVER--compassionate murder mystery
MAUDIE--moving artist bio-pic w/Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke
DUNKIRK--war story deconstructed
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD--engrossing based on true story w/ nominated Christopher Plummer and Michelle Williams
PARIS OPERA--beautiful documentary
COCO--best animation with thoughtful memory theme
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME---literate gay love story/drama, moving and thoughtful
THE POST--another triumph for Meryl Streep--truth better than fiction
ONLY THE BRAVE--moving true story of firefighter heroes
THEIR FINEST--nostalgic film of London in WWII
UNITED KINGDOM--true story of interracial love in 1950's in Africa
GET OUT--excellent mixture of GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER and THE STEPFORD WIVES
I, DANIEL BLAKE--social injustice personified
GHOST STORY--patience rewards for thoughtful memory film
Flawed but very interesting-- close to perfect movies: THE BIG SICK, WAR OF PLANET OF APES, BRISBY BEAR, STRONGER, VICTORIA AND ABDUL, GOD'S OWN COUNTRY, JUSTICE LEAGUE, WONDER WOMAN, BATTLE OF THE SEXES, MEYEROWITZ STORIES, DOWNSIZING, THE FLORIDA PROJECT, PHANTOM THREAD, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BEST GUILTY PLEASURES--MOTHER!--modern abstract version of book of Genesis--audacious and fascinating. Also PERSONAL SHOPPER--a sort of ghost story, with great glamorous clothes, motor bike rides, stressful jobs and sexual tension--and a fabulous Kristen Stewart.
OSCARS------Sunday 4 March ====PREDICTIONS
BEST PICTURE----Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is the strongest choice, but I loved LADY BIRD and wouldn't mind if that won.
BEST DIRECTOR--Greta Gerwig for LADY BIRD and Christopher Nolan for DUNKIRK are the strongest to me, but with 13 nominations I suspect Guillermo Del Toro will win for THE SHAPE OF WATER.
BEST ACTOR--All good, but this is the role of his lifetime--GARY OLDMAN for DARKEST HOUR.
BEST ACTRESS--FRANCES MCDORMAND for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is heads above the others, but Saoirse Ronan is splendid for LADY BIRD.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY--Martin McDonagh for THREE BILLBOARDS seems strongest, but Greta Gerwig for LADY BIRD and Jordan Peele for GET OUT are very worthy.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY--James Ivory for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME has a lock on this one (three time nominee but no wins, yet), but I also love Aaron Sorkin for MOLLY's GAME.
BEST ANIMATED FILM--COCO has a lock on this one.
BEST SONG--I liked THIS IS ME from THE GREATEST SHOWMAN but also REMEMBER ME from COCO is a strong choice.
SUPPORTING ACTOR--Sam Rockwell is very deserving for THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI
SUPPORTING ACTRESS--Allison Janney from I, TONYA was remarkable, but Laurie Metcalf from LADY BIRD is competitive.
MAKE UP/HAIR--DARKEST HOUR
EDITING--DUNKIRK
VISUAL EFFECTS--STAR WARS LAST JEDI
MUSIC SCORE--I loved Hans Zimmer for DUNKIRK, but also very good was Alexandre Desplat for SHAPE OF WATER
BEST SOUND EDITING--DUNKIRK
COSTUME DESIGN--Toss up--PHANTOM THREAD, DARKEST HOUR, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
CINEMATOGRAPHY--DUNKIRK
PRODUCTION DESIGN--DUNKIRK or BEAUTY AND BEAST
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