LAST NIGHT IN SOHO-- It may be a bit messy--after all it manages to be a murder mystery, ghost story, coming of age saga, fashionista fable, horror flick and a musical (it is steeped with mostly British pop songs from the 1960s including Cella Black, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, The Who, Peter and Gordon, Sandie Shaw and others) but what a glorious mixture it is. With it's swirl of neon colors and lights, the sparkling cast which includes Anna Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, Terrance Stamp, Rita Tushingham, and especially the late Diana Rigg, who has a corker of a part, and the smashing retro music in nearly every scene, this film gave me more viewing pleasure than any other film I've seen this year. Ideally this film is best enjoyed on a large screen, but I just heard LAST NIGHT IN SOHO will be streaming PRIME/ON DEMAND after Thanksgiving. GRADE-------A-
WEST SIDE STORY--This is a creatively brilliant remake of one of the finest stage and movie productions of the last 60 years. Director Steven Speilberg shows he's still in command, and the new young cast is perfectly cast and sung. Every song hits the high mark, and the tragic themes still resonate. This is a strong contender for best of the year at the Oscars. GRADE----------A
THE RESCUE--The finest, most thrilling documentary of the year, this is the true story of the young Thai boys soccer team that went exploring a long cave just hours before the raining season unexpectedly began, and which arrived several days early, trapping them nearly 2 miles underground. It took an international effort to try to save them, and even if you know what happened, the film racks up tremendous suspense and fascination with the inclusion of never before seen video both inside and outside the cave opening. Directed skillfully by the same team that made FREE SOLO 2018 about a young man who climbs the tallest peaks without any partners, this film reminded me of Billy Wilder's classic film about a man trapped in a cave, and the circus that the press made of that tragic situation--ACE IN THE HOLE 1951. GRADE----------------A
BELFAST--Director Kenneth Branagh's lovely semi-autobiographical film of his life in Northern Ireland in 1969 is made with tenderness and heart, and from a child's point of view. It details some of the religious conflicts that tore Belfast apart for many years in the early 1970's, and features Judi Dench, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dorman and the young Jude Hill and features 8 classic Van Morrison songs on the soundtrack. GRADE------------A-
NIGHTMARE ALLEY--Director Guillermo del Toro's newest film after his Oscar winning THE SHAPE OF WATER is even better--a dark, twisted film noir, partially set in a carnival of weirdness. After introducing our lead, an excellent Bradley Cooper, who is shown killing his father and burning down the house, he hides out in a visually splendid carnival, learning about his co workers and picking up tricks of the trade, he later sets out with his new girl friend using mental "telepathy" to deceive the rich and famous out of their money, with a help of a truly wicked looking Cate Blanchet. In spite of the grimness of the plot, this film gripped me from scene to scene--like a train wreck, I couldn't stop watching. Wonderful art and set direction, photography, music, and the sparkling cast includes amazing turns from Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman and Mary Steenburgen. GRADE---------------A-
DUNE--I've not read the book or seen the earlier version, but this first half of the novel is easy to watch and exciting for what it is. That is, half the story. So it is hard to feel completely satisfied watching just the first half of what feels like an epic telling. Denis Villeneuve directed and the wonderfully odd music score is by Hans Zimmer. Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac are effectively royal playing the leads in the science fiction story of a family who must move to a dangerous planet to keep their position and power. I look forward to part two. GRADE-----------B+
POWER OF THE DOG--Director Jane Campion thoughtfully films this moody, odd "western" set in 1925 Montana (but beautifully filmed in New Zealand) about two brothers who barely tolerate each other. Jesse Plemons is the portly quiet brother who suddenly marries a lonely widow (Kristen Dunst) who has a sensitive teen aged son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and causes his caustic, bully brother (Benedict Cumberbatch) to set his sights to make lives miserable to the new wife and stepson. The film is not what I expected--its far more nuanced and sensitive than I imagined, and contains, in its favor, a strong homosexual theme that creates a tension beyond any western you've ever seen. GRADE---------- B+
KING RICHARD--When Venus and Serena were young, I can just imagine their father Richard talking and acting just like Will Smith in this new film. It's a powerful, skillful performance, the best of Smith's long career, and it's a credit to him that many scenes work as well as they do. He had a 70 plus page plan for his daughters careers and he stuck to it. Jon Bernthal is also intriguing as the coach who takes the entire Williams family under his wing providing for them the necessities of tennis training that make them what they have turned into today. The film is engrossing, but it Will Smith who takes the film into a special level. GRADE-------------B+
JULIA--Here's another fine documentary of cook Julia Child, who went to Paris with her husband, learned about French cooking, wrote a French cook book for Americans, and through her celebrity became a popular, entertaining TV chef, beloved and revered. GRADE---------B+
THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK--Written by David Chase, this works as a prequel to THE SOPRANOS TV series, especially since the lead teen is portrayed by Michael Gandolfini, the son of Soparanos lead James Gandolfini. This is a great film, with a splendid cast including Alexandro Nivoli, Vera Farminga, Ray Liotta, Leslie Odom Jr. and Jon Bernthal. It viewed like a superior long episode of Sopranos, and made me think of rewatching that classic TV show. GRADE-----------B+
THE ETERNALS-- This smoothly directed film by last year's Oscar director Chloe Zhao features a group of immortals with special powers who have lived secretly on earth for thousands of years but must come together to fight a deadly group of deviant monsters. The cast is interesting, with Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Kamail Nanjiani and Harry Styles as the leads. I look forward to the next film in the series. GRADE---------B
THE LAST DUEL--A strong film by Ridley Scott, this tells the true story of the last duel to the death in France, shown in three different versions. Jodie Comer stars as the young noblewoman who is raped and seeks justice from her attacker (her husband's friend), who lies about the incident. Matt Damon plays her soldier/husband who must believe his wife although he was away on business, to protect his honor. Adam Driver plays his best friend who takes advantage of his friend's absence and sees the wife's smile and conversation as his chance to find love--in a violent and forceful manner. GRADE----------B
LAMB--Icelandic film with Noomi Rapace. She and her husband are childless, so when a sheep gives birth to an odd human like lamb, she kills the mother and she and her husband raise the hybrid as their own child, but the arrival of the husband's irresponsible brother throws their happiness into a whirl. The pacing is leisurely but sticks with you, and there is a bizarre, dark finale, but overall, this watchable, creative thriller is NOT BAAAAADDDD! GRADE------------B
SINGLE ALL THE WAY--This Netflix Christmas film starts off with a tiresome and silly preamble, but after 20 minutes becomes a heartfelt and amusing story of a gay single man who convinces his best gay (platonic) friend to come home for Christmas pretending to be his newly engaged partner, not realizing that his mother has set him up with her gay gym trainer, and complications occur. Barry Bostwick, Kathy Najimy and Jennifer Coolidge, gay icons all, have many amusing moments in this charming LGBTQ comedy about acceptance, family love and trusting friendship. GRADE-----------B
CHANDIGARH KARO AASHIQUI--Indian film in Hindi with subtitles, this comedy drama Bollywood features has an unusual plot to be sure. A body builder trying to win a local title falls hard and fast for a new female Zumba teacher, who is a popular attraction to a gym that needs the business. The man's family is desperate to get him married off since he is now 30 and never attached before, but a big secret is revealed that might get in the way of him marrying the new woman. In spite of some serious themes and an LGBTQ subplot, you suspect that love will conquer all, and you might be right. And of course, there are a couple of big reveals and a toe tapping dance that ends the film. It may be superficial at times but it was just what I needed at the time. GRADE-------------B
PASSING--Set in NYC a few decades ago, two old Black friends meet by accident, and it is revealed that one of them is not only passing for white but she is married to a white man who has no idea of her racial identity. The film explores the consequences of living a lie and the possibilities of what friendship can do. This is the first directorial effort by actor Rebecca Hall (THE NIGHT HOUSE) and she does very well sustaining tension and intrigue. GRADE-------------B
LOVE HARD--This Netflix Christmas movie is not bad. A young white woman hooks up on line with what she thinks is the man of her dreams, and after several months of intense texting, she decides it is time to meet, so she flies from California to the east coast to surprise him for Christmas week. She soon discovers she has been "catfished"--that is deceived by a nerdy Asian man who has borrowed his friend's picture. In an effort to make amends, he agrees to set her up with the guy from the picture as it is an old friend of his anyway, but they keep the charade a secret from his prying family. I especially liked the fact that in spite of the deception, everyone acts civilized, you get to know the entire Chinese family in an endearing manner without too many cliches, and the film has a nostalgic Christmas theme throughout. GRADE----------------B
A BOY CALLED CALLED CHRISTMAS--Maggie Smith narrates this fantasy Christmas tale that is charming enough to keep your attention. Wizards, witches and elves populate this story, and the film is acted with conviction by Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig and others. GRADE-------B
THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN--Prime Video is streaming this British film based on the life of Louis Wain, a brilliant student of electricity in the early stages, but to please and distract his ailing wife, he starts to paint cats in a modern, and abstract manner, becoming know for his popular and unusual creations. The film is mostly concerned with his wife's illness, and his mental failing, so that takes the pleasure out of his work for the viewer, but as usual, Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy are splendid as the loving couple. GRADE--------B
14 PEAKS: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE--Documentary about Nimal Purja, a Nipaili mountaineer who decides to climb the 14 tallest peaks in Asia in about 7 months. There's a lot of snowy scenes and some tension as he faces the elements and the resistant governments. Engrossing. GRADE-------B
HOUSE OF GUCCI--Based on a true story, this biographical filmed based on the murder of the Gucci patriarch features an interesting cast. Lady Gaga comes off strongly as the willful wife, Adam Driver is her quiet but forceful husband, his uncle is played broadly by Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons is his sickly father. An over the top performance by Jared Leto as Pacino's wacky but dangerous son seems from another film all together, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. Gaga is also fascinating as she worms her way into the family business, but the film directed by Ridley Scott, who makes intelligent, adult films in general (see THE LAST DUEL, above) seems a bit flat to me--for all the supposed money and glamour and backbiting and power grabbing, I wanted a bit more.......Fun! or slease! or energy!............... GRADE----------------B-
RED NOTICE--A big hit for Netflix, this action comedy has some fun with some wild chases and switcheroos and the sparkling cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Gal Godot and Ryan Reynolds. Johnson is the "good" guy, trying to stop top thief Reynolds, who gets all the funniest lines. In an improbable plot twist, they work together to catch master jewel thief Gal Godot. The film is easy to watch and there are some good gags, but if you try to make sense of some of it, well good luck. GRADE----------B-
BECOMING COUSTEAU--Jacques-Yves Cousteau was an ocean diver, photographer, ship captain, director of documentaries, inventor of ocean equipment, novelist, conservationist and other titles, but not a very good father and husband, mostly because he was always so involved with so many different projects his whole life. The film presents, warts and all, the highs and lows of his illustrious career, using film clips and pictures from his past. This dry, straight forward National Geographic film was missing some humanity for me. GRADE---------B-
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG-----A live action film based on series of books about a sweet red dog who as grown to a gargantuan becoming the talk of the town. Some love him, others are afraid, and some hate him and want to capture and study/dispose of him, but the film remains charmingly simple and humorous. The children are good, and the adults do what they can, including John Cleese and Jack Whitehall (who also played an amusing second fiddle brother to Emily Blunt in this years JUNGLE CRUISE). The film serves its purpose, but isn't too memorable. GRADE---------C+
AFTERLIFE OF THE PARTY--An obnoxious party girl dies after a drunken party in bizarre accident, and must "earn her wings" if she wants to make it to heaven. She must make it right between herself and 3 people who she had been rude to in the past year, but the catch--no one can see her or talk to her except her put upon roommate. Think HEAVEN CAN WAIT mixed with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, but not nearly as classy. GRADE------C
THE MANOR---Barbara Hershey stars as a grandmother who has a small stroke, but decides to enter senior living at THE MANOR. She soon discovers some otherworldly activities that make her fear for her life--and her only allay--her grandson. Also features Bruce Davidson as another resident. It had its moments, but I wish it was better. GRADE-----------C
UNFORGIVABLE--Sandra Bullock is looks grim and tries hard in this loaded and convoluted plot of a newly released convict trying to find the sister she had to leave behind when she is arrested for the murder of a policeman. Unfortunately, there are too many coincidences and bad plot twist, and despite some interesting actors like Jon Bernthal, Viola Davis, Vincent D'Ofofrio, Richard Thomas and Linda Edmond, the film is unconvincing and forgettable. GRADE----------C-
A CASTLE FOR CHRISTMAS---A vanity project for Brooke Shields, who still looks lovely by the way, she plays an author who runs away after a book flop (heavens, she kills off the series hero, loosely based on her recently divorced husband!), going to Scotland to visit a castle that her father used to work at. There she meets and despises the castle duke (Cary Ewles, who also still looks good, by the way) who needs to sell the castle because he is paying the mortgages for half the small town and is now broke!?! And she's going to unbelievably buy it, but first they must live together 3 months during escrow Lot's of unbelievable drama later, they decide to throw a big Christmas Eve party for the town, and come together wearing a slutty tartan dress to match his tartan suit. Incredibly the rundown castle has been overly decorated by WHO? since no one seems to work there and no one has much money. It it wasn't for the lovely Scottish scenery, I'd have turned it off half way through. GRADE-----D+
THE HARDER THEY FALL--This nearly all black cast play both good and bad western characters, but comes with heavy doses of violence and sadism, continuous profanity and pretentious modern-style attitudes, all of which turned me off. I lasted about 45 minutes. GRADE---------D
VINTAGE FILMS from TV or DVD
PLATINUM BLONDE 1931--A spoiled rich young woman (Jean Harlow) impulsively marries a hardworking, simple news reporter (Robert Williams), and each one thinks they can change the other. Meanwhile, the girl next door type coworker (Loretta Young) longs to show her co-worker that he should be married to her. This early Harlow film is soundly stolen by Harlow. GRADE--------B
MUSIC MAN 1962--Meredith Wilson's classic musical has a plot that is often silly and lame, but I'd forgotten about all those great classic songs like 76 TROMBONES, GARY INDIANA, LIDA ROSE, PICK A LITTLE TALK A LITTLE, GOODNIGHT MY SOME ONE, and a song that the Beatles loved and recorded TIL THERE WAS YOU. Robert Preston walks off with the movie because the part is so bravado but Shirley Jones gets the singing honors. Buddy Hacket seems wasted, Hermione Gingold has a couple of great moments, especially singing PICK A LITTLE, and little Ron Howard (actor from Andy Griffith show and director of A BEAUTIFUL MIND etc) steals his scenes as the kid with the lisp. GRADE---------B
CALIFORNIA SUITE 1978--Neil Simon's rapid style quips are pretty funny in two of the four playlets which are set in a fancy Los Angeles hotel. Maggie Smith nearly steals the film with her acerbic reading of a nervous actress who has been nominated for an Oscar at a ceremony that night. She attends with her bisexual husband (Micheal Caine) who throws back the quips equally well. Smith won a supporting actress Oscar for her efforts. Jane Fonda and Alan Alda are a smoothly sarcastic divorced couple who are arguing over their daughter's custody. Unfortunately, the other two playlets depend on slapstick, and they have their moments. Richard Prior and Bill Cosby play doctors who with their wives check in to find two rooms are now only one, and they play a wild and physical game of tennis that becomes personal and childish. Walter Matthau wakes after a night of drinking to find a strange comatose prostitute in his bed and his wife (Elaine May) due to arrive at any moment. Because they are so dependent on slapstick for laughs, it feels like these last two belong in a different film. GRADE-----------B
THE TRAIN 1964--John Frankenheimer directed this intense drama based on a true story, about a Nazi (Paul Scofield) who tries to smuggle out of France a train loaded with stolen art masterpieces, and Burt Lancaster and Jeanne Moreau try to sabatoge that effort. GRADE----------B
LOST LANGUAGE OF THE CRANES--1991--A British made for TV film, based on the 1986 novel, the film is low key and realistic. When a young man comes out as gay to his middle class parents, his mother becomes distant, and his father becomes emotional. It is soon revealed that the father has been struggling with his gayness for many years even though he's married for over 20 years. I read the novel a few months before seeing the film, and oddly the film has been shifted from New York City to London, and it may not make much difference if you've never read the novel, but it was disconcerting to me because NYC is such a strong "character" in the story. GRADE-----------B-
MAKING OF A LADY 2014--This Masterpiece Theatre TV movie tells the story of a poor maid who ends up married to a gentlemen of means. She does well until her husband must leave for a few months, and she becomes involved with his devious cousin. GRADE---------B-
HOLIDATE 2020--This Netflix film is predictable but getting there is fun. Two singles decide to be each others platonic "plus one" for holidays and wedding and gatherings for a year, and over the course of a year, they begin to like each other. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey are the charming couple, and others including Kristen Chenowith as the inappropriate aunt and Manish Dayal as the serious doctor are tops in support. GRADE-----------B-
CLASH OF THE TITANS 1981--Harry Hamlin is an attractive Perseus and Judi Bowker is his lover, if he defeats Medusa and the Kraken, and Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith add some campy humor as two of the Gods. The special effects are kind of hokey, but overall a good effort. GRADE--------B-
CLASH OF THE TITANS 2010--Sam Worthington and Gemma Arterton are Perseus and Andromeda, and Liam Neeson and Ralph Finnes are two Gods, but not so campy. However the special effects are at a higher level. GRADE-------B-
HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE 1972--This made for TV film is simple yet effective. The teen aged girl is denied a Christmas tree because her mother died at her birth and the father is still grieving that event. With Jason Robards, Lisa Lucas and Mildred Natwick as grandma. GRADE-------B-
A THANKSGIVING TREASURE 1973--Both the above HOUSE and this story are based on a book. In school she learns about friendship, so on Thanksgiving day she secretly takes a meal to an "enemy" of her father. When the old man (Berenard Hughes) dies, her father becomes angry and threatens punishment. Another simple but sweet story with Jason Robards, Lisa Lucas and Mildred Natwick as grandma. This one was filmed on video so the photography is faded and poor. HOUSE looks much betters since it was shot with actual film. GRADE---B-
THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE 1940--Loretta Young is an independent book writer. She runs into Ray Milland who has no interest in romance, but due to a mix-up in publicity they must pretend to be married for both their careers. There is some clever plotting and attempts at screwball direction, but the humor is flat. I wish it had a wittier script. GRADE-------C+
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 1942--Loretta Young finds a charming basement apartment in NYC for her new husband to work in, but the first morning they find a dead body in the courtyard and try to find the murderer--from a list of suspects that all live in their apartment building. Again, the wit and humor fall flat and the mystery becomes tiresome. GRADE---------C+
ONCE UPON A TIME 1944--On the street one night, a struggling Broadway producer (Cary Grant) meets a kid who has a dancing caterpillar that dances to "Yes sir, that's my Baby" --quickly he tries to make money off this sensational act against the boy's mother's wishes (Betsey Blair). It is easy to see where this simple premise is going, but the film has some charm and innocence, in spite of the fact you can easily figure out the resolution. GRADE-----------C+
THE CHRISTMAS EDITION 2020--I saw it streaming on Netflix, but this turned out to be a lame, unreleased Lifetime Movie from last year, and it is not very good. A big time reporter is by passed for promotion so she packs her bags and heads for a small town newspaper in ALASKA! and runs the paper literally by herself with a photographer and a woman who runs a copy machine! and writes daily about all the Christmas events this small town likes to celebrate because living so close to the North Pole, well that's all the townspeople want to read about, right? I have some big questions, like does she even get paid to put out a two page paper every day, and how can she afford the paper, and will she fall for what seems to be the only eligible single man in this small town, etc etc etc. Trite, boring and predictable from scene to dull scene. The only actor of note is Marie Osmond who I didn't recognize until the closing credits (she's got a lot of big hair that hides her face). She was actually pretty funny as the news mogul trying to buy up the tiny paper in ALASKA! GRADE----- D+
