WICKED-- I'm happy to report that WICKED is as good, musical, funny, epic and compelling as I hoped it would be. It is a WOW and I'm going to be anxious to see the last part 2 next year. It's the film to beat at this years Oscars and other year end awards.........GRADE--A
THE WILD ROBOT--Here's a beautifully animated feature with compelling visuals, grand music, likeable characters and a sweet story. Wonderful. GRADE--A
CONCLAVE--A smart thriller about the process of choosing a new pope, with some surprising twists along the way. If you want to be wonderfully surprised, DO NOT READ ANYTHING ABOUT THE PLOT OF THIS FILM, since some articles give away the pleasure of some major plot twists. With Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini and others. Screened at VIFF. GRADE----------A
GLADIATOR II---Here's an entertaining sequel to the original from 15 years ago, and this one is funnier thanks mostly to Denzel Washington who manages to steal every scene he is in, and of course it's also bloodier, too, but really worth the effort as it moves right along in plotting and action. GRADE----A-
SING SING---A big winner at SIFF this year thanks to an effective performance by Colman Domingo as a prisoner who helps put on theater productions with other inmates. GRADE-------A-
TOUCH---Moving drama where elderly man searches for his teen age love from 50 years ago. Half the film is a flashback. GRADE---A-
A REAL PAIN---Comedy drama has cousins taking European tour of concentrations camps that affected their Jewish Polish ancestors, with Jesse Eisenberg (who wrote and directed) and an inspired Kieran Culkin. GRADE-------A-
EMILIA PEREZ--Mostly in Spanish-with English subtitles--a musical dramatic thriller about a crime boss who transitions to live as a woman. Believe me when I say the actors and story and filmmaking and music are great, and you will have never seen anything like this before. GRADE-------A-
ANORA--Screened at VIFF, this is the new Sean (Tangerine, Florida Project) Baker film with an impressive job by new comer Mikey(Once Upon Time Hollywood and Scream 5) Madison as a sex worker who compulsively marries a young Russian oligarch only to find her life in great chaos. GRADE -----------B+
ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LAST TAPES---Compelling HBO documentary about the life and times of Liz (and Dick and others). GRADE-----B+
THE WHITE BIRD---Helen Mirren remembers what life was like as a girl living in Nazi Germany in engrossing drama with using flashback and flashforward techniques. GRADE--------B+
BEETLE JUICE BEETLE JUICE---Actor Micheal Keaton and director Tim Burton are dementedly back for more bizarre humor in this entertaining comedy of the weird. GRADE--------B+
SPEAK NO EVIL--BLINK TWICE--Two suspenseful thrillers about possibly two different serial killers--both stylishly made, well acted and full of twists. The first stars James McAvoy in a remake of a Dutch thriller from 2022, and the Blink Twice film features Tatum Channing in a film by new director Zoe Kravitz (Lenny's daughter) and offers a twisted look at the battle between the sexes to chilling effect. Both films get a strong Grade of B .
MY OLD ASS--Funny and insightful film of teen who meets her older self....GRADE------B
IT ENDS WITH US--Chronicles the end of an abusive relationship. GRADE------B
WE LIVE IN TIME--Chronicles the tragic end of a loving relationship. GRADE-------B
THE OUTRUN--Saoirse Ronan tries to overcome her alcoholism on spartan Orkney Islands and she is better than the film she's in, as usual. GRADE------B
RED ONE--Funny action comedy about the kidnapping of Santa two days before Christmas. Sharp cast led by Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Lui, Chris Evans and J . K Simmons as a buff Santa. GRADE--B
DIDI--From SIFF a sweet Chinese film about a tenacious teenager. GRADE----B
THE SUBSTANCE--Over the top horror film with Demi Moore and Margaret Quilley who take a new drug to make them a better version of themselves. Lots of nudity and bloody gore. GRADE----B
JACKPOT--Director Paul Keig is slumming it a bit here after such charming comedies (SPY, BRIDESMAIDS, THE HEAT all with Melissa McCarthy) and the splendid 2019 romance comedy LAST CHRISTMAS, but after a slow, silly start with star Akwafina, the jokes improve and the pace is funnier in the last half. On Netflix. GRADE-----B
GOODRICH---When his wife leaves for a 90day rehab, Micheal Keaton must become a better dad to his two young twins and an older daughter in this OK comedy drama. GRADE-----B
THE MOUNTAIN--From SIFF--a struggling middle class family tries to upgrade to a new house in expensive LA. GRADE------B
DEADPOOL AND WOLFMAN---If violent and vulgar scenes and dialogue are your thing than this movie is for you. I did laugh, a lot, but felt very disgusted with myself afterwords. GRADE----B
SATURDAY NIGHT---50 years ago, Saturday Night Live put on TV their first episode, and it went something like this amusing movie. GRADE-------B
A DIFFERENT MAN---VIFF film has a facially disfigured man returning to normal by a miracle of medical science, then he tries out for a stage play about a disfigured man. Very interesting. GRADE-B
MOTHER OF THE BRIDE---Netflix film has Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt playing ex-lovers and now parents of two twenty-somethings who want to get married. I thought Shields was very funny as she tries to show revulsion at meeting her ex after 20 years. GRADE-----B GRADE-----B
GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS--In a private school, an excellent student becomes caught up in her changing hormones and learns that boys can get away with more bad manners than girls. Featured at SIFF. GRADE--------B
THE CRITIC---An aging drama critic in 1934 is fired from his paper when his homosexuality comes to light, so he plans his revenge using a struggling actress with tragic results. Stars Ian McKellen, Leslie Manville, Mark Strong and Gemma Arterton. GRADE------------B
SKYWALKERS: A LOVE STORY---Netflix documentary about young couple who climb the tallest buildings in the world. Suspenseful and intriguing with amazing photography. GRADE-------B
WOMAN OF THE HOUR--Netflix movie which stars and was directed by Anna Kendrick. Based on a true story, she plays a struggling actress who unknowingly crosses path with a serial killer. GRADE-----B
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER--It's a cliched, slow and predictable first hour ever, but then--a miracle! The last 30 minutes redeems the beginning with a moving, surprisingly heartfelt ending--even the coda is pleasing. You'll need the patience of Job to get to that point. GRADE------B-
These films also rated B-: THE FABOULOUS FOUR with Bette Midler and Susan Sarandon, MY PENGUIN FRIEND, MY SPY: ETERNAL CITY, VENOM:LAST DANCE, afrAId about AI horror, WOLFS with Pitt and Clooney on Apple plus, THE INVESTIGATORS with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck on Apple plus, A FAMILY AFFAIR with Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Kathy Bates on Netflix, and ABSOLUTION with one of Liam Neeson's two a year films, about a hit man with dementia! Not a good thing to have in his career.
These films were graded C+: TWISTERS, THE TRAP, GHOSTBUSTER:FROZEN EMPIRE and The MERRY GENTLEMEN (half naked dancing men for Christmas cheer, on Netflix) and KILLER HEAT with Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Prime--in a low energy mystery noir.
These films rated C: CUCKOO with Dan Stevens and RUMORS which screened at VIFF, and I was so bored I walked out after one hour.
VINTAGE FILMS ON DVD
ALICE'S RESTAURANT 1969 and PIECES OF APRIL 2003 to celebrate Thanksgiving. Both rated GRADE------A
Also watched director Paul Feig's charming Christmas romance LAST CHRISTMAS 2019--Rated-----------GRADE-----A
TWISTER 1994----GRADE A- Much better than the one this summer.
WHITE HEAT 1949--"I look good in a fur coat!" "Honey, you look good in a shower curtain!" Grade-----------A-
IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD 1963---Durante kicks the bucket! GRADE------B+
THE INSPECTION 2022--Young black gay man joins the Marines just to please his mother! GRADE--B+
THE RAT RACE 2001--After a sluggish 20 minutes where all the characters are introduced, this film gets funnier and funnier with each viewing. Cast includes Whoopi Goldberg, John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and many others. Sort of a modern remake of MAD x4 WORLD from above. GRADE----B+
HOBSON'S CHOICE 1954--A David Lean film with Charles Laughton whose three daughters won't be taken lightly. John Mills and Brenda de Banzie also amusingly star. GRADE-----B+
LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERTHING 2023, ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES 1938, PUBLIC ENEMY 1931 --both with James Cagney--THE BLINDSIDE 2009, EVIL UNDER THE SUN 1982--an Agatha Christie mystery with Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Diana Rigg and James Mason--OPERATION PETTICOAT 1959--with Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and director Blake Edwards which is not as awful as its title-----ALL RATED GRADE B
BEDFORD INCIDENT 1965--with Sidney Poitier and Richard Widmark, BELL BOOK AND CANDLE 1958--with a fine cast of Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon and Elsa Lancaster in an odd Christmas themed story about New York witches, and CHRISTMAS VACATION 1989 with Chevy Chase-- and ARABESQUE 1966--a stylish Stanley Donen film with Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck-----these are all rated GRADE B-
COMING SOON----TOP PICKS OF THE YEAR in early January
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