GREEN BORDER, GHOST LIGHT, FUROSIA: MAD MAX SAGA, HIT MAN, LOVE LIES BLEEDING, THE TASTE OF THINGS, EVIL DOESN'T EXIST, QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, plus vintage stuff TO BE OR NOT TO BE 1983, FRENZY 1972, BUTTERFIELD 8 1960 etc

 NEW STUFF SINCE FEBRUARY!

GREEN BORDER--Played at SIFF and soon steaming. Polish w/subtitles.  Refugees from Middle east are cruelly treated like political pawns in a no mans land.          GRADE------A

GHOST LIGHT--Played at SIFF and briefly in theatres.  Streaming soon.  A broken family tries to find happiness in a local theater production. Great low budget effort!     GRADE------A-

FUROSIA:MAD MAX SAGA--From original director George Miller!          GRADE---A-

TASTE OF THINGS----Streaming, French with Julliete Binoche, in English subtitles.  GRADE----A-

LOVE LIES BLEEDING------Streaming. Kristen Stewart!         GRADE-------A-

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST-----Played SIFF.  Briefly in theatres.   Streaming soon Japanese with English subtitles.     GRADE---B+

HIT MAN-----Streaming.  Comic murder for hire story.             GRADE-------B+

PROBLEMISTA--Streaming, with Tilda Swinton!        GRADE------B+

QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE---Currently in theatres. With Lupita Nyong'o and directed by Micheal Sarnoski who did wonders with PIG a few years back.      GRADE-----B+ 

ALL OF US STRANGERS--Moody and effective ghost story.  Streaming      GRADE B+

FLY ME TO THE MOON--currently in theatres.  Romantic comedy saved by Scarlett Johanson's charm and comedic timing.          GRADE----------B

KING ARTHUR---moving and tearfully inspirational true story of male athlete and his tag along stray dog.  Should be streaming by now.         GRADE---------B

THE PERFECT DAY--Japanese elder man meditates (as does the audience) while cleaning public toilets in Tokyo and watches the sky and trees.  English subtitles.  Streaming soon.        GRADE-------B

TUESDAY--A giant bird called death comes for a fatally ill teen, but her mother fights him off in this off beat, humorous tale with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss.  Streaming soon,        GRADE----------B

HORIZON--First 3 hours of actor and Director Kevin Costner's epic western film is engrossing and reminded me at times of HOW THE WEST WAS WON and MCCABE AND MRS MILLLER, and I appreciate how he includes subplots of indigenous people.  The film is supposed to have  two more long segments, but the second which was supposed to play in mid-August has been postponed til who knows when because the box office has been modest.  But hey, I liked what I saw.         GRADE-------B

DRIVE AWAY DOLLS--Director Ethan Cohen' s outrageous lesbian comedy/roadtrip could be a guilty pleasure anytime soon.   Grade-------B

THELMA--Opened SIFF this year, this gentle senior comedy about a woman who gets scammed for 10K, then tries to get it back, has its charms, mostly thanks to the lead June Squibb, who at 93 gets her first leading role after more than 50 years in the business.       GRADE------B

DUNE II--At last we get to see how this story ends, but it's a bit of a yawn.  Streaming, GRADE--B.

ROAD HOUSE--Impressive action remake of Patrick Swayze's 1989 hit, but this time with Jake Gyllenhaal as the muscled boxer who takes on all comers.  Currently streaming.    GRADE---------B

THE ACCIDENTAL TEXAN--Laid back film about a New Yorker stranded in Texas where he begins to change his life style, with Thomas Haden Church and Rudy Pankow.  Streaming.   GRADE---B

THE BIKERIDERS--Set in the 1960's a writer/photogropher captures the characters of a motor biker club, with Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer. Currently in theaters.   GRADE----B

FEMME--A drag queen attracts the romantic attention of a self hating gay man. Briefly played theaters and should be streaming soon.        GRADE---------B

WICKED LITTLE LETTERS--Older woman thinks new young neighbor is writing nasty notes around town, with Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman.  Streaming soon.      GRADE--------B      

HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS--Chaotic comedy drama from Macedonia with subtitles, about a lesbian forced to raise her gay lover's children, in a queer household.      GRADE------B

ORDINARY ANGELS--Based on a true story, woman tries to help single parent household raise money for serious operation, with Hilary Swank and Alan (Reacher) Richson.   GRADE-----B 

CHALLENGERS--A sexy menage a trois between attractive tennis players with a lot of head bobbing left to right and closeups of sweat flying through the air.  Two men are in love with the same woman--one trained by her, the other marries her but in the end its pretty empty stuff.    GRADE-----B

BEAUTIFUL GAME--Bill Nighy takes homeless guys to play football WC in Rome.  Based on a true story, film features lots of heart and conflict between teams and player.   Streaming.  GRADE-----B

BABES--A vulgar sex comedy for women about baby making, sex, periods, fat shaming, etc.  Some jokes are funny, but some not so much.  Shown at SIFF, theatres and now streaming.     GRADE------B-

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES--It's a great title with some great ideas floating around but the film comes across as lame and not very funny.         GRADE---------C+

INSIDE OUT 2--Some great looking animation cannot hide a lack luster and chaotic story line and confusing cartoon characters.          GRADE-------C+

I SAW THE TV GLOW--Featured at SIFF, but the lackluster story line goes nowhere in spite of a clever premise, and for a horror film there are no thrills.   Streaming soon.       GRADE-------C+      

SOLO--A little drag goes a long way for me, and this has too many drag musical numbers.  Appearance of a new man threatens to break up a drag duo. Featured at SIFF and streaming soon.  GRADE---C+  

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE--Great music but the drama is murky and the film clearly needs subtitles to understand all the dramatic tensions since accents are thick.          GRADE---------C 

JANET PLANET--Featured at SIFF but this counter culture film about...nothing much put me to sleep a couple of times.  Subtle beyond belief.   Streaming may put you to sleep too.          GRADE-------C

 

 

VINTAGE FILMS  

AMERICAN SYMPHONY 2023--Wonderful documentary featuring musician/singer/band leader Jon Batiste during the hectic year when his wife was ill with a brain tumor.   GRADE-------A-   

TO BE OR NOT TO BE 1983--Mel Brooks stars with his late wife Anne Bancroft in the comic remake of a film with the same name from 1942 with Jack Benny and Carole Lombard and both films are great.  Even though he didn't direct this one, it is considered one of Brooks greatest films.       GRADE-------A-  

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY 1999--I watched the long version on Netflix and thought it was very smart in black and white, so it inspired me to watch this two hour version again and even though the story is similar, this one really moves along and the cast is even better:  Matt Damon, Gweneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchet and Phillip Seymour Hoffman all spectacular.      GRADE--------A-   

FRENZY 1972--This is by far not Alfred Hitchcock's least, but I have to say it--bad Hitchcock is usually better than any "best" current modern thriller of today.          GRADE-----------B+

BUTTERFIELD 8- 1960--Basically a John O'Hara mellow-drama, but strong performances by Elizabeth Taylor (Oscar winner) and Lawrence Harvey and Eddie Fisher keep it riveting.  Now if only that contrived ending were better........                      GRADE--------B+

THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY 1964--The fabulous script is by Paddy Chayefsky and the terrific cast includes James Gardner, Julie Andrews, James Coburn, Melvyn Douglas--what more could you ask for in a great smart  film?                GRADE----------B+

WINGS OF DESIRE 1987--Presented at SIFF with new print, this mystical film by director Wim Wenders features Bruno Ganz and Peter Falk.              GRADE---------B 

BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR 2021--Jamie Dornan and Kristen Wiig are featured in this wacky comedy with music.             GRADE---------B

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 1991 --The only scene I remembered from seeing this 30 years ago is still the funniest and includes Kathy Bates trying to park her car....nostalgia drama at it's smoothest.   GRADE--------B  

JOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE 2023--Sweet documentary about crystal clear singer of folk songs.........GRADE-------------B

ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS 1993--Silly but with some great laughs from funnyman Mel Brooks.           GRADE---------B

MARLOWE 2022--Liam Neeson is detective Marlowe and his clients are Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange.  Not a bad plot.       GRADE--------B

KISS OF DEATH 1947--Victor Mature leaves prison and reluctantly works with D.I. Brian Donley but puts his family in danger.  Henry Hathaway directs.           GRADE--------B

DUNE 1984--The special effects were true cornball David Lynch style, but the story telling is much better than the current 5 hour version in two parts, and I appreciated that.  Cast includes Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart and Sting.          GRADE-------B-

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT! 1956--Technicolor is good and the rock music is solid, and Jayne Mansfield is an eyeful, with Tom Ewell and Edmond O'Brien.          GRADE-------B-

HIGH ANXIETY 1977--Mel Brooks spoof of Hitchcock films needed a better story, but some jokes hit well.  With Madeline Kahn and Harvey Corman.               GRADE--------B- 

MADE IN ITALY 2021--Beautiful Tuscan scenery can't save this lame story of father and son trying to restore run down estate, even though Liam Neeson is in it.        GRADE---------C+    

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCHOLATE FACTORY 2005--Johnny Depp is weird looking and acting in title role.         GRADE-------C

THE SILENCERS 1966--Dean Martin as Matt Helm is sexy spy copy of James Bond, but it falls flat, and Martin sings a couple of his hits that stop the action completely.  Seen as a teen, the only scene I remembered (and it's repeated twice) is the bed that moves from the bedroom to the pool and then lifts from the headboard to dump the occupants into a very wet and bubbly pool.   GRADE----C-

MURDERERS' ROW 1966--Plot is slightly better and at least Martin doesn't sing in middle of a scene (just beginning and end credits) but it is not memorable.           GRADE------C-

   

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

      

 

 

 

THE HOLDOVERS, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, AMERICAN FICTION, SHE CAME TO ME, FALLEN LEAVES, TEACHER'S LOUNGE, THE COLOR PURPLE, FRYBREAD FACE AND ME, SALTBURN, RADICAL, ANATOMY OF A FALL, BOY AND THE HERON, ZONE OF INTEREST, plus others, and vintage films including NATIONAL VELVET, LAST CHRISTMAS, THE SCAPEGOAT 1956, BRIDESMAID, FEAST OF THE FISHES, SPY, and FAST TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE...

 I don't know why it has taken me so long to post this September blog but suddenly it is now February and the films just keep piling up, therefore the comments will be limited.

THE HOLDOVERS--Director Alexander (SIDEWAYS) Payne's newest film is a treasure--a fine mixture of laughs and drama, with three wonderful lead performances that constantly surprised me.  Paul Giamatti is snarky, sarcastic, and painfully tragic as a teacher from a private boys school in the East, who is tricked into being the adult over the Christmas two week holiday taking care of a small handful of boys who have no where to go.  DaVine Joy Randolph is the other adult--a cook grieving for her only son who has recently been killed in Vietnam and was a graduate of this school.  Her grief is so real and sad that she can barely function, yet she has the ability to steal all her scenes.  Dominic Sessa is a newcomer to acting, but his anger at his absent mother and father makes you want to cry, and he engages with others with skillful adolescence pranks and emotions. The film is set in 1971 and the soundtrack and look of the film gracefully capture the period.  This is the year of OPPENHEIMER, but THE HOLDOVERS has a certain lock on Oscars for Giamatti and Randolph and possibly for original screenplay.       GRADE-----------A

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON--Another fine film in the canon of director Martin Scorsese--a three hour epic  that remains engaging for start to finish, about the sad true story of the murders of some rich Indians who have discovered oil on their land in the early 1900's by some racist white men who are jealous and greedy, and they have no scruples for their murderous actions.  The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert deNiro and Jesse Plemmons, but the heart and soul of the film is the wife of DiCaprio's character and she may be the first indigenous actor to win an Oscar for her moving portrayal.  She is the most complex, since her husband and his uncle are the ringleaders to the murders, and most of the victims are her relations.           GRADE-----------A  

AMERICAN FICTION--A clever story about  a black intellectual writer who becomes enraged that his serious, thoughtful stories don't get any attention, yet when other black writers tell stories filled with black cliches and dialogue and violence, they become best sellers, and celebrated for becoming true and hardcore fiction.  As a joke, he churns out a ridiculous copy of such a trashy novel, but finds out some hard truths of his own.  A career high for Jeffrey Wright and for Sterling K. Brown as his irresponsible gay brother have landed both with Oscar nominations, and the strong support cast includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Erika Alexander and Leslie Uggams.  It's a funny and ironicly classic film.                      GRADE----------A

THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE--This German language film was my favorite at VIFF (Vancouver).  It has been nominated for best foreign language film.  A young, idealistic teacher becomes embroiled in student and teacher politics when she tries to find out who is stealing money from fellow classmates and teachers.              GRADE------------A-

FALLEN LEAVES--Viewed at October's VIFF, the Finnish film director Aki Kaurismaki makes films that all look alike--stark, simple with drained color, and very serious with bursts of humor.  FALLEN LEAVES is no exception, but this film remained very memorable with its deadpan humor about two quirky lonely working class people trying to find love in spite of whatever life throws at them.  Oh yes, there is also, and always, a loveable dog in each film.                         GRADE---------------A-

SHE CAME TO ME-- Writer and director Rebecca Miller's comedy drama is a quirky, spunky affair about a composer with writer's block, his wife no longer interested in her husband, and a stranger who provides the catalyst.  The talented cast includes Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway and a delightfully original Marisa Tomei.  The plotting is breezy and casual--it is easy to watch.         GRADE-------A-

FRYBREAD FACE AND ME--Wistful, lowkey, low budget and sincere gem about young Navajo teen cousins who spend a summer with their grandmother in 1990, learning about family, life and each other.  A wonderful, heartfelt film, and a pleasant surprise.            GRADE---------------A- 

SALTBURN--The new film by Oscar winning writer Emerald Fennell (for PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN) tells the story of how a young Oxford student becomes "smitten" with a rich, handsome student who invites him to his family estate for the summer.  There he becomes taken with the luxurious surrounding and decadent characters of the odd family, and slowly you realize that all is not what it seems with the family or the naive student.  Some of the themes we've seen before in stories like THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, and BRIDESHEAD REVISITED but Fennell has thrown in some shocking scenes of sexuality and weirdness but keeps it all wholesome with beautiful scenery and charismatic acting by Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamond Pike, Richard E. Grant and Carey Mulligan.  It may not be for everyone, but I found it decadently refreshing.           GRADE--------B+

THE COLOR PURPLE--A musical remake of the book and earlier film.  It doesn't shy away from abuse of the main character, and all actors are very strong, and the music fits in well.  The final scene is especially moving.            GRADE---B+

RADICAL--In Spanish, a teacher in a rough part of town finds new ways to reach and teach his young students.               GRADE--------B+

STRANGE WAY OF LIFE w/HUMAN VOICE--Two short films that played as a double bill, these are both directed by Pedro Almodovar in his usual colorful and stimulating directorial style.  STRANGE WAY is a western with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke in a loving relationship, and HUMAN VOICE  2020 has Tilda Swinton awaiting her ex-lover.          GRADE----------B+

ANATOMY OF A FALL--This French/German film is mainly a courtroom drama where a woman is suspected of pushing her husband to his death from the upper floor of their chalet.  The film is talky and visually static, but the wife played by Sandra Huller is compelling.  She's an Oscar nominee for best actress, and also appears in the Oscar nominated film for best picture ZONE OF INTEREST below.  The film is also a best picture  nominee.    GRADE---------------B+

ARGYLLE--Many reviews were negative, but I had a lot of fun watching this spy action thriller that flashes in and out of fantasy with a writer who writes so well that her plots match actual spy plottings.  A fun popcorn movie.                  GRADE-----------B+

DREAM SCENARIO--Writer Nicolas Cage keeps popping up (menacingly) stranger's dreams causing a lot of bad PR for the writer and his family in this clever dramatic fantasy.  Cage is great as usual.               GRADE-------------B+

THE BURIAL--Flashy southern lawyer (Jamie Foxx) takes on the case of poor Tommy Lee Jones fighting fraud, in this entertaining, suspenseful courtroom drama, complete with many twists and emotional surprises.  Based on a true story, and streaming on Amazon Prime.              GRADE------B+ 

DUMB MONEY--Based on a true story, this clever and engrossing film deals with the GAME STOP situation where Wall Street tried to bleed money out of what seemed like a dying company, but fans of GAME STOP supported it with buying up a lot  of  GS stock.  Excellent cast includes Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogan, America Ferrero  Pete Davidson, Vincent d'Offrio and others.          GRADE----------B+

ANYONE BUT YOU--Here's a bright, funny, sex comedy which benefits from an attractive cast (Rachel Griffith, Sydney Sweeney, Bryan Brown, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney etc) and lovely scenery filmed mostly in Australia, and a plot borrowed from a Shakespearean comedy (Much Ado About Nothing).  Slick and amusing--what more do you need.         GRADE---------B+

NYAD--True story of first woman to swim from Florida to Cuba, with strong actors Jodie Foster and Annette Benning earning Oscar nominations for their work.  Foster for supporting actress, and Benning for best actress.   Streaming on Netflix now.                       GRADE------------B+

THE BEE KEEPER--A killing machine of one, in this case  Jason Statham, who promptly dispatches oh so bad bad guys that it out actions most of the Fast and Furious films with it's single mindedness.  It's a guilty pleasure and popcorn film in one.             GRADE----------B+

THE FLASH--One of more entertaining super hero films in the last couple years features two FLASHES (both played by Barry Miller) and three BATMANS (Micheal Keaton, Ben Aflect and George Clooney) and there are a lot of humorous scenes. Especially amusing is the first 20 minutes with Flash trying to save six babies in diapers as a building is collapsing.         GRADE-----B+

THE PAIN HUSTLERS--A charming cast including Chris Evans, Emily Blunt and Catherine Ohara and Andy Garcia  are streaming on this Netflex comedy/drama.        GRADE--------B+

GRAN TURISMO--Another film based on a true story, this young gamer takes his experience on the video race driver games and makes it to actual race car driving.  The racing scenes are exciting and profound, and the cast including Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, Djimon Hunsou and newcomer Archie Madekwe are all very effective.   Deserves to be watched on a big screen,           GRADE-----B  

MUTT--Screened at SIFF and now on Netflix, this modest story takes place when a newly trans man returns to town to confront his ex-boyfriend, his half sister and his father all during a 36 hour period.        GRADE--------------B

RUSTIN--Coleman Domingo is a deserving best actor Oscar nominee for portraying a gay man who is the main assistant to Martin Luther King during the time of his march on Washington DC speeches.          GRADE---------B 

MAESTRO--I don't feel I learned that much about the life of Leonard Bernstein, but the actors including Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan (his wife) are interesting to watch.      GRADE------B   

RED,WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE --The son of the US President and the son of the British King meet and promptly hate each other, but over the year find themselves meeting a couple times and begin a long distance, international romance , much to the horror of their families.  Uma Thurman is the USA president, and Stephan Fry is the King of Englnd.  It's a delightful comedy romance--a fantasy to be sure, but it goes down smoothly.                 GRADE---------B  

BLUE BEETLE--A fun superhero film about a teen Latino who gets special powers from a beetle, but much of the fun comes  because he lets his family in on the situation, and then must spent much time protecting them.  Susan Sarandon is delightfully over the top as the evil company president trying to get the beetle for herself.  A refreshing take on being a superhero, featuring lots of Latino actors.           GRADE-------B

THE EXORCIST; BELIEVER--This is a first rate sequel to THE EXCORIST, and features the original actress Ellen Burstyn in a small but crucial role.  There have been so many films that feature exorcists over the year that seem like cheap ripoffs.  In spite of some holes, this one generates tension and has a few scares, and the final scene has stayed with me for months. I'm not sure having two possessed girls really works but it does provide a chance for different outcomes to be discussed.          GRADE---------B

PRICILLA--The new film by Sophia Coppola is based on the book by Pricilla Prestley.  It's a nice film and the two leads are what make it even better.  Newcomer Cailee Spaeny very much looks the part of a teenage girl being courted after by Elvis, and Jacob Elordi makes a superb Elvis.  I didn't know who he was until a month later I saw him in SALTBURN and was impressed by him again.     GRADE-----B  

BOY AND THE HERON--This new film by anime director Hayao Miyazaki is, as usual, a visual splendor although the plot becomes more chaotic as it goes along, but technically the film is well worth seeing for the color, imagery, music and visionary imagery.               GRADE----------B

GENIE--This funny Christmas fantasy film stars Melissa McCarthy as the 2000 year old GENIE who tries to help an overworked husband and father get his house and life together after his wife and child have moved out.  Richard(LOVE  ACTUALLY) Curtis wrote the screenplay, based on his British TV movie from 1991, and while it's basically a minor affair, McCarthy has many witty funny asides, and I hope she soon gets a great film to work her magic in.              GRADE-----------B

PERSIAN VERSION--A large Iranian immigrant family living in New York City and their struggles to fit in, and it centers on the older queer daughter who has run ins with her conservative mother who is carrying around a large secret that changes a lot for the daughter, and the daughter is pregnant.  It's a comedy/drama, and wildly entertaining.        GRADE---------B

THE GREATEST NIGHT IN POP--Documentary about the night that many of the top pop singers at the time (including Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, and a dozen others) gathered at the request of Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and Harry Belefonte to record a song to raise money for an African famine relief--WE ARE THE WORLD in January 1985,  It is fascinating to see the energy and talent it took for this all to come together and also interesting to see what each singer looked and sounded like 35 years ago.  Streaming on Netflix.            GRADE----------B

NEXT GOAL WINS--This quirky odd comedy from director Taiki Waititi takes a while to get into the comic flow, and some characters are better than others, but the film has a wholesome feel and a positive end and the America Somoa location is exotic.       GRADE---------B

MONK'S LAST CASE--Mystery comedy, now streaming on Netflix.       GRADE-----B

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND--End of the world drama, currently streaming.         GRADE----B

BANK OF DAVE--British comedy/drama based on a true story, now streaming.       GRADE-----B

BOYS IN THE BOAT--Based on a true story set during  Hitler's Olympic Games, currently still in theaters.  It's a smooth well mounted film, but could use some zip,          GRADE--------B

EL DORADO: EVERYTHING THE NAZIS HATE--Documentary about a long running night club that  was open from the late 1920's until the mid 1930's that featured drag shows, singing, gay and lesbian dancing and other sexy things in Berlin until the Nazis came to power.   Streaming.      GRADE-------B

THE ZONE OF INTEREST--A best picture nominee, this German film is set in a housing compound where a Nazi commandant lives with his family--it borders Auschwitz on one side,  There is no violence or depiction of atrocities, but sometimes the soundtrack picks up gun shots and screaming while the visuals show what a peaceful and lovely place this house is.  Sandra Huller from Anatomy of a Fall above, plays the wife.                GRADE-------B

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHAM--The cast of this Christmas musical Nativity film is fine, and the pop songs mix well with the traditional music, and even an over the top Antonio Banderas as Herod is fun to watch.              GRADE--------B

HAUNTING IN VENICE--An OK dark mystery based on an Agatha Christie story with  Kenneth Branaugh as director and lead actor.  Unfortunately the most interesting character is soon dispatched and no one else can grab our attention.                       GRADE-------B-

THE CREATOR--Science fiction that becomes chaotic and confusing.         GRADE--------B-

THE MARVELS--All female superheros but the plot which has the characters leaping from one galaxy to  another becomes hard to follow.        GRADE-------B-

THE KILLER--Director David Fincher's new film about a hit man who makes a mistake has its moments, mostly belonging to star Michael Fassbenderf.   Streaming on cable.               GRADE----B-

MAY DECEMBER-- Streaming on cable, and suggested by the Mary Kay Letourneau story about a teacher who has an affair with a younger male  student.  The story is set 25 years later when the couple is married with kids.  The actors are interesting, but I was sort of bored and nothing unusual was happening in the story.             GRADE--------B-    

WONKA--It's pleasant enough and colorful, but I wanted it to be more.  Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Keegan Michael-Key each have a few moments, but most of the cast seems wasted, especially Ronan Atkinson.               GRADE------B-     

MEAN GIRLS--I never saw the orginal comedy so I didn't know  what to expect, but I didn't realize it is an out and out musical.  I finally relaxed and began to enjoy it about 20 minutes in.  I enjoyed most of the jokes although some fell pretty flat.  Tina Fey had some funny sly moments, and the four main girls each had some laughs.    Some songs were better than others.  I might enjoy it more on a second viewing.                   GRADE---------B-   

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM--I really loved the first AQUAMAN feature--Jason Mamoa is the water beast, and Patrick Wilson is great too, but really the plot felt like more of the same and the supporting characters were not given much to impress.                GRADE-----B-

FERRARI--The actors were OK (I didn't even recognize Adam Driver at first) but the plot was slow and plodding, and the serious film seemed like I was watching an Italian soap opera without any subtitles.                  GRADE-------C+ 

SCRAMBLED--Biological time clock for a baby is running out for a party girl, and it felt  like I'd seen it all before.  The string of her past boyfriends was a depressing cliche.  Nice try for a low budget effort though.            GRADE-----C+ 

MEMORY--Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard work hard at their characterizations but the dark images (literally) and themes of this ultra serious film (sexual abuse and mental illness)  were a turn off for me.               GRADE-------C+

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER--Streaming.  Jason Biggs, Brandy, Heather Graham.  Unmemorable.          GRADE--------C

NAPOLEAN --An epic flop by director Ridley Scott.  Plodding, dull and over long, and I learned nothing new or interesting,            GRADE-------C-

FAMILY SWITCH--Streaming comedy of family that father becomes son in his body, and mom becomes daughter and vice versa.  Seen it all before.                  GRADE------C-

CANDY CANE LANE--Unfunny Eddie Murphy comedy of family Christmas house decorations in neighborhood with magic involved.   Yawn.           GRADE------C-

DICKS: THE MUSICAL--Cast members pull out the stops (Megan Mullally, Nathan Lane, Megan the Stallion, Bowen Yang, etc) and I did laugh about 4 times, but the film is paper thin and most of the gags land with a thud.  Probably best watched drunk or stoned or with a full house of perverts, but I saw it with only 2 other strangers in the huge theater.  Possible midnight cult classic status in it's future.             GRADE---C-

 

 

VINTAGE FILMS STREAMING OR DVD OR LIBRARY

NATIONAL VELVET 1954--Just about as perfect as a film can get.  Everything works so well, especially a child Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, and the supporting cast gets great moments.  I've seen it several times in the last few years and I'm so engrossed that I always forget exactly how the film ends.       GRADE----------A

LAST CHRISTMAS 2019--When director Paul Fieg is good, he's very very good, and this underrated comedy drama set in London at Christmas is very good indeed.  Emma Thompson co wrote the script and stars as the mother of Emilie Clarke--a cranky, irresponsible young woman who works in an all year Christmas store dressed as an elf, with boss Michelle Yeoh.  Henry Golding is a charming man she meets and remeets and changes her life .  I enjoyed the chemistry the would be lovers had, and I really fell for the big twist towards the end.  The soundtrack is all George Michael (and WHAM) and though I'm not a big fan, the music is effective.             GRADE--------------A-

BRIDESMAID 2011--Very funny, gross out female-centric film that was one of the big hits the year it was released,  Co-written by Kristen Wiig who also stared in the film, this was an early role for Melissa McCarthy, and it resulted in her first Oscar nomination for supporting actress.  Wiig also was nominated for her screenplay.  Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne and Chris Dowd are also featured, and all have very funny scenes, culminating in a riotous scene when all the bridesmaids come down with food poisoning while trying on wedding dresses.  Paul Fieg directed.           GRADE---------A-

SPY 2015--Director Paul Fieg again, with a funny film full of slapstick humor featuring Melissa McCarthy as an unlikely spy.  There are very amusing turns by co-stars Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Jason Statham and Alison Janney.                              GRADE------A-

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE 2018-- Ultra-violent  but packed with humor, has a number of people checking in to a hotel that straddles the California/Nevada border--all searching for stolen money hidden under the floor boards of one room.  A great, inspired cast includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthio Erivo, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth and Lewis Pullman.        GRADE-------B+

FEAST OF THE FISHES 2019--A young man wants to go to art school instead of working at his family's retail store in this working class comedy drama set in West Virginia.  Just before Christmas he meets a rich girl from another part of town and she's invited to a raucous feast made from many fish dishes on Christmas Eve, but when her boyfriend shows up things change.  This is a charming, thoughtful film filled with interesting characters.           GRADE-------B+

THE SCAPEGOAT 1959--Alec Guiness and Bette Davis star in this film based on a Daphne du Maurier novel about man tricked into being the replacement for another look alike man with a lot of problems with his business and his family.  Intriguing and engrossing film.      GRADE-----B+

SNAKE PIT 1948--Nominated for best picture, actress (Olivia deHaviland) and other categories, this drama based on a national best seller is set mostly in a mental hospital and deals with paranoia, mental illness, and abuse in public hospitals.  A few topics are a bit old fashioned, but overall the film is a powerful look at mental illness, and deHaviland is terrific.           GRADE---------B+

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY 1952--Based on a stage, a family gathers for Christmas Eve, and they all have different problems, with Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton and Denholm Elliott.           GRADE-------B+

ROMANTIC ENGLISHWOMAN 1977--A Joseph Losey film with Glenda Jackson, Michael Caine and Helmut Berger about a marriage in crisis as the lover moves into the home of the couple.       GRADE-----------B

FALLING FOR FIGARO 2021--Charming British film has high paid money manager near 30 years old quitting her job to train to be an opera singer.       GRADE-----B

HOUSEBOAT 1958--Cary Grant mistakenly hires a princess as a nanny(Sophia Loren)  for his two kids. GRADE--B

BLAZING SADDLES 1974--Mel Brooks comic satire of westerns and racial prejudice with a wonderful cast including Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn. GRADE-B

20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH 1957--Up to date colorization is great.  Fun monster effects by Ray Harryhausen .  Plot is a bit predictable.              GRADE-----B

QUEEN BEES 2021--Netflix film has strong cast including Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margaret, James Caan and Jane Curtin.  Woman new to senior living finds cliques,  politics and romance.  GRADE-----B

THE SCAPEGOAT 2011--Decent remake of duMaurier story (see above).     GRADE------B

HOLIDAY IN THE WILD 2019--Rob Lowe and Kristen Davis find love in an African elephant reserve, over Christmas yet!  Very charming and exotic.  Streaming.       GRADE-------B-

FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS 2022--Netflix film has Lindsay Lohan as heiress engaged but during a skiing accident loses her memory and starts to fall for a lodge manager.  I liked her a lot better with amnesia (she looses her pretensions) and film has some charm. Set in small town over Christmas holidays. Also starring Chord Overstreet       GRADE-------B-

TAMMY 2014--Lowbrow slapstick with Melissa McCarthy playing it with gross humor and laughs are a mixed bag.      GRADE-------B-

THE TWELVE CHAIRS  1970--Early Mel Brooks film is leisurely but has it's comic moments, with Frank Langella, Ron Moody and Dom DeLuise.         GRADE------B-

THE BIBLE: IN THE BEGINNING 1962--Epic looking film with John Huston, George C. Scott, Stephen Boyd, Ava Gardner and Peter O'Toole (who plays three angels in the same scene!)       GRADE------C+

 

 

OSCAR SHOW SUNDAY MARCH 10th 4PM

The Oscar nominees this year for best picture are all a worthy bunch, and I wouldn't feel bad if any of the them won (although I do have my favorites!)  Here are some of my predictions.

 

Pretty sure that OPPENHEIMER is the film to beat this year.  It has an exciting and visual plot and the acting by all is strong, especially Robert Downey Jr. who plays the nemesis in not allowing Oppenheimer to keep credit for his work.  I fully expect Downey (who has never won an Oscar before) to take home the Best supporting Oscar.  Christopher Nolan will win for best director, and should pick up at least half a dozen technical awards including musical score, editing and script. 

The top contender for Best Actor is Paul Giamatti for THE HOLDOVERS--never nominated before but having appeared  splendedly in numerous fine films.  The best supporting actress seems to be a lock for Da'Vine Joy Randolph, also for THE HOLDOVERS, as she manages to steal every scene she is in as a grieving mother.  I think this film will also win for best original script.

Best actress seems to be strongly in favor of Lily Gladstone, and she would be the first indigenous Indian to win a top award for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.   But there is a strong feeling for Emma Stone who played a child in a woman's body in POOR SOULS, a very unique quirky demanding film that may not be everyone's taste, but I certainly loved Stone and Gladstone in their films.  Stone has won before so my preference is Gladstone.

Here are the nominees for the best picture Oscar according to my preference:

OPPENHEIMER

THE HOLDOVERS

AMERICAN FICTION

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

POOR THINGS

BARBIE

PAST LIVES

ZONE OF INTEREST

ANATOMY OF A FALL

MAESTRO

 

It's always hard to predict the BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE winner but of the two I've seen, I really enjoyed THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE from Germany. Although since ZONE OF INTEREST is also nominated for best picture, that means it will probably win this category.  Again, the OSCARS are on Sunday March 10th at 4pm Pacific time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

THE SUMMER FILMS--OPPENHIEMER, EVERY BODY, JULES, THEATRE CAMP, LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HANDS, BARBIE, THE FLASH, THE LITTLE MERMAID, MISSION IMMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING PART ONE, NO HARD FEELINGS, 20 DAYS IN MARINPOL, BOTTOMS, ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY plus some SIFF films are opening.

It's been a busy summer including a four day Amtrak ride from Seattle to Chicago and back for an 11 day trip, plus an ocean trip with the grandkids and some camping at our Shangri-lot.  Now that kids are back in school and the weather is cooler, I'm more inclined to write about some of my cinematic adventures of the last 3 months.

OPPENHEIMER--This is one of the more adventurous visual achievements of the year, and in spite of the fact it was trailing BARBIE in the box office tally, it has proved to be director Christopher Nolan's greatest achievement and stands to become his most commercial and artistically successful  film.  In telling the biographical story of the "father of the atom bomb" he demonstrates his command of the screen by moving carefully back and forth in time to create a fully complicated version of the man and his life and the woman in that life, and the treachery that politics played in nearly upending his legacy.  I was engaged in every minute of this 3 hour pic.              GRADE----------------A

JULES---The opposite in many ways from Oppenheimer is a small, intimate science fiction film about a space ship that crashes in the garden of an older widower (played sincerely by Oscar winner for GHANDI Ben Kingsley) but due to his eccentricities at city council meetings, no one, including his loving daughter, will believe him, so he proceeds to befriend the alien on his own by plying it with apples and shelter from prying eyes.  Of course ultimately word gets out among his older women friends and all of them fall in love with the silent alien.   This is an E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL film for adults!    Jane Curtin gets to sing charmingly here.                                GRADE----------A-

THEATER CAMP--While it is mostly improvised, this is a funny and wacky film about some wonderfully talented kids at a theatre camp during the summer that is being ineptly run by the son of the original manager (she lies in a coma for most of the summer), but Ben Platt, Amy Sedaris, David Rasche and others give every scene something to laugh (or at least giggle) at.  It's a whole lot of fun.  This had a single screening at SIFF this past May, and after it's theatre showing will start streaming soon this fall.             GRADE-------------A-

EVERY BODY--This fascinating documentary should be required viewing for every state legislative person in every every state.  The subject is intersex people--those born with usually both  sets of  male and female gonads.  Unfortunately until recently doctors use to tell parents that it was preferable to remove one set of sex organs, but recent studies have shown that intersex people are much more complicated than that, and the surgery has proven problematic, as many many stories have borne out.  It's estimated that nearly 2% of babies are born that way.  With the world population currently at over 8 billion, that means that a very large group of intersex people exist today and in the future, and treating them with horror, prejudice, shame and ignorance is just not OK.  An eye opener film and currently streaming on demand.            GRADE---------A- 

LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND---Normally I'm not too interested in science fiction films unless they are really good/different, and LANDSCAPE is pretty arty, interesting stuff.  It starts 6 years after a friendly alien invasion has occurred, but some people are not too happy about it.  Two teens decided to make money by having their loving and sexual relationship broadcast to the minds of the aliens, but things get complicated when they start to fall out of love. The leads are well played by Asante Blackk and Kylie Rogers as the kids and Tiffany Haddish and Josh Hamilton as two adults, and the film is produced by Haddish and Brad Pitt, among others.  Should start on demand screenings this fall.          GRADE----A-

BARBIE--Director and writer Gretta Gerwig has created a masterwork of pop culture with an outrageously colorful, funny, witty and thoughtful ways that children claim their ideals and from what many claim to be a sexist doll created by Mattel over 50 years ago.  The witty screenplay, co-written with her partner Noah Baumbach, creates an all doll world that's totally unbelievable, and then has Barbie become dissatisfied when thoughts of death creep into her mind.  She then wants to seek out the real world and has a very rude awakening when she finds it.  In other words, Barbie lovers and Barbie haters can all relate to this film.  The satire is playful but pointed and the nearly entire male population of mostly Kens is redundant, a running gag that never overstays its welcome.  Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfectly cast, but for all the fun watching, this film is not really going to be enjoyed by children .          GRADE---------B+ 

THE FLASH--Several of the last superhero films have left me ho-hum, but THE FLASH has a charming, funny sense of humor most of the time.  The first 20 minutes were the best and I laughed and chuckled continuously.  The introduction of an old Batman (played by Micheal Keaton) was very clever, as is the brief inclusion of other Batmans Ben Affleck and George Clooney.  In spite of the bad press given to Ezra Miller who portrays the FLASH, it looks like the insistence that he get drug counseling paid off, and I thought his portrayal of two Flashes hit the nail with sarcastic and obnoxious teen agers each, in different ways. I'd be up for more of the FLASH, thank you.                 GRADE----------B+     

THE LITTLE MERMAID--This is Disney's live action remake of the popular animated film and I enjoyed it even more than that cartoon.  The songs are mostly the same, and  a couple have been added.  The cast is very fine, especially newcomer Halle Bailey with Melissa McCarthy having some evil fun .  I have one little comment/complaint.  Her sisters are from all over the world, and her father can't seem to get Ariel interested in any mermen.  But where were the mermen?  They don't show up until the very last scene of the film.  No wonder she had to go to land to find a man to marry!                    GRADE--------B+ 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING--Part 1--All the plots of the previous five MI films are mostly all forgettable, but getting to the end is always thrilling with chases, near misses, fist fights, explosions, flying on the outside of planes (and trains and cars), disguises, etc, and this one is also fun to watch, and although I may not remember the plot of this one, I look forward to seeing part 2 next year.                               GRADE----------B+   

NO HARD FEELINGS---Here's a funny raunchy sex comedy about a young woman hired by helicopter parents to take the virginity of a high school senior before he goes off to college.  Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman are hilarious as the mismatshed couple, and Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick get some big laughs as the desperate parents.                GRADE---------B+       

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL--We have since seen many of these horrifying images of the early days of the Russian invasion  of  Ukraine, but these reporters were not able to leave the country or get these images out to the world, in this intense documentary that is currently streaming through PBS.  Viewed at SIFF.                         GRADE-----B+ 

FREMONT--A transplant from Afghanistan, Donya now works in a Chinese fortune cookie factory making up  fortunes.  One day she sends out a special message and soon it changes her life.  Deadpan humor, and poignant characters make this small black and white film a winner.    One of the top 10 films at SIFF.       GRADE------B+

GRAN TURISMO--A lively and excitingly filmed true story about a gamer who gets a chance to become an actural race car driver because his scores on the race track gamer are so high.  There are a couple of amazing racing moments that left my jaw on the  floor.    GRADE---------B+

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE--Based on a popular Young Adult book, this film will probably be soon banned in Florida, Texas and North Dakota for it's subversive LGBT themes in spite of it's tame PG-13 rating.  It's a lyrical and mystical telling of the growing friendship of two young teens and how they traverse life's challenges.  The casting is remarkable, including Max Pelayo, Reece Gonzoles, Eva Longoria and Kevin Alejandro.  The producers include Longoria, Kyra Sedgwick and Lin-Manuel Miranda.             GRADE-----------B+

BOTTOMS--A high school comedy about two lesbian friends who decide to start up a "fight club" for women, but really they just want to meet more girls.  The film is raunchy, witty and violent at times, but I got some good laughs at the high school hijinks.            GRADE--------B+ 

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY--Althought this film is one long chase to retrieve the stolen Dial, it is very entertaining, and Harrison Ford and relative newcomer Phoebe Waller-Bridge who plays his god-daughter and partner in mayhem have great chemistry together.      GRADE-----B

A MILLION MILES AWAY--Streaming on Prime, Micheal Pena has the role of his career playing a Mexican migrant farm worker who dreams of becoming an astronaut, and finally after decades of study and applications gets his chance to be the first Hispanic to ride into space.  It's a moving and intimate portrayal--I especially liked scenes where whenever anything very happy or very sad happens in the family, they encircle that person in a giant hug.                GRADE------B

PAST LIVES--This modest film opened SIFF last May and tells of a woman who is hunted down by an old classmate--he still lives in Taipei and she's moved on to New York City, and the classmate comes to NYC to visit her, perhaps in the hopes of another romantic entanglement, but she has already married and not quite sure why he is here.  It's haunting and gentle and tenderly acted by all main actors.           GRADE-----------B

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE--This sequel to last year's animated and creative SPIDER-MAN film is still highly energetic and amazing technically, although it felt repetitive and overly long.  Unfortunately it ends quickly with the warning (or promise) that Part 2 will be coming out next summer.  I enjoyed this new film, but frankly I've seen enough.            GRADE----------B

TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS--I've seen all the Transformer films and I really didn't have much interest in another one, but this one actually had some humor and cool fight scenes, and the cast which includes the lead from In The Heights (Anthony Ramos) are incredibly gung ho and the film felt quite fun.                    GRADE--------B

THE LESSON--An aspiring young writer takes on a tutoring position for the son of his writing idol, but finds himself involved in family secrets and dishonest academics.  Small but fine cast includes Daryl McCormack, Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy and Stephen McMillian.      GRADE----------B

PASSAGES--One member of a gay long term couple causes havoc when he has an affair with a woman.  Story teller and director Ira Sachs creates a sad and tragic film about what happens when trust is shattered. This film has some nudity and graphic sex scenes.   Viewed at SIFF.                         GRADE----------B 

MIRACLE GANG---Three Irish women from a small town get a chance to pilgrimage to Lourdes France, each hoping to find a miracle for different reasons.  The lovely cast includes Laura Linney, Maggie Smith and Kathy Bates, with Stephen Rea.  It's a small, modest film but for that reason it's delightful to watch.  Streaming soon on Netflix.             GRADE-------B

SCRAPPER--Another film from SIFF, this modest British film has a young bur resourceful 12 year old girl living by herself after the death of her mother, using her friend with a deep voice to handle phone messages to her school counselor pretending to be her uncle.  She scraps by stealing bikes and hustling food from the stores.  One day her missing dad shows up to live with her and the two form an uneasy alliance.   Charming Lola Campbell is the girl, and Harris Dickinson is her irresponsible dad.             GRADE---------B

THE EQUALIZER 3--Same story line--a good guy fights evil and corruption with violence starring Denzel Washington, but this time he's in beautiful Italy.  Nice scenery, lots of bloody conflict.              GRADE----------B

THE LOST KING--Based on the true story, this British film (now streaming) tells of a woman who decides to find the final resting place of Richard the III, which she thinks might be located in a car park lot.  She uses her intuition and ghostly visions to lead her to her conclusions.  Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan head this interesting film directed by Stephen Frears.      GRADE-------  B

WHAM!--A fast paced documentary about George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley who early on joined together to create the popular British pop musical group called WHAM! which lasted about 4 years before George Michael left to go out on his own.  Even if you didn't care for their music, it is a fascinating story, and the survivor Ridgeley talks about his friend's talent and private life. Now streaming.    GRADE------B

RETRIBUTION--Another Liam Neeson action film--he seems to do at least two every year, and this film, like the others, is a solid thriller that is entertaining if not too demanding.  He plays a money manager who is taking his kids to school but his cell phone rings telling him there is a bomb under his seat that will go off if he leaves the car and he needs do everthing he's told.  Mainly it's about money but the film  has some tension and thrills and some surprises.  Not bad.            GRADE----------B

GOLDA--During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel must convince her cabinet and U.S. Secretary Henry Kissinger that she knows what she is doing.  Helen Mirren and Liev Schreiber play Meir and Kissinger is an intense chamber drama.             GRADE----------B-

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM--Not a great fan, but this version uses more modern animation (see SPIDER-MAN above) and moves along with a lot of humor and pizza.            GRADE-----B

DREAMIN' WILD----From SIFF--and based on a true story, two brothers find their one album that was released 35 years earlier a rediscovered sudden success, but their lives have moved on.  Featuring Casey Afleck, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Messina, and Beau Bridges.                  GRADE---B-

MURDER MYSTERY 2--I hated MM1 several years ago, but this Netflix movie stars  Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, Melanie Laurent, Mark Strong, Jodie Turner-Smith and others, and I felt the timing and jokes were a lot better here.  A good guilty pleasure.          GRADE-----B-

GHOSTED---This Apple TV steamer has a man discovering the woman he had a one night affair with has disappeared into thin air only to track her down and discover she is a secret agent in the middle of a case.  Another guilty pleasure, with Chris Evans and Ana de Arnas.          GRADE--------B-

HEART OF STONE--Here's one more guilty pleasure from Netflix.  Gal Gadot, Jamie Dorman, Sophie Okonedo, with BD Wong and Glenn Close!  A spy thriller that at times rivaled some of James Bond's adventures.          GRADE----B- 

SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE--Viewed on Prime Streaming, this is a sentimantal light-hearted drama about two young 20-something friends who bake at least one cake a week and they take it out to different bars to feed to young men in hopes of finding dates.  Things change when one of them becomes a cancer victim, and the other becomes a care taker.  It's a cross between BEACHES (Bette Midler even has a brief role in this) and a film from earlier this year called SPOILER ALERT about cancer changing the relationship of a long time partnership from a gay relationship.              GRADE-----------B-     

ASTEROID CITY-- There's a massive cast of talented characters (including Bob Balaban, Liev Schneiber, Jeffrey Wright, Wilem Dafoe, Hope Davis,Steve Carell, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Matt Dillon, Edward Norton, Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Margot Robbie,Scarlett Johansson and many others) but there is very little plot and the film is so overly stylized that it becomes rather tiresome.    GRADE------C+ 

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3--The cast is lovely and they all smile a lot, and they all visit Greece so the scenery is great and sunny, but the film feels like left over musaka thrice warmed up.      GRADE-----------C+

HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS--Streaming on Netflix, this modest romantic comedy/drama has a bunch of 30 somethings on a woodsy hike for several days, trying to make them better people.  Elle Kemper and Luke Grimes are the leads, and the film is based on a book.   Yawn.     GRADE-----C

THE MEG: THE TRENCH--This sequel has more of the same--a huge prehistoric shark(s)  threaten an island of pleasure seekers.  Mostly unforgettable--the first half has the cast walking along the ocean floor (trench) but it is so dark, murky and full of bubbles that you can't see much of anything.   Jason Stratham does his tough man posturing.           GRADE--------C- 

HAUNTED MANSION--By far the worst film I've seen this year---maybe in 3 years.  The script is chaotic and makes NO sense, and the actors fumble around because what they are supposed to say doesn't make any sense, and the special effects suck, and the film is BORING.       GRADE-----D

 

 

 

 

 

Spring movies: ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET, THE BOOK CLUB: A NEW CHAPTER, EIGHT MOUNTAIN, CHEVALIER, MASTER GARDENER, TO LESLIE, PLUS COMMENTS FROM THE 49TH SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, PLUS VINTAGE FILMS like REBECCA, WHAT"S UP DOC? LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MALTESE FALCON

I spent much of May watching 44 SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) films, but just before that and just after that I've been catching up on local openings at theatres and some vintage films on TV.  Here's what I've seen.

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET--Perfectly cast and exceedingly charming film based on the Judy Blume novel from nearly 50 years ago.  There has never been a more thoughtful story about a young teenage girl going through moving to a different city, questioning religion, experiencing first time menstruation, and potential first love as this funny, thoughtful, likeable film.  With Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and newcomer Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret.              GRADE-----------A

THE BOOK CLUB: A NEW CHAPTER--Possibly the  most lovingly beautiful photographic views of Italy ever committed to film.  The four main women have an abundance of witty one liners to work with.     Jane Fonda gets all the sexual innuendoes, but Candance Bergen, Mary Steenberger and Diane Keaton are all regally amusing and very funny.  The men are also quite charming, including Don Johnson, Andy Garcia, Craig T. Nelson, Hugh Quarshie, and the great Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini.      GRADE-------A-

THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS--- Viewed at SIFF 2023, this Italian film set in the Alps with stunning scenery has a novelistic approach that follows two young boys in their friendship through to adulthood, even though they are separated for nearly 20 years after childhood.  The film has a leisurely approach to the relationship but contains many memorable moments.  Now playing at art house theatres.         GRADE------B+

CHEVALIER--- Based on a true story of black French composer and musician Joseph Bologne, the flm is beautifully intense, with spectacular costumes and set designs and wonderfully acted by newcomer Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the lead--his last film was as B.B. KING in ELVIS.  The film is full of music--his and others from the time period, and features his troubles with Lucy Boynton as Marie Antoinette and Minnie Driver as a spoiled, spiteful opera singer.             GRADE--------B+

MASTER GARDENER--The final film of a trilogy (although all stand alone) by writer director Paul Schrader, which has included FIRST REFORMED 2017 and THE CARD COUNTER 2021, this film features the typical themes of Schrader including male solitude, character redemption, and the search for love.  Joel Edgerton is a meticulous horticulturist with a secret past life.  Sigourney Weaver is the wealthy  garden dowager with some secrets of her own, and her grand niece Quintessa Swindell has her own set of problems.  It's a thoughtful and surprising film that actually has things to say about racism, love, violence and honor.             GRADE--------B+

TO LESLIE--The then unreleased film last January surprised almost everyone when it picked up a best actress nomination for Andrea Riseborough with world of mouth from some actors who had "passed around a tape", and the film was the subject of intense criticism since no public had seen it yet.  I'm happy to give the film a big thumbs up, thanks mostly to the dynamic role and portrayal of Riseborough as a lottery winner who within a few short years has squandered her winnings, abandoned her teen son and is living at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.  She is forced to return to her home town to seek redemption and face humiliation .  There are many cliched moments, but the film's power cannot be denied.     GRADE---B 

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT--German remake of classic novel about WWI about 4 young friends who quickly discover the horrors of trench style war, and then struggle and suffer until the war ends several years later.  Technically well done but awfully grim to sit through nearly 3 hours.      GRADE----------B

FAST X---The tenth sequel to the FAST AND FURIOUS series, featuring fast car chases, explosions, fist fights and family bonds.  Still, this was better, more likeable than number 9 and made more sense and comes with some spectacular sequences, highlighted by a long chase down a hill in Rome chasing and being chased by a huge bomb ball.                          GRADE---------B

ABOUT MY FATHER---Comedienne Sebastian Maniscalco wrote the script and stars as a man wanting to marry his girlfriend and gets a chance by traveling with his eccentric, old school father to the girlfriend's family summer home.  They are wealthy and eccentric, with the jokes coming from the "fish out of water" theme.  It's a solid, funny comedy, with Robert DeNiro, Kim Cattrell and Leslie Bibb.       GRADE-------B

MOVING ON---Jane Fonda tries to get her old friend (Lily Tomlin) to help her kill a man who she believes wronged her many years earlier.  It's mostly a deadpan comedy with some serious themes.   GRADE--------B

INSIDE----An artistic film about a high tech crook who becomes locked into fancy art collector's high security apartment, with the water turned off and the climate control gone wonky.    GRADE-------B

OTHER FILMS RATED B well worth viewing:  CHAMPIONS, SHAZAM:FURY OF GODS, THE JESUS REVOLUTION, A GOOD PERSON, SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS, POLITE SOCIETY.

OTHER FILMS RATED B- but worth seeing:  WE HAVE A GHOST, KNOCK AT THE CABIN, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, RENFIELD, YOU HURT MY FEELINGS,  LOVE AGAIN.

RATED C+:   SPINNING GOLD, JOHN WICK IV (seemed like a dull remake of JW3), HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol 3.

RATED C:  THE POPE'S EXORCIST. 

 

In May I watched about 44 SIFF films, but I won't write about them until they are scheduled to stream or open at theatres.  However here are my favorites to watch for--

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL---Several news reporters are trapped behind war lines when Ukrainian/Russian war begins, with no way to get news photos, videos and stories out of the country.  This is a gripping documentary account of what happened in the first days.  Some visuals have now become quite well known, and this program will soon appear on PBS Frontline.           GRADE--------A

LIFT--Former child/orphan who was trained in ballet goes back to his poor neighborhood to train another group of gifted child dancers in this profound and moving documentary.           GRADE------A

HARVEST MOON---Stunningly photographed scenery highlight this moving tale of an older man who befriends a youngster--both of them have recently lost their father and grandfather respectively, and they bond.  I defy any one watching in the last 10 minutes to have dry eyes.  Filmed in Mongolia.         GRADE-----A

26.2 TO LIFE---Some inmates at San Quentin State Prison join a running club to train for a yearly marathon with the help of volunteer outside running coaches and trainers.  For all of them who have completed the training and the marathon and been released from prison, none have reoffended!  Extremely inspirational documentary.         GRADE---------A

HIDDEN MASTER: THE LEGACY OF GEORGE PLAT LYNES--30 years before Mapplethorpe, Lynes was photographing nude bodies (mostly men) in stunning tableaus along with movie stars of the 30's and 40's and fashion garments.           GRADE------A

THE BLUE CAFTAN---Older married couple run a caftan boutique in Morocco but the arrival of a young male apprentice causes friction amongst all three.  Beautifully sustained drama of passion, love and honor.  This was the most liked fictional film at the SIFF among the full series patrons.             GRADE-------A-

SMOKE, SAUNA, SISTERHOOD ---A visually stunning film of a group of women  who  frequent a smoke sauna in Estonia and tell their (at times harrowing) stories of what being a woman has meant in their lives.  This film and the above film HIDDEN MASTER can easily win the Most naked bodies on display award at this year's SIFF.              GRADE-------------A-

Also loved FREMONT, INVISIBLE BEAUTY, BLUE JEAN, THE HUMMINGBIRD and DANCING QUEEN---all rated B+

 

VINTAGE FILMS ON DVD OR TV---------

REBECCA 1940--Hitchcock's masterpiece fascinates me every time I see it.           GRADE      ----A

WHAT'S UP DOC? 1976--Comic film peaks for director Peter Bagdonovich, and actors Barbara Striesand, Ryan O'Neal and especially Madaline Kahn.                GRADE------A

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 1986--Funny stuff and toe tapping tunes make this a classic, with Rick Moranis and Steve Martin leading the way.  Feed me!           GRADE--------A-

SIMBA 1955--Dirk Bordarde heads to Africa to take over his murdered brother's farm, but runs into a cult of black natives who want all white people to leave or be killed, with Virginia McKenna.   An intense and nerve-wracking film.    GRADE-----A-

MALTESE FALCON 1941--Humphrey film that feels convoluted plot wise, but has some smart business handled by director, and actors are having a good time.             GRADE-------B+

CODA 2021--Stands for Child of Deaf Adults, this features a teen girl with a talent for singing--something  her parents can't appreciate, and they need her for interpreting to their hearing customers.  This (surprisingly) won the Best Picture Oscar and Best Supporting Actor and Best script but since it was only on a cable channel I did not have until recently I'm just catching up to it.          GRADE---B+

CAMPBELL'S KINGDOM 1957--When his grandfather is killed, Dirk Bogarde inherits his isolated property, but soon discovers a mean, bad man has corruptly tried to drive out the grandfather and has murderous intentions toward the grandson. Also with Stanley Baker and Michael Craig.  Problem:  the property in question seems to be high in the mountains, but the bad man seems to want to break a dam to flood out Bogarde, who I believe would be above the flooding zone!?!           GRADE-------B 

THE CHAPMAN REPORT 1962--Based on a best seller, this George Cukor film has a fine cast including Jane Fonda, Shelley Winters, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Claire Bloom, Glynis John, Ty Hardin among others, and it looks good.  Unfortunately, the film deals with the sexual lives of different woman, and you can tell that it has been censured/edited to "soften" the subject matter ie. the word "frigid" is horribly uttered by Fonda but never fully explained in the film, and Bloom is probably gang raped in one scene, but it is never admitted--only that she likes lots of sex with lots of different men--hardly the same meaning.  John has the most fun with her flirtation with Hardin.  The film would seem to cry out for a modern remake, and it might not be so seemingly lurid this time around.      GRADE--------B

BRINGING UP BABY 1938--Kate Hepburn and Cary Grant have some amusing moments as a society woman and an absent minded professor (although Ryan O'Neal does it better in the above WHAT'S UP DOC?) but I find the last third of the film tiresome as they stumble around the woods in the dark looking for the missing leopard.           GRADE--------B-

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU 2014--The excellent cast (Jane Fonda, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Adam Driver, Connie Britton, Rose Byrne, etc) seems at a loss to bring any cohesion or drama or comedy to the proceedings  and the film feels like a let down, in spite of some funny lines and moments.  Not boring but disappointing by the end.  The film was nearly over when I realized I'd seen it several years ago because I remembered the final scene.            GRADE-------B-

PENNY PRINCESS 1952--Dirk Bogarde  meets the new owner of a small European country and helps her make money for their economy.        GRADE-------B- 

AGENT 8 3/4 AKA HOT ENOUGH FOR JUNE--Dirk Bogarde becomes a secret agent in this mild spy thriller which I've already forgotten about but which was amusing at the time.         GRADE------C+

 

 

STREAMING:  THE MORNING SHOW, THE POWER, MARVELOUS MRS MAISIL, TED LASSO, GRACE, DAGLESISH and PHYSICAL

 

 

 

 

THE FABLEMANS, THE BANSHES OF INISHERIN, THE WHALE, CLOSE, THE MENU, AVATAR: WAY OF WATER, SPOILER ALERT, GLASS ONION, OF AN AGE, SHE SAID, ARMAGEDON TIME, EMPIRE OF LIGHT, M3GAN, BABYLON, A MAN CALLED OTTO plus older films of Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford and Peter Sellars

In mid January my legal pad of all the films I'd seen in November, December and January--and all the notes and comments I'd made strangely disappeared.  I looked for over a month for this pad, and finally decided to start all over since winter is fleeting by, so the comments will be briefer and hopefully just as profound.  Hopefully I've not forgotten any titles since I have a smaller notebook mostly keeping track.  

NEWER FILMS

THE FABLEMANS--Steven Spielberg at his best, and (SHINDLER'S LIST aside) his most personal.  He deals with his Jewishness and his parent's scandal and his awakening to cinema in a mature and thoughtful manner.        GRADE------A

THE WHALE--Brendan Fraser has the role of a lifetime as the obese teacher trying to reconnect with his estranged teen age daughter.  He's likely to win the acting Oscar and the film may win  for makeup.   Check out his long list of big films and be impressed at his range.  He's also the comeback favorite surviving the death of his mother, physical injuries from acting requiring surgery and recuperation, and sexual abuse from a man who when rejected, tried to ruin Fraser's career.          GRADE------A 

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN--Two best friends are suddenly at odds when the elder decides he no longer wants to be friends with his younger mate, and will not give a logical reason.  Things get weird as the younger man becomes desperate with loneliness and the elder becomes extremely stubborn.   Nominated for 4 acting Oscars and best picture, director and script.          GRADE---------A

CLOSE--A Belgium film (in French) and nominated for best foreign language film, this sensitive film is about two 12 year old boys who are best friends in everything--school, work, play, sleepovers.  When some careless comments causes one boy to pull away from the friendship, the relationship takes a tragic turn.  Beautifully rendered.               GRADE-----------A

AVATAR: WAY OF THE WATER---Beautiful to watch sequel to original film AVATAR from 2009 about a family that must leave their home for a watery replacement to escape capture from the earthly forces that wish to take over the Pandora planet.  This is a pleasure to watch although the plot is a bit predictable.  It has a best picture nomination and lots of technical nominations, which it seems likely to win. Strong family values of love, loyalty, honesty and trust give the film much gravitas.              GRADE-----------A-

THE GLASS ONION---A sequel to the mystery thriller KNIVES OUT with Daniel Craig as the most famous detective in the world and featuring a killer cast including Edward Horton, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn and others.  The plotting is very twisty and probably too complicated for it's own good but it is very entertaining and worth multiple viewings.               GRADE------------A-

THE MENU---Guests invited to a high end restaurant on a private island soon realize that their host chef may be wanting to murder them, in this stylish, clever, funny, witty mystery drama, with Ralph Fiennes (THE FORGIVEN earlier this year), Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau (THE WHALE).           GRADE------A-       

SPOILER ALERT--A male couple spend a dozen Christmas's together before a tragic illness threatens their happiness--a happy tearjerker, with Jim Parsons (BIG BANG THEORY), Ben Aldridge (FLEABAG), Sally Field, Bill Irwin and Antoni Porowski (QUEER EYE).  Based on a true story, and the screenplay was co- written by local (Seattle) writer Dan Savage.                               GRADE------A-

R R R--Indian Hindi film about revolution started when rich aristocratic British couple  kidnap a small village child as their own, and the village has a super man who seeks her out, putting him in conflict with the strong Indian man who works for the British couple.  These two powerful men become fast friends because they don't know the background of each other--but it is fireworks when they realize they are on opposite sides of the law.  Exaggerated scenes of violence and torture and action and drama and the film feels longer than it should be (it is 3hours and 1 minute), but there are plenty of visuals and eye popping scenery and energy and music and dancing to entertain you.  Oscar nominee for best song during outdoor party scene (nearly half way through)--it has the energy to  win!          GRADE----------B+

OF AN AGE--Australian film about a flaky girl and her young semi professional dance partner and her gay older brother.  The two men connect one evening in a sexual liaison, just as the older one is leaving for a graduate program in South America, and don't meet up again for 10 years for the wedding of the sister.  The actors are brilliant as they relate to each other and the later meet up is full of longing, regret, change and maturity.  The story is filmed with a lot of extreme close ups and hand held camera (not my favorite technique) but may be easier to watch on a TV screen.                  GRADE-----------B+         

SHE SAID--Based on a true story when Miramax head Harvey Weinstein was widely accused of sexual harassment of dozens of young actresses over a number of years, the film is a powerful and fascinating account of how he was brought to justice by two dogged female reporters of the New York Times. The two reporter's story is almost like a thriller--and there are no reconstructed scenes to contend with.          GRADE---------------B+      

M3GAN--Surprisingly entertaining thriller about an artificial intelligence child doll built as a companion for a lonely parentless girl, but as usual, things start to go wrong  and the A.I. starts thinking for herself and becomes murderous.  I had fun with this one.              GRADE-----------------B+

EMPIRE OF LIGHT--As usual, Olivia Coleman delivers a radiant portrayal of a mentally unstable woman who manages a dying movie palace in the early 1980s during a time of turbulent and violent times of racial and political protest in a small coastal British town.  Directed by Sam Mendes, the film may be ponderous for some but the photography is splendid (Oscar nominated) and Coleman pulls us in.          GRADE----------B+

ARMAGEDDON TIME --This simple chamber drama focuses on a close knit Jewish family in the 1960's when racial justices and family values were starting to change.  Two preteen boys, schoolmates, become friends, but the white boy's parents throw up objections towads the black kid.  Only the old grandfather (Anthony Hopkins) can calm the parents and child.  It's a personal story from writer/director James Gray, nicely done              GRADE--------B+

BABYLON--This film, nearly as chaotic as the trailer, covers movie making's early years from the silent years to the early talkies.  There's a mixture of romantics, slapstick, pathos, decadence, humor and music.  General audiences may not get it or like it, but for movie buffs and historians, the film is fascinating and mostly moving.                GRADE---------B  

YOUR CHRISTMAS OR MINE--It's a modest comedy romance about college kids in love at a London train station, each leaving for a Christmas holiday break with their own families.  At the last second they each (unbeknownst to each other) jump from their own train to each others, only to arrive without their love at the home of their partners parents--and two very different experiences ensue.  Asa Butterfield (TV's SEX EDUCATION) and Cora Kirk are charming as the students, and the relatives they encounter are finely portrayed by stalwart British actors. This is a pleasing holiday film on Prime.         GRADE-------B

A MAN CALLED OTTO--Satisfying remake of Swedish film A MAN CALLED OVE (2015) with Tom Hanks as the cranky, suicidal widow, whose life is changed by a noisy, nosy neighbor who moves in next door. (a charming MVP Mariana Trevino.) In flashbacks, the younger Otto is played nicely by Tom's son Truman Hanks.          GRADE--------------B

AMSTERDAM--Director David O. Russel's busy, overstuffed comedy/drama/thriller, partly about Nazi's in NYC after WWII (I think) at least offers a strong cast including Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Robert DeNiro, Chris Rock, Rami Malek, Alexandro Novola and many others.            GRADE---------B

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER--This continuation of the sci-fi epic BLACK PANTHER is steeped in sorrow and mourning for the passing of lead actor Chadwick Boseman last year.  I felt it was laid on a bit thick.  This new film was not as fun or exciting for me as the first one, but there are some great effects and terrific plotting at times.                           GRADE-----------B

OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE--It's an unfortunately long and boring title for what is a perky low budget James Bond style film with gun battles, car chases, fist fights, witty lines of pithy dialogue and spy vs spy intrigue.  The cast is all in on the fun, including Jason Stratham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, Josh Harnett, and especially Hugh Grant.  It's been a long time coming for director Guy Ritchie--one of his best in a while.                GRADE--------B

SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW--Many scenes were shot in and around Leavenworth WA, this rom-com about a busy L.A. producer who returns home and begins a relationship with an old flame, only to meet his bride to be--she begins to think about who she is and what she wants.  Alison Brie,  Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Haley Joel Osmet and Julie Hagerty are in the cast, and they help make this familiar story feel fresh and funny.    Streaming on Prime/Amazon.                 GRADE----------B 

MY POLICEMAN--Starting in the late 1950's and lasting for several decades, MY POLICEMAN tells of a married man in London who starts a relationship with a gay museum worker and the film shows how it affects his wife and his life up to the 2000's.  Harry Styles is the main character and two actors play each character in different stages of their life.  That casting is very fine.          GRADE----------B

THE WONDER--1862 in Ireland, a young girl stops eating yet survives for months.  A nurse arrives to monitor her to make sure she is not taking any food and to verify this "miracle."  This low key psychological thriller is well made but the ending left me unimpressed.        GRADE------B

COCAINE BEAR--You get exactly what you think you're going to get,-- this strange, funny thriller has suspense, humor, gore, violence, satire, action, and one very strung out crazy bear.  I felt oddly satisfied by the end.  A solid directorial first film from actor Elizabeth Banks.              GRADE----------B-

EMILY--Based on the life of Emily Bronte who wrote Wuthering Heights in 1847 and her relationship with her sisters and brother, who was addicted to drugs.  The film uses natural lighting (candles and fireplaces and buildings and some daytime scenes, and is somber and slow to start, but the film grew on me and by the end I was intrigued enough to read about her life when I got home.      GRADE------B-

THE NOEL DIARY--A now famous novelist hasn't been home for 20 year, but when he comes home to clear out his mother's house, he finds a diary that might answer some questions from his past, and happens to meet a stranger who is on her own journey, and that diary might hold answers for her as well.  It's a peasant film with a holiday theme.  Streaming on Netflix.           GRADE---------B-

WE HAVE A GHOST--Netflix film that could have been a lot better, but makes the ghost haunting the new family house a very friendly and empathetic ghost--played by David Harbour. Tig Notoro, Anthony Mackie and Johi Winston are featured, but Jennifer Coolidge, who is having a very hot year right now, steals the brief couple of scenes she is given.               GRADE------------B-

ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA THE MUSICAL--Now showing on Netflix, this odd musical has okay music and the characters are well played, although a major role by Emma Thompson is quite exaggerated and becomes not so funny as bizarre.            GRADE--------------B-

A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS--This HBO film is a sequel to A CHRISTMAS STORY from 1983 with Peter Billingsley still as Ralphie but  now 20 years older with a wife and kids of his own.  I never much like the original that much (too slow and belabored) and the first 40 minutes of this new version I nearly turned the station, but it does pick up during the last  45 minutes and by the end I found it quite moving.        GRADE------------C+

SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S--From Prime--this Christmas themed film has two men who bump into each other while leaving Tiffany's New York City store and accidentally pick up the wrong package, causing misunderstanding with the receivers of each gift.  You can sometimes figure out where each scene is going, but the film is pleasant to watch for the undemanding.            GRADE-------------C+

MY HAPPY ENDING--This British/Israeli film is based on a stage play, and features Andie MacDowell as a famous actor with stage four colon cancer who is trying to start chemotherapy without anyone knowing about it.  She bonds with three other women in her unit, but because she is vain and insecure she tries to stop her treatment in the middle of the procedure.  The film makes some good points and has some humor, but I really just wanted to shake the main character and slap her hard across the head and scream "snap out of it."  The lovely MacDowell is the main reason for watching this one.     GRADE-----------C+

OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS--This shorts program was a pretty sorry example of worldwide shorts.  The only one I liked was THE RED SUITCASE about a young woman sent off to America from the middle east as a bride by her father, and her attempts to avoid her groom  at the airport.                   GRADE-------C+

PUSS AND BOOTS: THE LAST WISH--I'm not sure even kids would like this convoluted and chaotic animated feature with Antonio Banderas as the cat voice.          GRADE-------------C

PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING--Silly and unfunny comedy about a dysfunctional family wedding.  Alison Janney, Kirsten Bell and Ben Platt are all wasted and I don't remember much about it after two months.              GRADE-----C

VIOLENT NIGHT--There are moments of humor in this black Christmas themed comedy, but the film has a nasty violent streak that ruins a lot of humor.             GRADE----------C 

VINTAGE FILMS

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946--Frank Capra's classic story of an angel sent to earth to help depressed man find out what life would have been like if he'd  never been born.  Jimmy Stewart, Henry Traers, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Gloria Grahame--and all the cast are perfection.        GRADE------A

AVATAR 2009--Director James Cameron's original about humans trying to relocate to Pandora.          GRADE-------A 

ONE TWO THREE 1961--Hilarious comedy by director Frank Capra (again) set in Berlin .. about ambitious company manager forced to babysit the teenager daughter of his boss while hoping to become promoted.  The teen runs off and gets married to a communist.  James Cagney gives powerhouse performance and the sparkling cast includes Pamela Tiffin, Horst Buchholtz and Arlene Francis.     GRADE--------A

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET--Maureen O'Hara plays a single mother who hires an older man to play Santa Claus at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, but he insists he really is Santa Claus.  Charming holiday film, includes John Payne, Edmund Gwenn and a very young Natalie Wood.   GRADE-----A-   

HUNTED--aka THE STRANGER IN BETWEEN 1952--British film noir with Dirk Bogade who kidnaps a young boy when he think the boy may have witnessed his murder of another man, and the police chase them through England.           GRADE---------------B+

AUTUMN LEAVES 1956--Robert Aldrich directed this soap opera about an older woman (Joan Crawford) who becomes involved with a younger man (Cliff Robertson) who suffers from mental illness.  Also features Vera Miles and Lorne Greene.   GRADE-----------B+

THE STORY OF ESTHER COSTELO 1957--This soap opera features Joan Crawford as a wealthy American woman who adopts a young teen living in poverty who is parentless and blind and mute do to an explosion years before.  She teaches the girl Braille and things are going fine until Crawford's ex comes back into town and tries to exploit the girl  for money.  With Rosano Brazzi and Heather Sears.         GRADE------------B+  

All below rated B

PIECES OF APRIL 2003--Free spirit Katie Holmes tries to make a Thanksgiving dinner for dysfunction family and her dying mom.  With Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke and Sean Hayes. 

SUDDEN FEAR 1952--Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame

THIS HAPPY BREED 1944--Noel Coward script about how WWII changed everything.

REVENGE OF PINK PANTHER 1978--Peter Sellars against many different assassins.  Funny.

DEAR MR. PROCHACK 1949--Dirk Bogarde and Glynis Johns play lovers-but Bogarde steals her husband and they remained partners for decades in real life.

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT 1942--Bogart and friends find Nazis all over Manhattan.

ACROSS THE PACIFIC 1942--Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet find treason at start of WW2.

ACTION IN NORTH ATLANTIC 1943--Bogart and Daniel Massey try to avoid German subs while transporting goods to their allies on freighters.

PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE 1944--Bogart and friends try to escape from Devil's Island back to France during WW2.  Plot reads a lot like story of PAPILLION.  Director Michael Curtis with Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre---all from CASABLANCA.

CRAIG'S WIFE 1936--Based on Pulitzer Prize winning play with Rosalind Russell--a domineering wife of John Boles, who loves her but slowly realizes she's only in it for the money.

HARRIETT CRAIG 1950--Remake of CRAIG"S WIFE with Joan Crawford and Wendell Corey.  Modest changes don't seem to take away power of the drama.

 

 OSCAR SHOW SUNDAY MARCH 12th  500PM Pacific time

Here's some random thoughts--EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is not my favorite film--it was so chaotic and exhausting to watch, but I did enjoy Michelle Yeoh.  For years she's been in Chinese films and always a pleasure to watch.  Even though the action was weird, she managed to come across as intelligent while doing and saying the strangest things.  Cate Blanchett in TAR certainly gives the strongest, most dramatic performance, but she has won before and this is Michelle Yeoh's year.  Key Huy Quan gives a loveable supporting performance and is a child actor finally making good after Spielberg's INDIANA JONES AND TEMPLE OF DOOM (a film I disliked) and THE GOONIES, so he will probably win because EEAAO is on a winning streak.  If he doesn't, I liked Judd Hirsch from THE FABLEMANS because he has only a few short scenes but he really hit the emotional points.  Riding the coattails of EEAAO is Jamie Lee Curtis, whose been around a long time with solid performances, and her parents are Hollywood royalty (Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis) so even though her role was crazy way over the top for me, she has the wind at her back, and I'd applaud her win for supporting actress.  My vote would be for Hong Chau (THE WHALE)--another actress whose been around for a dozen years--finally getting some recognition. 

THE FABLEMANS has Speilberg in top form, but EEAAO seems to have the steam, but he might pull off best direction, but the two Daniel's from EEAAO seem to have the edge.  

I wasn't sure about best actor until I saw THE WHALE.  Wow, what an experience.  It is the best and most definitive role Brendan Fraser has ever had, and he deserves it.  Colin Farrell is good but has to give much credit to BRENDAN Gleeson in BANSHEES OF INSHERIN--his co star and equal.  Austin Butler does a good imitation of ELVIS, but he's young yet and doesn't have the gravitas as FRASER .  

Spielberg and Kushner might take the original writing for FABLEMANS, but this is a strong strong category, so TAR or EEAAO or BANCHEES might win--anyone would be lovely.  Adapted writing may go to Rian Johnson for GLASS ONION--it seems the strongest in this category for me, and it is a clever film. 

Animated film--PINOCCHIO

Documentary feature--FIRE OF LOVE was pretty hot--volcanoist couple die together in volcano.

Makeup--THE WHALE

International Film--I've only seen one--CLOSE which was excellent, so who knows? 

For live action short film--I saw them all--the only one I liked was THE RED SUITCASE.  Young woman sent to the US from middle east and tries to hide from groom sent to pick her up at airport.

AVATAR: WAY OF WATER should pick up some technical awards--fine with me.