I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, plus HOME FROM THE HILL, SONS AND LOVERS, LOVE AMONG THE RUINS, MARGUERITE, plus------OSCAR TIME---TOP FILMS FROM 2016!!!!!!!!!!!

The documentary film I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is a challenging, thoughtful, disturbing film that deals with race, race relations in America (and in other countries, too), and bigotry, all using author James Baldwin's words (narrated by Samuel L. Jackson) and featuring Baldwin in clips from his speeches and interviews, notably from appearances on the Dick Cavett show among others.  Emphasis is placed on Baldwin's relationships with three assassinated black leaders--Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr. , and Malcolm X.  It is eye opening material, and there are some stinging revelations.  It has received an Oscar nomination for best feature length documentary, and is one of several documentaries that I found to be very fine this year.  See OSCAR comments below.                  GRADE------B+

___________________________

The following films were viewed on DVD.....

LOVE AMONG THE RUINS-- 1975--The great Katherine Hepburn and Lawrence Olivier play ex-lovers, reunited decades later when she seeks help from lawyer Olivier to defend herself against
a young man who is trying to marry her for her money.  Basically a two character play, these two actors are both at their peak, and it is a pleasure to watch them battle wits and wills.  I watched an inferior faded copy of the film, but was still so impressed that I couldn't stop from watching.            GRADE-------B+

HOME FROM THE HILL --1959--This movie was part of a Robert Mitchum  package with five other films and I'd never heard of it, although it was directed by Vincente Minnelli and featured Eleanor Parker, George Peppard, George Hamilton (still very tanned so early in his career!) and Everett Sloane.  Based on a novel by William Humphrey, the film image on the poster boasted "When you talk about GREAT Motion Pictures you will talk about this one!"  and the first 20 minutes played like a melodramatic pulp entertainment without the humor.  But I have to say that by the end (a long 150 minutes later) I was quite involved with the characters and the (melo)drama, and there were some snippets of humor that also helped keep me awake and entertained.  Hamilton, shyly:   "I'm dyin' to kiss you!" Girlfriend, coyly:  "Don't die!"  Mitchum is the wealthy, hard headed patriarch who has tried to seduce  every woman in the small Texan town, Parker plays his long suffering wife who has long since refused to sleep with him because of his behavior, Hamilton is their son, torn between allegiance between his father and mother, and Peppard in the more difficult role, is Mitchum's bastard son. who works as a farm hand even as Mitchum refuses to acknowledge the kinship.  The two Georges are both terrific--you can really see why they both became famous in the next few years--in fact, they've possibly never been better.   For what it is, it was a pleasing pleasure to watch.
          GRADE----------B+

MARGUERITE--2015--This French film with Catherine Frot  is based on the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, but the name, place and time frame has changed , and she is not quite the amusing, obtuse clown that Meryl Streep portrayed this past year.  She is more sympathically portrayed, and in a way that has lowered the entertainment and humor value.  Still, both films are generally faithful in ways to the F.F.J. story.  I just finished reading a current biography about her life titled FLORENCE! FOSTER! JENKINS! and in spite of the differences, both films can claim accuracy in many ways.
       GRADE-------B 

SONS AND LOVERS---2003--This is a beautifully filmed British TV four hour movie that plays much like a Masterpiece Theater version of the D.H. Lawrence novel, which I thought I had read, or seen as a film before, but this was all new to me.  It features some bold sex scenes, and contains the provocative themes that make Lawrence famous, including exploring the Oedipus complex, parental hatred, spiritual searching, pantheism and others.  It is a solid film, well acted and directed.         GRADE----------B

FROM TIME TO TIME--2019--Just prior to his writing DOWNTON ABBEY, Julien Fellows wrote and directed this British film which featured Maggie Smith in the leading role as the grandmother who lives in a large house that seems to have ghosts from 30 years earlier that visit her grandson when he comes to stay.  It was written as a "family" film,  but the film is quite serious and mature in nature as the time frame switches back and forth to tell the story of a missing fortune in jewels and tries to clarify the twisted relationships of the boy's father  who is currently missing in battle during WWII, and other relatives.  It has some complicated scenes, and I think would appeal mostly to fans of Maggie Smith and Julien Fellows.  It also features some other actors who a year later showed up with Smith in DOWNTON ABBEY including Hugh Bonneville and Allen Leech.         GRADE---------B 

THE FBI STORY--1959--Episodic film about long time agent James Stewart and his faithful wife
Vera Miles who move around the country working on different FBI cases like an airplane bombing, a Klu Klux Klan organization killing Indians in a small town, catching famous gangster, and capturing Communist spies.  Highlights of his personal life are also illuminated.  Each episode is fairly self contained, so the total effect, although interesting and well acted, softens the dramatic impact of the entire film in general.           GRADE--------B 

THE PARENT TRAP--1961--Walt Disney film featuring a young Haley Mills who plays identical twins, separated at one year old when their parents divorce, who meet at summer camp, and then plot to bring their parents back together.  The plot is leisurely and logical (to a point) and the actors, including Brian Keith and the feisty Maureen O'Hara as the parents are lovely to watch.  I even remembered the song "Let's Get Together (What do you say, We could have a swinging time....)" literally word for word.           GRADE--------B-

GUMSHOE--1971--Albert Finney is the title character, in a film that feels a little too clever for its own good, both in dialogue and in plotting.  Billie Whitelaw, Frank Finlay and Janice Rule also appear, with Stephen Frears directing (FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, PHILOMENA, THE QUEEN, THE GRIFTERS, ETC...).            GRADE--------B-

ST. IVES--1998--aka ROBERT LEWIS STEPHENSON'S ST. IVES--Modestly entertaining film based on a novel and set in the Napoleonic Wars, this low budget production never got released in the U.S. as far as I know.  In the vein of TOM JONES 1963, the humor keeps your attention, even if the intrigue and action scenes miss their mark at times.  Featuring Richard E. Grant, Miranda Richardson, Jason Isaacs and French actor Jean-Marc Barr, amusing in the lead.         GRADE-------B-

KRAKATOA EAST OF JAVA -1969--One of the first disaster films, this film is mostly a disaster itself, the first problem being the title---Krakatoa is actually west of Java, but the producers thought east sounded better than west--and the film was widely ridiculed for that geographical error.  Filmed in 70 millimeter for showings at Cinerama theatres, the film did poor business, mostly because the characters in true "GRAND MOTEL" fashion, are not convincing, and given little to do .  If you do watch it, you might want to fast forward through much of the first 45 minutes until the special effects start up, although they are repetitious and numbing.  A ship sails out nearby Krakatoa to locate a sunken ship that carries a treasure of pearls.  On board are 30 prisoners, a diving expert Brian Keith with bad lungs and addicted to drugs,  father and son balloonists Rossano Brazzi and Sal Mineo, who have nearly nothing to do, a depressed woman searching for her son (Diane Baker), the captain Maximilian Schell, who single handily drives the 30 prisoners off the ship when they attempt to take control!!!!!!, and the singing wife of Keith, who sings a song about an Old Fashioned Girl while doing a strip tease in front of him.  Yes there are a few (unintentional laughs).  Lots of terror awaits them, including a long long volcano, fire on board the ship, flying lava and rocks, boiling waters and dead fish, and a big big tsunami.      GRADE------D+


OSCAR SHOW SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY---5pm PST--------
 

TOP FILMS OF 2017
No particular order--following films rated A or A-

AQUARIUS
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
HELL AND HIGH WATER
HIDDEN FIGURES
I, DANIEL BLAKE (yet to open in Seattle)
INDIGNATION
THE INNOCENTS
JACKIE
LA LA LAND
LIFE ANIMATED (documentary)
MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN (documentary)
MOONLIGHT
SING STREET
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU
TOWER (documentary)
ZOOTROPIA

Following films rated B+ but in no particular order

MAN CALLED OVE
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (documentary)
FINDING DORY
CAPTAIN AMERICA
FENCES
LION
EYE IN THE SKY
A BIGGER SPLASH
HOLDING THE MAN
MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD (documentary)
BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALF TIME WALK
DR. STRANGE
PEOPLE VS FRITZ LANG
JULIETA
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
HANDMAIDEN



BLOWN AWAY BY GREAT ACTING

VIGGO MORTENSON--CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
MERYL STREEP--FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
HELEN MIRREN--EYE IN THE SKY
DENZEL WASHINGTON--FENCES
VIOLA DAVIS--FENCES
EMILY BLUNT--GIRL ON A TRAIN
BURGHART KLAUBNER--PEOPLE VS FRITZ LANG
JEFF BRIDGES--HELL OR HIGH WATER
GIL BIRMINGHAM--HELL OR HIGH WATER
NATALIE PORTMAN--JACKIE
SONIA BRAGA --AQUARIUS
SALLY FIELDS--HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS
RUTH NEGGA--LOVING
JESSICA CHASTAIN--MISS SLOANE
LINDA EMOND--INDIGNATION AND THE LAND
TRACEY LETTS--INDIGNATION
RALPH FINNES--A BIGGER SPLASH
CASEY AFFLEC--MANCHESTER BY THE SEA


DELIGHTFUL GUILTY PLEASURES

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
MISS SLOANE
CLOSET MONSTER
GIRL ON A TRAIN
BAD MOMS
THE MEDDLER
HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS
DEAD POOL
ZOOTROPIA
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
DR. STRANGE
PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW (documentary)
A BIGGER SPLASH 
THE BOSS
SING
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2


OTHER GOOD STUFF
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER-rated B or B-

JULIETA
SULLY
BAD MOMS
COME WHAT MAY
OTHER PEOPLE
UNDER THE SHADOW
TANNA
ALLIED
MISS SLOANE
LOVING
MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
LIGHT BETWEEN TWO OCEANS
PASSENGERS
STRANGE BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
GHOSTBUSTERS
BFG
DON'T THINK TWICE
THE LAND
FREE STATE OF JONES
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
THE LOBSTER
WIENER
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
WHISKY TANGO FOXTROT
ROCK THE CASBAH
HAIL CAESAR
RACE
SING
HOLOGRAM FOR A KING


FILMS I HATED OR VERY DISAPPOINTED BY

LOVE WITCH, THE FIFTH WAVE, ZOOM, BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, MORGAN, COMPLETELY UNKNOWN, JASON BOURNE


OSCAR TALK........

For ACTOR--I'd love to see Viggo Mortenson win for CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, but the film was not widely seen.  I liked Casey Afflect for MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, but DENZEL WASHINGTON pulls out the stops for FENCES, and he also directed it.

For ACTRESS--Even though I haven't seen it yet, I'd love Isabelle Huppert to win because every French film I've seen her in (more than a dozen) she's been amazing.  Emma Stone seems to be the favorite for LA LA LAND.  She was fine, and STREEP was very funny in FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS.

SUPPORTING ACTOR--Mahershala Ali added gravitas to MOONLIGHT--my favorite,  but Jeff Bridges stole the show in HELL OR HIGH WATER.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS--Just about the only sure thing----Viola Davis for FENCES.

DIRECTING--Will probably go to Damien Chazelle for LA LA LAND, but Barry Jenkins for MOONLIGHT could surprise.  Either is fine with me.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE-- I've only seen two of the nominees--I'd give it to LIFE ANIMATED over I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO----but my favorite documentary was not even nominated----TOWER .  Check it out--you will be spellbound.

WRITING--Adapted----MOONLIGHT is my favorite here, but they may give a posthumous award to the late, great playwright August Wilson for FENCES.

WRITING--Original---LA LA LAND seems a lock but Kenneth Lonergan's masterful drama MANCHESTER BY THE SEA feels much more textured.  I liked Lonergan.

MUSICAL SCORE--I loved the score for JACKIE and MOONLIGHT, but the musical LA LA LAND will be the deserved winner.

SONG-- Justin Timberlake had a monster hit this summer with CAN'T STOP THE FEELING (DANCE DANCE DANCE) from TROLLS, but MOANA had music written by the hot song writer Lin-Manuel Miranda of HAMILTON (on Broadway) fame.  Then there's City of Stars from LA LA LAND--the most memorable of the two nominated songs, which might cancel them out.  What a contest!!!!!!  My favorite--dance dance dance......

TECHNICAL AWARDS may go to a popular film that missed out of some major nominations but scored many technical mentions---ARRIVAL.  

SHORTS remain an unknown quality for me---all unseen.

BEST PICTURE----My favorite is MOONLIGHT, but I also love LA LA LAND.  There might be a big surprise here, with nine popular titles in the running,  I'm guessing if there is a giant twist, it will be in favor of a great audience pleaser------HIDDEN FIGURES, and I wouldn't be disappointed. 

Last weekend to catch a nominee.  Still playing in Seattle theatres----HIDDEN FIGURES, MOONLIGHT, LA LA LAND, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, LION, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA,  FENCES, ARRIVAL---and a couple theatres are featuring all 9 Best Picture nominees on Saturday and Sunday.  See you at the movies. 


 

MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN, MOONLIGHT again, JULIETA, UN PADRE NO TAN PADRE, LITTLE MEN, SILENCE, plus MONSEIUR VINCENT, WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, FALLEN ANGEL

My goal this year is to write about films before I get to 15 in number  so that the blogs are not so long, so this blog features just 9 films.

One of my favorite films from last spring's SIFF is the documentary MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN--somewhat of a tongue twister of a title--about children (and a few adults) putting on a production of MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM with songs--and done in a family style.  The kicker is that the location is Sandy Hook and the great number of amateur performers  were personally  affected by the massacre that took place exactly one year earlier in the elementary school.  The production deals with the aftermath, showing how kids and adults dealt with losing their siblings, parents, friends or teachers, and trying to proceed with their lives.  The film is not grim or depressing (although perhaps a little sad and melancholy at times) and yet it can produce tears of joy in viewing.
I thought so at the time, and again yesterday after the Republican congress voted to allow guns, guns, guns to be sold to any mentally ill person that wants one, without background checks!!!!, that EVERY PERSON VOTING ON GUN CONTROL should be REQUIRED to view this extraordinary film MIDSUMER IN NEWTOWN.        GRADE------------A

I saw MOONLIGHT again with some friends who hadn't seen it yet, and they reaffirmed my feeling that this film is a unique and moving experience.  You  haven't seen many characters like this who live in poor parts of town displayed with the dignity, frustration, love and honesty that is on display here.  Watching a second time I was especially impressed with the music score and the cinematography and screenplay, all of which have been Oscar nominated.  In a few ways, this film could be a "companion double feature" with PRECIOUS (2009), an award winning film that features an abused black teen who is fighting to get herself out of her miserable existence.       GRADE-----A

Viewed last October at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Pedro Almodovor's newest film is the lush, colorful, engrossing JULIETA.  This melodrama starts with an older woman running into a old friend of her daughter--a daughter she hasn't seen for many years, and this starts her search for the reasons why her daughter won't contact her mother.  There are a lot of flash backs and flash forwards, and as always, Almodovar uses style and substance to engage our interest, and he seems to specialize in showing the mystique of womanhood in moving ways.                 GRADE-----------B+

Occasionally when possible (and not during SIFF) I make an effort to see a foreign film that will appear at my local cineplex out of the blue.  Last week I decided on UN PADRE NO TAN PADRE, a Spanish comedy/drama that has all the right moves to be remade into an American comedy that could have some general appeal.  Nearly 90 years old and quite mean and stubborn,  our hero's father is  kicked out of his senior living, so the son, who lives with about 8 others in a communal situation takes him in, where father's cranky disposition rubs the others the wrong way, although they are remarkably patient.  Of course he becomes changed after many amusing adventures...but the thing about this film is a strong vein of realism and unsentimentality that makes this film work--something Hollywood wants to avoid when remaking these type of films.   I hope you get a chance to see this one in the Spanish language (with English subtitles, of course) before it is ruined by a remake.           GRADE-----------B

I've always considered director Martin Scorsese to make profound, intelligent films, whether I liked them or not as subject matter.  His new film SILENCE falls squarely into the NOT LIKING category.  Based on a a true story, and one that he has personally been interested in telling for many years,  SILENCE tells of the persecution of two Jesuit priests and thousands of believers who were persecuted and murdered for many years in the 17th century Japan.  Unfortunately, at two hours and forty five minutes long, this dry, dull film repeats the torture, degradation and murder of the two main characters and the people they are trying to preach to in a prolonged and torturous manner. Believe me when I say I felt their pain, and it wasn't pleasant or enlightening, just repetitious and glum.  I got the religious symbolism and Christ like symbols--all rather obvious.  There are a lot of positive reviews out there, but in spite of some lovely photography, I never want to see this film again, which I can't say for just about every other Scorsese film he's made.            GRADE-----------C


VIEWED ON DVD-------------------------------------------


WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD 1991--Helen Mirren gives a forceful portrayal of a British  free spirited , widowed woman in the late 1800's who marries a much younger Italian man, then dies in childbirth, leaving her ex-brother and sister in law and a female friend  (Rupert Graves, Judy Davis and Helena Bonham-Carter) to try to wrest the baby away from the young husband.  This adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel is a tragedy, of course, but the performances are always interesting, the settings and photography (mostly in Italy) are sumptuous, and the story carries the gravitas of history and class conflicts to the forefront.           GRADE----------B

LITTLE MEN 2016------Two young teen age boys find their friendship tested when their parents clash over the cost of rental property that one set of parents inherit, and they want to raise the rent on the mother of the other boy.  It is a small, subtle film, but made with heart and sensitivity.  With Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle, and directed by New Yorker Ira Sachs in his usual unassuming manner--see his LOVE IS STRANGE 2014 and KEEP THE LIGHTS ON 2012.      GRADE-----B

MONSIEUR VINCENT 1947-French film based on the life of St. Vincent dePaul, who created a life of service to homeless and jobless persons, this film shows how he came to create what is currently known as St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores and other services,  While engaging, there are a number of big skips in time that seem jarring, and make you wish the film was smoother in historical progression. Voted an Honorary Oscar in 1948.             GRADE-------B

FALLEN ANGEL 1945--I tried to watch this several months ago, but kept falling asleep.  Second try was more successful.  Directed by Otto Preminger, this film features Dana Andrews who tries to marry a rich women so he can steal her money and then marry a shallow good looking woman--all from the same town.  It's a weird plot, and there are some odd turns, and not always successful.          GRADE----------C+




COMING NEXT BLOG-------FAVORITE FILMS OF 2016 and OSCAR COMMENTS!!!!!