Three great films opened this past week--an encouraging start to the new cinematic new year:
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD---This new documentary was filmed in digital and in 3D--a format that I usually don't appreciate--by New Zealand director Peter Jackson (LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT etc). I saw the 3D version and I was impressed. He was given many hours of World War I footage, and transformed it into incredibly crisp, clear, like-new footage, then added amazing sound and some music and changed some of the black and white into color--the best technical result I've ever seen. These scenes of World War I have never been seen before, and brought to immediate vision the emotional reality of trench fighting that was astonishing and fascinating. You could sense the audience was transfixed. This 90 minute film is followed by a short 30 minute documentary about how the film was made, with Jackson himself expounding--another fascinating experience. For me this was THE MOVIE EVENT of the past several years.
GRADE---------------------------A
ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL--This new science fiction action film was directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron (TITANIC), and was only available in 3-D at the theatre where I saw it, but the film was technically vivid and impressive. The 3-D glasses don't fit over my regular glasses very well, and so I often get a headache by the end, but this experience was better than most, and I'm happy to recommend it to interested science fiction geeks. ALITA is a hand made cyborg girl, sort of a daughter figure to a doctor who pieces her together, and they soon discover that she has amazing powers that help her survive in this dismal, violent futuristic world. The film is live action, but ALITA does have some sort of special effects featured on some body parts, and her eyes have been enlarged with an other worldly glow. It's definitely a fish out of water story with a lot of fights, chases and thrills, and I was fascinated throughout.
GRADE------------------A-
COLD PURSUIT-- I wasn't expecting much from this latest Liam Neeson as action figure hero film, avenging the death of his twenty something son by drug dealers, but within 15 minutes this film morphs into something uniquely quirky, with drool humor, bits of witty violence, and unexpected plot twists. More than once I felt I was watching a companion film to the Coen brothers classic FARGO with bits of the recent Taylor Sheridan films WIND RIVER and HELL AND HIGH WATER and a dash of Hitchcock tossed in for good measure. This film is a remake of a Scandinavian film that I've never seen, and is sure to end up on many a top 10 list for this new year. GRADE--------------A-
OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORT FILMS----This program featured all five of the Oscar nominated animated shorts, plus a couple more gems, and they all were pretty good. The first shown was BAO--a film that had wide exposure as it played this last summer with the new INCREDIBLES 2, but all were unique and, surprisingly moving. Unfortunately this program (along with the unseen by me Oscar nominated live action shorts) played just one short week during the massive (for the Pacific Northwest) snow storm, which made for sparse attendance. Pity if you missed it, but hopefully these programs will come back soon on DVD or the SHORTS channel. GRADE------------B+
ON THE BASIS OF SEX----Based on the early career of Ruth Bader Ginberg and her husband, this modest film which features Felicity Jones and Arme Hammer is pleasant and enlightening enough, but lacks the bold, provocative energy that highlights the current Oscar nominated documentary RBG about Ginsberg's life on the Supreme Court. GRADE----------B
SERENITY---Matthew McConanghy and Anne Hathaway star as ex's in this stylish film noir--she hunts him down so he will take her violent new husband out on a fishing expedition to throw him overboard. The film is slick to watch, but plays more like a potboiler than thriller, and you will either love or hate the surprise ending, or simply go what? Some interesting scenes and the ocean setting is attractive, but it doesn't quite come together. At least it wasn't dull. GRADE----------B-
ISN'T IT ROMANTIC---Rebel Wilson, who often plays the overweight best friend supporting roles (like all three PITCH PERFECT films) gets to be the lead here. She awakes from a head injury in a fantasy world where everyone loves her for herself and she gets the handsome man. The film is a parody of romantic comedies, with singing and dancing thrown in. Unfortunately its also a giant cliche, and becomes tiresome to watch, except for the occasional sight gag or line which she handles mostly with aplomb. I wanted to like it more, but not this time. GRADE-----C+
MISS BALA----Michelle Rodriguez goes to Tijuana to visit a close friend, but ends up getting kidnapped by drug dealers, and forced to be a "mule." There's a lot of unbelievable situations she must get out of, and this is a film that showed too much in the trailer of coming attractions . Also, the camera work was hand held, adding to the unpleasant visuals. GRADE-----------C+
GLASS--Except for THE SIXTH SENSE, I have not been impressed with director M. Night Shalmalan's other films---too long, too obtuse, to dull, too confusing, etc. Yes, that is exactly what I though of GLASS, and that ending was pointless to boot. GRADE-------------C-
Viewed on DVD--------------------------
LEAN ON PETE----2018-- A little film which snuck into town earlier this year, this is the little story that could, and does. Teen age Charley doesn't have much family support, but ends up with a horse as his best friend--that is until the horse is scheduled to be slaughtered. The adults he has contact with don't understand him, but he tries very hard to please. He is a very sympathetic character, but as his life starts a downward spiral (in a Dickensonian manner) you become anxious for his happiness. The modest, subtle film gains a lot of power, and contains several throat choking moments. One scene in particular had me gasping in shock--I don't know how they did that. In spite of being sad at times, the film has a strong redemptive power--it treats it's characters with a great deal of respect. With strong support from Steve Bucemi, Chloe Seviigny, Steve Zahn, and a star making turn by Charlie Plummer as "Charly" GRADE--------------A-
ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ --2017---Here's an excellent example of a film that has some problems with story and believability, but is incredibly compelling because Denzel Washington has such command over his acting skills that he carries us over any potholes that surface. It wasn't until the film was over that I realized that some of the actions and plot twists were bogus at best. Well worth seeing for Washington. GRADE------------B
PITCH PERFECT 3---2017--Not as fresh as the first two, but there are some silly yet funny scenes and the singing is still watchable. Rebel Wilson is given a little more to do than previous editions. GRADE-----------B-
HARPER----1966 --I've seen some detective films with Paul Newman before that have been more interesting--I thought this one was a bit slow and too droll, but the cast (including Arthur Hill, Lauren Bacall, Janet Leigh, and especially scene stealer Shelley Winters) does what it can. GRADE----------------C+
TOP FILMS FROM 2018
Drama/Comedy in no particular order
THE FAVOURITE
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
GREEN BOOK
WIDOWS
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME
COLETTE
SEARCHING
THE WIFE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT
MAMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN
BLACK K KLANSMAN
FIRST REFORMED
LOVE, SIMON
LEAVE NO TRACE
LEAN ON PETE
Favorite Documentaries
FREE SOLO
TEA WITH THE DAMES
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS
ANTONIO LOPEZ 1970: SEX FASHION DISCO
BALLET NOW
MCQUEEN
QUEERAMA
HAL
RBG
THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING
Best Foreign Films
ROMA (Mexico)
SHOPLIFTERS (Japan)
THE LAST SUIT (Spanish)
THE GUILTY (Denmark)
SEE YOU UP THERE (France)
REPORT ON SARAH AND SALEEM (Palestine/Israel)
Guilty Pleasures
BLACK PANTHER
UNSANE
THUNDER ROAD
THE PARTY
THE BAR
KILLS ON WHEELS
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER VERSE
Did not like these films
WRINKLE IN TIME
THIRD MURDER
VICE (I wanted to scream profanities at the screen....)
0SCARS 400 PM SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY--red carpet
Best Picture: My favorites are THE FAVOURITE and GREEN BOOK but I suspect A STAR IS BORN or BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY or BLACK PANTHER might win, or ROMA which I think should win best foreign film.
Best Actor: My favorites are Viggo Mortenson for GREEN BOOK or Rami Malek for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but Christian Bale might win for VICE--he was good but the film pissed me off.
Best Actress: My favorite is Glenn Close for THE WIFE--it would be a crime if she didn't win.
Supporting Actor: My favorite is Richard E. Grant for CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME but Mahershala Ali was good in GREEN BOOK.
Supporting Actress: Regina King--IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK has a deserved lock.
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA seems assured, though I also liked Yorgos Lanthimos for THE FAVOURITE.
Best Cinematography: THE FAVOURITE.
Best Costume: BLACK PANTHER, THE FAVOURITE, MARY POPPINS RETURNS--toss up.
Best Foreign film: ROMA and SHOPLIFTERS but ROMA has the edge.
Best Original Score: My Favorite is MARY POPPINS RETURNS, but IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK is lovely.
Best Song: All songs were fine this year, but Shallow... Lady Gaga's tune from A STAR IS BORN seems to have a lock.
Best Animated feature: SPIDER MAN: INTO THE SPIDER VERSE has a lock, I think.
Best Screen play: FIRST REFORMED is stunning, but FAVOURITE, GREEN BOOK, and ROMA seem a more predictable choice.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Favorite is IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, but CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME and STAR IS BORN might be close behind.
Some of the smaller technical awards are up for grabs. I think that FIRST REFORMED should have been nominated for actor director and picture .
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I got the name incorrect on my favorite film this month---the correct name is THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD. I apologize for any confusion during the previous 4 days. That was a major senior moment/boo boo I think.
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