Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the adage applies to not only a person’s love for their pet as in Nicolas Cage’s syncopation with his truffle pig, but also my adoration for Cage’s acting career. Sure, his choices haven’t been ‘pretty’ at times, yet when he delivers a performance such as Pig… Continue reading A “Pig”‘s Pulchritude
Stillwater Runs Deep
I think the 70’s Rotten Tomatoes is unfair for the new film Stillwater, written by Oscar winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight screenplay) as well as other awards for movies such as The Station Agent, Win Win and Up. Much like his previous films, McCarthy knows how to write a great story and here is one based… Continue reading Stillwater Runs Deep
Three Summers, Like a Tres Leches Cake, Tres Veroes
Pardon my bad Spanish analogy, but since I love Tres Leches cake, I thought I’d compare Tres Veroes, a fine movie written and directed by Sandra Kogut. First the perfect three part structure: Decembers of 2015, 2016, and 2017. 2015 begins with Mada, played brilliantly by Regina Case, as housekeeper/family caretaker to a wealthy Brazilian… Continue reading Three Summers, Like a Tres Leches Cake, Tres Veroes
God’s Own Country, a must see
Recently I was asked to co-host a program at our local Independent Theater Burns Court for the movie “Ammonite” which debuts November 13th. As a dutiful life long learner, I looked into the writer/director Francis Lee. Lo and behold, was a movie on his filmography I’d been meaning to watch starring one of my favorite… Continue reading God’s Own Country, a must see
A Girl Walks Into a Movie Theater…
A girl walks into a movie theater, intent on seeing Little Women, but just as I veer towards the men’s group at any Super Bowl party, the minute I heard a woman say how Little Women dripped a little too much maudlin, I spun and drove for a power lay up back into Uncut Gems.… Continue reading A Girl Walks Into a Movie Theater…
Uncut Gems: Sparkling!
Not sure how to write a review about a revelation without spoiling this film written by my cherished Safdie brothers (Good Time, Daddy Long Legs) and their writing partner Ronald Bronstein. BUT I will keep my promise!! Suffice to say it’s a must see and certainly breaks into my top ten at ‘lucky’ number 7… Continue reading Uncut Gems: Sparkling!
Sweetest Peanut Butter I’ve Ever Known
Hyperbole, schmyperbole, I’m jumping on The Peanut Butter Falcon Oscar bandwagon ready to throw non-breakables at the television should it not win several awards. Best Original Screenplay: Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz are the new Affleck/Damon, great storytelling and not a second of filler in the entire movie. My movie companion was dying to get… Continue reading Sweetest Peanut Butter I’ve Ever Known
Maiden: Using undertow as a verb
I’m declaring undertow as a verb, as in underdwhelmed, as in, ‘I got undertowed’ by the high praise for the documentary “Maiden”. I like the sound of it and hope to have it goes viral. Of course I’m saying this somewhat tongue in cheek. On the one hand, what the women on “Maiden” did, as… Continue reading Maiden: Using undertow as a verb
Just the Iris, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
I guess my main question for Michael Showalter, director of The Eyes of Tammy Faye is why not shoot higher than just a adapted copy of a documentary. Yes, it gave the specific impression that Tammy Faye was duped or lured into manipulation by her narcissistic husband Jim Bakker, but after reading her Wiki page… Continue reading Just the Iris, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Card Counter doesn’t pass the film formula test
My Film definition: Film = Moments + Story + Personality/Emotion Card Counter works more as a docu-drama. War may begin as ridding the world of ‘monsters’, but in the end the chaos and corruption create or deform innocent people into monsters. Abu Ghraib, obviously horrible. Aftermath, soldiers involved warped and destroyed. Innocent people held in… Continue reading Card Counter doesn’t pass the film formula test
Worth: Michael Keaton’s penultimate performance
Hopefully by now, you know I won’t steer you wrong. So trust me when I say, Worth is not only a superbly written film, it raises Michael Keaton to the Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks echelon. I’m from Upstate New York, but because I was a Guidance Counselor when 9/11 occurred, my job that day… Continue reading Worth: Michael Keaton’s penultimate performance
Crime Story, How Great Actors Can Save a Film
Clunky is the best word to describe Crime Story and despite its 17% Rotten Tomatoes, the two leads Mira Sorvino and Richard Dreyfuss are such beautiful actors (inside and out) that you’ll follow them anywhere. I did my due diligence to see what’s true about Crime Story (the first title card says ‘based on true… Continue reading Crime Story, How Great Actors Can Save a Film
Two Peas (or Indies) in a Pod: “The Comedy” and “Holy Motors”
Before I do my deep dive into the meaning and reviews of these two independent films (The Comedy and Holy Motors both from 2012), let me take a crack at the meaning of each. To preface though, it’s pretty coincidental that they came out the same year though that may be where the similarities end.… Continue reading Two Peas (or Indies) in a Pod: “The Comedy” and “Holy Motors”
Spoiler Alert:A second helping of Annette gleaned these insights
I saw Annette twice and would go again in a heartbeat. I think Adam Driver’s straining voice can be aggravating, but is also symbolic of Henry McHenry’s character straining under the pressure of when an introvert gets caught up in a suffocating life of marriage, fatherhood and competing fame. The foreshadowing of him saying to… Continue reading Spoiler Alert:A second helping of Annette gleaned these insights
Swan Song, hopefully just an opening act
Udo Kier, star of Swan Song is a wonder. He’s been around and while and ashamedly I haven’t seen any of the highly acclaimed recent work he’s done: Bacurau and The Painted Bird, but I’m sure I’ve seen him in one of the many Von Trier movies. But I’ve now redeemed myself by being one… Continue reading Swan Song, hopefully just an opening act
Respect: Who’s Zoomin Who? (if you know nothing about Aretha’s bio, skip the spoilers in paragraph 2)
While I enjoyed Respect, I have to say the traditional biopic formula should be retired. First the start is always sluggish, when if they cut to highlights and then backtracked, you’d wind up with a much better film. Not to mention, you have one of the greatest current singers of all time playing a G.O.A.T.… Continue reading Respect: Who’s Zoomin Who? (if you know nothing about Aretha’s bio, skip the spoilers in paragraph 2)
Adam Driver is staring at me: Annette
I don’t read any reviews before I see a film and have written the review. That statement is mostly true; I read the last paragraph of AO Scott’s Annette review, dying to know what my son and I were in for. Hence, how and why Adam Driver is staring at me, from the accompanying photo… Continue reading Adam Driver is staring at me: Annette