Ok, sorry for the 80’s flashback of Hey Mickey, but Ricky Ricardo was so fine according to the new Aaron Sorkin movie Being the Ricardos. I don’t know who he ticked off this year, but the film is getting little distribution and is far better than the Rotten Tomatoes 70%. I’d give it a 90… Continue reading Hey Ricky You’re So Fine, You’re So Fine…
Category: biopic
Spencer: First Choice for Re-watch
For those who grew up in a dysfunctional household where holidays were not quite ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, Spencer will feel like a walk down memory lane…And while some might choose The French Dispatch for best 2021 re-watch (and I’m game, genius creativity at too high rpms), given the choice I’d say… Continue reading Spencer: First Choice for Re-watch
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
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)
Percy Vs. Goliath: part of a new Medicare Movie Cycle
Much what Billy Crystal’s “Happy Now” tried to do for dementia, Christopher Walken attempts to do in exposing agrochemical evils in “Percy Vs. Goliath”. While the former tried to humanize and add comedic nuances, Christoher’s screenwriters, Garfield Lindsay Miller (please pick some initials) and Hilary Pryor went for straight on courtroom and farmland saga. Fortunately,… Continue reading Percy Vs. Goliath: part of a new Medicare Movie Cycle
Black Bear and Black Bottom (Ma Rainey’s)
Black Bear, written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine, had a lot of promise, yet landed with a thud. Let’s just say it’s a movie about a screenwriter full of ideas. The lead is one of my favorite comedic actresses Aubrey Plaza (my faves: Ingrid Goes West &An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn). And while… Continue reading Black Bear and Black Bottom (Ma Rainey’s)
Mank, David Fincher’s Gorgeous Tribute to Dad; Jack
Wow, I already was in love with Mank the movie, fresh out of the can on Netflix. The black and white cinematography (filmed on Red Prototype by Erik Messerschmidt making me feel I’m in the halcyon Wizard of Oz and am so happy I don’t even want colorization), Gary Oldman’s amazing performance, Arliss Howard as… Continue reading Mank, David Fincher’s Gorgeous Tribute to Dad; Jack
He makes you work for it: Clint Eastwood’s Bird
I decided watching Bird from 1988 was a lot of work. And then I thought, wait, so was his most recent The Mule, as was Million Dollar Baby. Let’s face it, Clint is one of those Dad’s who made you do chores, lots of them. Written by Joel Oliansky, Bird is darkly lit, with many… Continue reading He makes you work for it: Clint Eastwood’s Bird
Blonde Backlash: In Defense of Renee Zellweger
Say what you will about the wonder of Parasite winning best picture and best foreign film, many if not most people piled on to Renee Zellweger in our feeding frenzy pile on, jump on the bandwagon hateful culture. These are the reactionary folks who read soundbites or impassioned tweets and without thinking, go YEH! like… Continue reading Blonde Backlash: In Defense of Renee Zellweger