I’m Still Here Review: I’m still solid in my Oscar choices

I’m still Here is up for three nominations: best film, best foreign film and best actress. The movie is a lot like The Brutalist in its epic scope, and I felt more concern for the characters for its concentrated attention on the family unit. I also felt more because it is a true story and… Continue reading I’m Still Here Review: I’m still solid in my Oscar choices

Nickel Boys & My Oscar Power Rankings…

Nickel Boys, the novel, escaped my reading stack, but I wanted to see the film adaptation in preparation for my He Said She Said Talk at the Sarasota Art Museum February 24th. Nickel Boys, adapted by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, was a bit of a relief for me. After shaking my head at The… Continue reading Nickel Boys & My Oscar Power Rankings…

September 5, Goldie Locks continues

My finicky Goldie Locks routine continues…last week it was The Brutalist, not best picture, and this weekend’s discovery was September 5, not best original screenplay. It’s a simple Script Doctor prescription this time Tim Fehlbaum. If you’re going to make a suffocatingly small surroundings film, for the love of the Netherlands (where Tim is from)… Continue reading September 5, Goldie Locks continues

Persian Version: Effective Narrative

Persian Version, written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz is a moving based-on-a-true story film. The film garnered two prizes this year at Sundance for both screenwriting and as a drama. The actresses who play mother and daughter (Niousha Noor and Layla Mohammadi respectively) issued robust and believable performances. Iranian women have been through some things… Continue reading Persian Version: Effective Narrative

Priscilla: Edward Hopper Level Design, Finger Paint Story

I understand that Priscilla’s life included a lot of isolation with intermittent bells and whistles. And that’s exactly what Sofia Coppola’s easy on the eye movie portrayed. However, this is the movie industry and I feel the story could have included more spice. I mean, wasn’t their sex life ever exciting? Even one roll in… Continue reading Priscilla: Edward Hopper Level Design, Finger Paint Story

Killers of the Flower Moon: About Damn Time

With appreciation to Lizzo for the song title “About Damn Time”, the title fits this review in two ways. First and and foremost, God bless David Grann who wrote the original book and Martin Scorsese for adapting it with Eric Roth. Even more so, to decide instead of a police/FBI procedural to depict the interior… Continue reading Killers of the Flower Moon: About Damn Time

Dumb Money Could Have Been Smarter

Craig Gillespie has moved me in the past with I, Tonya and Pam & Tommy. Dumb Money though simply skims the surface in regard to character development and basic exposition. Paul Dano is an acting God. I have followed his career from There Will Be Blood to Love & Mercy to Dumb Money. I even… Continue reading Dumb Money Could Have Been Smarter

Dreamin’ Wild, Sleepy Tame

I’m sure you have movies you can’t re-watch, even if you loved them the first time, mainly because they’re just too gut wrenchingly emotional. A few of mine are: Blu Valentine, Saving Private Ryan, Manchester By the Sea and Love & Mercy. The last two share involvement with director Bill Pohland who wrote and directed… Continue reading Dreamin’ Wild, Sleepy Tame

Certainly Never Fade Away: The Buddy Holly Story

Similarly to when I’d see my son get standing ovations at SUNY Geneseo, my Burns Court experience last night provoked me to turn around and think, “Why the heck aren’t there even more people here to witness this marvel?” Not only is the film The Buddy Holly Story a super quality film (tightly written by… Continue reading Certainly Never Fade Away: The Buddy Holly Story

Argentina, 1985: If Movie Awards were Sports Contests

Perhaps we should have an alternative to the Oscars, where movies with heart and morality get awarded. I wish that for Argentina, 1985. Argentina, 1985, directed by Santiago Mitre, which he co-wrote with Mariano Llinas and Martin Mauregui, possesses so much quality that I overcame my weariness over courtroom dramas and could get over the… Continue reading Argentina, 1985: If Movie Awards were Sports Contests