Last Tango in Halifax

Hi Film Fans!

Happy New Year to you all!  May this year bring you lots of fun movie entertainment...and other wonderful things!

I might begin this review by admitting that I knew nothing about the movie...but the title did not thrill me:  Last tango? Halifax?   Like Last Tango in Paris? Yuk!  Something about Halifax, Nova Scotia?  Hmm...not a place I've been interested in that much!

OK, let's get past the bizarre title.  The "tango" refers, I believe, to the dance of life...which continues into our senior years.  Halifax is a place in England.

England...yes indeed, another masterpiece emerges from the land of Big Ben.  

Consider the other film wonders of recent times:  Downton Abbey, The Crown, Rocketman, The Gentlemen, Emma, Tenet, Rebecca...the list goes on.

The movie tells the story of a couple who, having known and been attracted to each other as teens, meet again after 60 years and, of course, fall in love.  The plot line is no secret: the ads for the series say it loud and clear.  

In order not to give anything away, I will add just one more note about the plot:  The two families of the senior couple who fall in love are, well, to say the least, a bit dysfunctional!  Add to that the usual recipe for trouble: two families who are financially, culturally, and socially on opposite ends of the spectrum.  

A recipe for disaster?  No.  A recipe for fun!

The film brilliantly shows that even with the best of intentions, a marriage always involves two families, sometimes at odds, sometimes in harmony, and always on the verge of disruption.  Every character in this film is flawed.  But aren't we all?  What could be more human and real in a film?

The actors are brilliant.  The leads have been given the high British honor of Sir and Dame.  Knighted, they are worthy of top recognition in their long and illustrious acting careers.  

After the first episode in this three-season wonder, we were hooked!  We binge-watched and then some!

Put this at the top of your list...particularly if you are in your "golden" years!  Folks who can look back at the what-ifs and shoulda, coulda, woulda's of life will love this film gem.

 

The Queen's' Gambit

Hi Film Fans!

It has been a while since my last review, but I recently saw an extraordinary film that I would highly recommend.  Let's talk about The Queen's Gambit.

Oh my, what an original, creative film!  It is an eight part mini-series that tells the story of a young girl who struggles to become a chess master.

I will comment briefly on what makes this flick fascinating without giving away details of the plot.  Consistent with the goal of this blog, I strive to make the reviews short and intentionally vague!

Many of the grandmasters of chess are raised in affluent and supportive environments.  Parents often spend fortunes on lessons and tournaments.  In some countries, like Russia, the government provides finances for training.

Now imagine a child raised in an orphanage.  Imagine the same child adopted by parents who who don't care much about her and care less about her interest in chess.  Moreover, what if the young girl is hooked on tranquilizers as a kid and "raised" by an alcoholic mother?

Is it possible for someone from a culturally impoverished and dysfunctional background to become a chess great?  What are her chances?

Watch the film to find out!

Several actresses play the protagonist, Elizabeth Harmon, at different stages of her life.  But is the young adult actress, Anya Taylor-Joy, who dazzles as the aspiring chess player in her late teens and early 20s.  She creates a very shaded, multi-faceted genius, perhaps slightly autistic, who perseveres to achieve a dream.

How does the establishment, those used to coddled male chess stars, react to the newcomer?  With brutal criticism and toxic incredulity.  The naysayers are everywhere!  Therein lies the fascination of the film. It seems like the whole world is against the young chess star.

Clearly, young Beth, later known as Elizabeth, travels a lonely road to recognition.  But wait...just when the girl seems most isolated, supporters do emerge.  Who are they?  Again, for you the viewers to discover!

I guarantee you will be glued to the screen for all eight episodes.  As we root for the brilliant kid to succeed, we learn about the complex and competitive world of professional chess.

Be sure to put this one at the top of your watchlist...I'll give it an A+...one of the best I've seen in recent years.

Enjoy!

Seberg

Hi film fans!

It's been a while since Valerie and I have offered our thoughts on films.  With the virus out there and the country in turmoil, perhaps it's time to just hunker down and enjoy what Hollywood has to offer.

Just a reminder about our mission:  We tend to laud films we like rather than pan those we don't.  We keep the reviews short.  We try never to spoil the details of the plot.

We have been at this since 2010, a full decade now, so please look back at our myriads of past reviews and you might be inspired to view some of the film wonders of the recent past.

The film SEBERG takes us back to the 1960s.  Jean Seberg was an American actress splitting her time between the U.S.and France.  After playing minor roles, she hit the big time when she landed a gig opposite the wildly popular Jean-Paul Belmondo.  The film was an international hit:  Breathless

Only 22 at the time, the actress played a Herald Tribune employee who hangs out in Paris with a charming but hardened criminal, played by Belmondo.  It was a classic, so consider going to Amazon and seeing it.  The plot moves slowly, like many 60s and 70s films, so be patient.  Don't miss the fantastic, more action-packed Richard Gere update years later.

The biopic picks up the story post-Breathless, when Seberg is famous and dealing with the usual problems movie stars face:  which of several houses to live in and which of several men to enjoy!  Tough life, no?

Looking for a raison d'etre, the star got involved in the Black Power movement.  Soon, she was the focus of an FBI smear campaign against her.  Can't say more...that's for our viewers to discover.

I laud this film for its engaging script.  The film plays out like a thriller, where we are on the edge of our seats awestruck at each new development.  We wonder how long the young actress can survive the traumas of her off-screen life.

Seberg had serious emotional issues.  Like Marilyn Monroe and other fragile stars, she teetered on the edge much of her life.  She sought an anchor in a constantly changing world.

Kristen Stewart offers a best-actress-worthy performance, portraying the actress-turned-media-victim with extraordinary skill.  For you vampire movie lovers, you will recall that Kristen was the star of the Twilight series.  She's come a long ways since being in love with two vampires!  She offers a knockout performance in Seberg.

A final word: It is sadly ironic that the film deals with social injustice in America.  Today's news is not really news after all.

Enjoy the film.  It is one of the best out there right now.  By out there, I mean at home, of course.  COVID-19 has changed all of our lives.  We too seek an anchor.

JoJo Rabbit

Question: Is it ever ok to find humor in the Holocaust? This is not a new subject for discussion. Many agree that one can laugh at Nazis, but not the Holocaust, not the victims. After all, laughing at someone takes away their power (e.g., The Producers’  “Springtime for Hitler”).

What do you think? 

With this as a background, I highly recommend seeing the recent Oscar-winning film, JoJo Rabbit, written and directed by New Zealand’s Taika Waititi, who bravely even plays Adolph Hitler in the film. As he says, “What better way to insult Hitler than having him portrayed by a Polynesian Jew?”

Set in WWII, “JoJo is a 10 year-old German boy who idolizes Adolf Hitler, but is forced to reconsider his ideals when he discovers that his mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their house.” Like Life is Beautiful, seeing this environment through the eyes of a child reminds us of how fragile we all are. We look to the children to take our world to a better place.

This film is an artistic, visual masterpiece. The Academy Award-winning screenplay is exquisite. You’ll find yourself involuntarily laughing (at the absurdity of Nazis) while half holding your breath in tension. 

The cast includes talent from Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell, even Rebel Wilson, but it is the boy, Roman Griffin Davis, who completely carries the film, appearing in nearly every scene.

In these days of increased anti-Semitism and overall cruelty toward the Others in our society, JoJo Rabbit is a brilliant treatment of an uncomfortable reality. I will remember this film.

Downton Abbey - The Movie

Whether you've been living under a rock for several years, due to choice or circumstance, or you were a dyed-in-the-wool devotee of Downton Abbey, I recommend you plop yourself down in a comfortable, cool, dark theater and for two hours steep yourself in the bygone era of the early 1900s. Now, I try not to romanticize past eras, even those I've lived through. The very definition of nostalgia conveys a certain rose-colored glass perspective, often far from reality. HOWEVER, for these two hours you will be immersed in a time of manners, civility, pomp and regalia, and a certain comfort within the very constriction of convention. (Boy, couldn't we use that now!) Listen closely to the conversations of British aristocracy. They're not stuffy at all! Words are measured and refined, but the substance and the passion are there. All your favorite characters are there...well, not MATHew, but, you know... The movie? Short on plot: the King and Queen are coming. That's it. But the film is a reunion for fans, a snapshot of a time and place, with more humor than the series ever had. There is one side narrative of poignant relevancy, and another scene of deep familial sentiment. It's all I needed, and I enjoyed every minute. Oh - and if you're new to the D.A. phenomenon, or you're forgetful, don't worry; Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson (out of character) take us through a quick review before the show.

Isobel: "How you hate to be wrong."
Violet: "I wouldn't know; I'm not familiar with the sensation."

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu3mP0c51hE

Bad Times at the El Royale

Hi Film Fans!

Every so often an "art house" film comes along that knocks our socks off!

Bad Times at the El Royale is one of them.  This film is as bizarre and fascinating as I've ever seen.

Never the spoiler, I'll just say a few words about the plot:  A hodgepodge of weird, dysfunctional characters meet at a hotel on the California-Nevada border.  Each is there for a different reason, some not so savory.

At first, the encounters seem fairly innocuous.  A salesman, a priest, and a singer await their rooms in the lobby of the hotel.  Question is:  Are they who they say they are?  What are they really doing there?  And when others arrive, why are they there as well?

Nothing is as it first seems.  The sunny opening gets "noir" fast!

The brief overview may not seem that gripping.  But the film draws you in and keeps you glued to the screen.  Things start to happen, and first appearances quickly crumble!  Before long, there's a conflict between good and evil, and between diverse personalities, that leads to tense drama and eventual violence.

Have I piqued your interest?  I can't say more.

Let me comment on the actors:

John Hamm:  If you thought he could never be anyone other than Don Draper in Mad Men, think again!  Hamm is sleazy, and not so sleazy, as his character evolves.

Chris Hemsworth: The well-known Hollywood hunk is one bad dude!  Think of anyone who is pure evil....that's him!

Dakota Johnson:  Having earned her rep as the adventurous lover in Fifty Shades of Grey, she is a far cry from that role.  Check out the shotgun she carries!

Jeff Bridges:  The wonderfully versatile actor is a long ways from "the Dude" in The Big Lebowski. 
Now he's a well-spoken priest...or is he?

Lewis Pullman: A relative newcomer to Hollywood, the son of Bill Pullman, sometimes steals the show.  Yes, he's that good.  Watch him change as the freaky events unfold!

Cynthia Erivo:  The British actress, currently embroiled in a debate about whether she is the right actress for the role of Harriet Tubman in a soon-to-be-released movie, sings beautifully.  She epitomizes the conflict between morality and immorality in the film.

So, we have a film with great actors and a truly original plot.

But why do I really love this movie?

I am amazed at how it unfolds like a morality play.  Every act is shaded.  No one is totally right, and no one is entirely wrong.  Don't miss the fire symbolism that represents hell...and the angelic singer's voice that represents heaven.

Need I say more?  The film shocks but is laden with deep and troubling messages.

Go to Netflix or other sources and catch this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Grade:  A++.... one of the best I've seen.

Rocketman

Hi Film Fans!

Hollywood has been on a roll with film biographies.  Remember Jamie Foxx in Ray?  He brought the music and life of Ray Charles to life.  Remember Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody?  He did Queen with pizazz!

I for one love the music biopics.  They are full of great sounds and wonderful dance.  They depict the magic of some of the great performers and get us inside their often painful voyages to stardom.

Now we have Rocketman.  The film tells the story of Elton John.  Never the spoiler, I'll tell you why this film is so much fun.

First, there is the music.  Elton John's repertoire of great tunes seems endless, numbering in the hundreds, and many of the famous ones fill the screen. Of course, Sir Elton did more than just create memorable songs.  He performed them with over-the-top costumes, wild antics at the piano, and charismatic showmanship that is rarely matched.

OK, since I just mentioned costumes, that too is part of the experience.  Word has it that Elton John lent his actual costumes to the actor playing him.  There are so many varieties of outfits and glasses that the audience is mesmerized by the wild presentations.

Guess I'll have to think out of the box the next time I buy a pair of glasses!

Then there's the story.  We go back to Elton's childhood to see how it all began.  We discover that he came from a dysfunctional home and demonstrated genius on the piano before he was ten years old.  We learn that he was pained by this family's lack of acceptance of his life, from being gay to performing at rock concerts.

What about the acting?  Great stuff here.  The lead is played by Taron Egerton.  Who?  A relatively unknown actor, to be sure.  I did a bit of research and learned that his claim to fame was a minor role in the cult British spy thriller, Kingsman.  I also learned that he played the lead in a film about a British ski jumper, Eddie the Eagle.

Seems that Egerton was made for the Elton John role.  He simply knocks it out of the park when it comes to depicting the famous singer.  He has the same outlandish moves of the music star.  He will no doubt be Best Actor material for the Oscars.

My favorite Elton John song is "Crocodile Rock."  In my view, the film truly dazzles when we see Elton perform the classic rock tune in front of thousands of viewers.  This is the moment he seems to fly...like a rocket!

Do I have any criticisms of the film?

The biop left out two of the singer's most famous songs.  The first is "Can you feel the love tonight?"  Made for Disney's Lion King back in '93, the song is one of the most moving in music history.  The other is "Candle in the Wind", which Elton sang at Princess Diana's funeral back in '97.

I would also have enjoyed seeing a bit of Elton in the past two decades.  There is no mention of his being knighted by the queen.  There is no mention of his long and loving relationship with David Furnish.  There is no mention of the dignified life he has led since his days of drugs and booze.

If you like wonderful song and dance, and you enjoy seeing how stars are born, run out and see this film.

I guarantee you will put it right up there with Bohemian Rhapsody.....or at least close to it!

Songs in the Movies

Hi Film Fans:

Here's a little different spin on the movies.

Do you ever see a film and then find yourself singing the main tune in your head for days?  I often do!

The reason?  The tune is catchy.  More importantly, it becomes inextricably linked in your mind to the plot of the movie.

I thought it might be fun to go back and look at some of the films where the song stayed with you...and perhaps still does!

1.  High Noon.  While Gary Cooper faces off with the bad guys and Grace Kelly has given him an earful about how he should not risk his life, Tex Ritter's tune pervades:  "Do not forsake me oh my darling."  I rarely think of the film without the music.  Fact is, the famous scene where he faces off with the killers would not be the same if the song were not playing.

2.  Sea of Love.  In the film, Al Pacino is smitten with Ellen Barkin.  But is she a cold-blooded killer who leaves a record playing a tune after each murder?  You guessed it:  The song is "The Sea of Love" by Phil Phillips.  The song came out in 1959...but it came to life when Al Pacino boldly pursued the woman he was sure would kill him.  Don't miss the scene where he's romancing Ellen with the music pounding in the background!

3.  Fallen.  This is a little-known thriller starring Denzel Washington.  The plot is gripping: A fallen angel, or devil as it were, invades people and makes them kill.  Satan moves from person to person via touch.  As regular folks are driven to do murder, a song runs constantly:  "Time is on my side."  Yeah, it's the Rolling Stone classic.  I guarantee that after seeing the movie, you will not idly hum the song any more...  Haha!

4.  Reservoir Dogs.  This was Quentin Tarantino's breakout movie.  If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend it highly.  In the film, bank robbers, wounded and bleeding, end up with a hostage in a warehouse.  Should they kill the hostage?  In walks one of the bad guys, played by Michael Madsen (an early career-changing role for him).  Madsen points his gun at the hostage and starts to dance.  The music playing?  "Stuck in the Middle with you," the 1973 Gerry Rafferty/Steelers Wheel classic.  Oh my, talk about being in a bind!  You'll hum the tune whenever you're in a pickle!

5.  Pulp Fiction.  In another Tarantino masterpiece, the film follows two hitmen around town, as they shoot people and philosophize.  In one unforgettable scene, John Travolta (who plays Vincent, one of the hitmen) is out to dinner with the boss's wife, Uma Thurman (who plays Mia Wallace).  They have hamburgers at a 50s diner, where there's a twist contest.  The music?  "Teenage Wedding" by Chuck Berry.  I enjoy most of Chuck Berry's hits, but there's something special about this song once you've seen the movie.  You'll think of the down-and-out couple doing their moves on the dance floor.

6.  The Graduate.  Poor, confused Benjamin.  The protagonist, played by the then-unknown Dustin Hoffman, can't figure out what to do with his life.  Should he take a job in plastics?  Or maybe just hang out at his parents' house wondering about his future?  Of course, he's a bit distracted: he's taking up with Mrs. Robinson next door!  Simon and Garfunkle's song "Mrs. Robinson" became a tune that would rank up there with other songs-in-film greats.

7.  Saturday Night Fever.  Remember the mellow 70s?  Flower-shirts and bellbottoms followed the raucous 60s.  Jimmy Carter had us driving 55 miles an hour and instead of hard rock we had soft disco music!  The decade would not have been complete without John Travolta knocking 'em dead on the dance floor!  The hit song?  "Stayin' Alive."  I still sing the Bee Gees tune when I think of the 70s.  I see Travolta is his white suit strutting and pointing his fingers!

Here is a list of more films with memorable songs.  I think they're all worth seeing...either again for for the first time.

Film                                              Song

Flashdance                                    What a feeling
Dirty Dancing                               The Time of my life
Titanic                                           My heart will go on
Mary Poppins                                A spoonful of sugar
Back to the Future                         The power of Love
Pinocchio                                       When you wish upon a star
White Christmas                            I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
The spy who loved me                   Nobody does it better
Wizard of Oz                                  Over the rainbow
Casablanca                                     As time goes by
Singin' in the rain                           Singin' in the rain
Breakfast at Tiffanys                      Moon river
The Way we Were                          The way we were
Gentlemen Prefer Blonds               Diamonds are a girl's best friends
Funny Girl                                      People
Top Hat                                           Cheek to cheek
My Fair Lady                                  I could have danced all night
Butch Cassidy                                 Raindrops keep falling on my head
South Pacific                                   Some enchanted evening
An American in Paris                      I got rhythm
Hair                                                 Aquarius
West Side Story                               America
Bodyguard                                       I will always love you
Grease                                              Summer nights
Meet me in St Louis                        Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Gilda                                                Put the blame on Mame
Footloose                                         Footloose

Final thought:  There are SO MANY more!

Enjoy!

Film Noir: 1980s

Hi film fans!

Do you like "film noir?"  I do!

The dark, steamy, seedy stories of woman as vixen are fun!  Recently, I've been re-watching the great classics from the 80s, and these films are something else!  Talk about great acting and tense plots...wow!

Forget running out and seeing the hottest new film:  There are treasures awaiting you from the past.

First, if you missed any of the four, be sure to move them to the top of your viewing schedule.  If you have seen all four, try seeing them again. I did, and I could not believe how good each was.  I had forgotten plotlines and details that made each film a joy.

Let's take a peek at each one.

The Postman Always Rings Twice.

When Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange team up to do the remake of the 1946 version, which was based on a 1935 novel, they set out to create a better story.   Do they ever succeed!  While the censors in 1946 would not let Lana Turner and John Garfield heat up the screen too much, they gave the 1981 cast more leeway to get spicy!  Just a reminder about the basic plot:  a drifter enters a rural restaurant, meets the sexy young wife of an old Greek man who owns the eating establishment, and the two of them get cozy.  That's when Cora (Jessica Lange) persuades Frank (Jack Nicholson) to kill her husband!  Do they?  No spoiler, but you will be glued to your seat as you watch the volatile lovers conspire to do murder!  You will squirm as they bungle the plan only to become more expert with time!

Body Heat:

When Kathleen Turner and John Hurt teamed up, sparks ignited on the screen!  The basic plot: a lawyer struggling to earn a living meets the wife of a wealthy businessman.  As you might expect, the two get close fast, and before long the lawyer is hooked.  When you see some of the bedroom scenes, and the hot chemistry between the actors, you won't believe you're watching a movie made some forty years ago.  By the way, the story takes place during a heat wave in Florida, and is there any better way to stay cool than to peel off one's clothes?  Haha!  Matty (Kathleen Turner) tells Ned (Willian Hurt) that she hates her husband, and, truth to tell, simply wants to start a new life...with his money!  Financial gain is usually a motif in film noir.  Naturally, the naive lawyer wants to help his lover get free of her marital bonds and get rich and eventually enjoy the money with her!  The best way to do it?  Kill the husband, of course!  I won't be a spoiler, but Matty is one clever lady.  She's a vixen who has the chump do her dirty work for her.  Want to know more?  The film awaits you!

Sea of Love:

If in Film Noir the women are vixens, the men are almost always losers.  Enter Al Pacino.  He admits to being a cop on the way down.  He's got alcohol problems and a marriage on the skids.  He's a maverick, with a talent for having things go wrong.  He's a twenty year veteran of police work with little to show for it except a battered sense of self.  Small wonder he's ripe for the pickin' when he meets Helen, played by the gravely-voiced, seductive Ellen Barkin.  Never mind that she's a prime suspect in a murder.  Never mind that the cop knows better than to cavort with a possible murderer.  As the music from The Sea of Love pounds out a gripping beat, we wonder if the cop will die at the hand of the femme fatale.  Oh my, what drama!  What grit!  Al Pacino brilliantly embodies the cop on the edge, and as we move toward the edge with him we can't help but bite our fingernails.

Black Widow:

FBI agent Alexandra (Debra Winger) has had a checkered career with the bureau.  She's often going against the boss's directives.  She becomes fixated on a bizarre set of events:  rich older men, not long after marrying a beautiful and smart lady (Theresa Russell), end up dead!   The deaths seem like they are due to natural causes.  But every time, the young bride gets rich.  Talk about noir!  Of course the federal agent must figure out what in the world is going on.  How should she do that?  By becoming best friends with the suspect!  Your skin will crawl as the two new "friends" sip margaritas on a beach in Hawaii and idly chat about their lovers.  It gets more juicy:  the FBI agent and the suspect love the same man!  No spoiler, but think of all the possible outcomes!  Debra Winger steals the show with her flowing 80s hair, fearlessness, and boldness.  Theresa Russell dazzles as the black widow.

Summary:

All four films are winners.  Each is different.  Each hits home.  Sit back with your favorite snack and enter the dark, scary world of psychopaths and lovers.  You will enjoy every minute of  it.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Hi Film Fans:

Here's another winner for you!

Do you like stories about bands that hit it big?  I do! This flick takes us into the hearts and minds of a group of musicians who literally start with nothing and end up being one of the most significant bands of all time.  It is the story of Queen, the rock band that was the sensation of the 70s and 80s.

Never the spoiler, I would like to take my own look at the film.

Rami Malek knocks it out of the park with his acting.  He is brilliant as Queen's lead singer, Freddie Mercury.  Known for his amazing work in Mr. Robot, for which he won an Emmy in 2016, Malek came to the set after Sacha Baron Cohen bowed out.

Malek deftly plays the Indian Parsi refugee from Zanzibar who begins as a baggage handler at the airport.  He stumbles on a small group of struggling musicians, proves his worth to them with his extraordinary voice, and propels them all to stardom.

I was thrilled to see him win an Oscar for best lead actor.

As the lead singer who grows from a simple dreamer into a superstar, Malek conveys all the joy, pain, and sorrow of a man destined to push the envelope in the music world.  His style is simply one of a kind!

Lucy Boynton plays his love interest with equal skill.  She is a well-shaded character as the pretty blond who comes to understand Freddie Mercury.  In the early years, she is his girlfriend, and the love of his love, but as Freddie becomes more troubled, she must strive to love him as a best friend.

Let's talk music.

I'm personally not a fan of the music that Queen produced. What?  I may sound like a heathen to the millions of fans who adore Queen, but truth to tell, I still find the music heavy, ponderous, and loud.  I do admire the stage presence of the band and how they "rocked" the house at big arena events.  But if I can choose between any of a hundred other bands, they would not compete in my book.

Which is not to say that I don't love their best work:  "We will, we will, rock you!"  What a mesmerizing chant that we have all heard or recited!  Of course the words are typical Queen: not really logical.  Think of the lyrics: "You got mud on your face, you big disgrace, kicking your can all over the place."  Hmmmm....

So while I would not spend time in the evening listening to Queen in my living room, I would nevertheless laud this film.  It tells a story that you can't forget.

I give the film A+.

It's not easy to watch, because Freddie Mercury was so tormented.  But it's worth every minute you spend with Queen...and Rami Malek.

A Star is Born

Hi film fans!

Want to see a GREAT movie?

Get out to the theater and catch Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga light up the big screen!

Before getting down to why this film is so good, we might note that the Cooper/Gaga version is the fourth iteration of the story.  The original came out in 1937 and starred Janet Gaynor and Frederick March.  The second arrived in 1954 and featured Judy Garland and James Mason.  Then in 1976, in the middle of the disco sound, a remake was done with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand.

Which is the best?  The latest by far!

The story is familiar:  Famous male rock star is on his way down, hitting the bottle and trying to hang on.  He meets the young, pretty starlet with the wonderful voice and big dreams.  A romance ensues, and needless to say, the couple goes through some tough times.

Let's look at Brad.  The entire film was apparently his vision.  He directed it.  He wrote songs for it.  He sang.  He acted.  He was brilliant as the charming, sometimes loving, sometimes obnoxious, alcohol-bathed star, with a big troubled heart.

If you've seen some of Bradley Cooper's other films, you can easily understand why he is so good in A Star is Born.  He was fantastic opposite Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Lining Playbook.  He was even better as the tormented soldier in American Sniper.  He was perfect in American Hustle.  He garnered Academy Award nominations for all three movies.

Then we have Lady Gaga.  Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the young singer rose to stardom about ten years ago.  I remember her when she sang on American Idol.  Did you see her perform at last year's Super Bowl halftime show?

Lady Gaga has an angelic voice.  She does over-the-top performances.  She dresses in audacious, in-your-face outfits.  She is Madonna times ten when it comes to outlandish.  Beneath the glitter and spectacle lies an extraordinarily talented singer.

OK, we know we have two brilliant performers.  But the big question is, how do they do together?

The answer: Perfectly!

The chemistry between these two is electric.  The story is all about the vibes between the two.  With Brad and Lady Gaga, it seems so real.  I never felt that way about Kris and Barbra.

The songs are magic.  The scenes are dramatic.  The love story is so moving it is palpable.

Oh, don't forget about the great supporting actor Sam Elliott.  To me, Sam's best work is in westerns.  If you don't know him well, watch him play one of the Earp brothers in Tombstone.  He is dynamite opposite Kurt Russell.

In A Star is Born, he plays the rock star's older brother.  He does so with dignity and panache.  No wonder he has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Supporting Role category.

As long as we're talking Oscars, both Brad Cooper and Lady Gaga are up for Best Actor/Actress.

I won't go into further details, for fear of giving away some plot twists.  Suffice it to say that the movie is a winner!

I give it A+!

 If you enjoy fantastic music, visual spectacles, and love stories, you will experience real film magic.

It's Oscar Time!

The nominations are in! Tell David and Valerie who gets your vote for what!!

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/oscar-nominations-2019-academy-awards_us_5c467505e4b0bfa693c65d3e

Vice

Well, I promised my blog buddy, David, that I would post on Vice, and since we are meeting for lunch in a few hours, I'd better be able to report that I did! 

Anyway, I love a good pun title, and this one does it. Vice chronicles the political career of a Mr. Dick Cheney (you may have heard of him?), who served as vice president for not one, but TWO presidents named George Bush! Morphing himself into arguably the most powerful person to hold that office, he easily plays as a Shakespearean character. His vice? Greed, power... 

But I will keep this brief and focused on the film. It is written and directed by Adam McKay, who also did The Big Short. In both films, he manages to break down a complicated subject in both instructional and entertaining ways. The topic and message he takes seriously, the film, not so much. Delightful pacing and fun departures from conventional film limitations. 

Performances are astounding. Geeze, just look at the above image. The right is Christian Bale (WHAA?????) in an incredible transformation. He can play anything and anyone. (Just the day before seeing this, I had revisited a very young CB in Little Women.) Every tic, nuance, gesture and walk IS Dick Cheney. 

Playing his wife, Lynn, is Amy Adams, and it's fun to see them paired again (American Hustle). Sam Rockwell (I'm a big fan) is flawless as George W., with Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld. 

Cheney has always been a polarizing figure, and at last week's Golden Globe Awards, as the out-spoken Bale accepted the Best Actor Award, he thanked "Satan for his inspiration." Ouch. That brought out claws from daughter Liz Cheney the next day! Hahaha

Excellent film which manages to draw in today's national issues.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Hi movie fans!

There's a film out there getting quite a bit of buzz.  Let's take a quick look at it.

First, the title:  It's misleading, in a way.  At first glance, I thought of someone doing something terrible to someone else and seeking forgiveness.  Sadly, the film is not that profound.

What's it about?  Without being a spoiler, I can say the plot is hardly complex.  A writer with former success struggles to publish, needs money, and forges literary letters.  Hmmm...what is so interesting about this?  Not much, I would argue.

Yes, film fans, I'm not one, a fan that is, of this flick.  I found the subject matter worthy of potential.  There could have been some serious character development and major messages.  Alas, both are lacking.

In any story, I seek to learn from the plight of the characters.  To do so, the characters themselves need to take us on a journey of discovery.  My problem with this film is that I did not perceive much growth in the two main characters from start to finish.  Both are dishonest and inconsiderate of others at the outset of their relationship.  They end up the same way.

Any positives?  Yes. Solid acting.  Melissa McCarthy has been wowing us for years with offbeat, varied roles.  She was truly funny in Bridesmaids.  She was a riot in Spy.  She began her comedy career in nightclubs in NYC, and her skills as a comedian are evident.

Is she as effective in a serious role?  Hard to say.  The role was not that challenging.  She just had to look miserable and downbeat, as she does in the photo above.  Sure, she was convincing, sure, she had her dramatic moments.  But I was not blown away by her work.

Folks must disagree with me.  She has been nominated for a Best Actress award for the Golden Globes.

I was far more impressed by the acting of her co-star, Richard E Grant.  I looked him up on Google and did not find much.  He has some experience, but not the kind that would warrant putting him in a major role in a big release.  He nevertheless nailed the character of the best "friend" to the down and out Lee Israel, the main character played by McCarthy upon whom the story is based.

Perhaps another positive:  If you like New York city, you might relate to this film.  There's a lot of the Big Apple here:  References to high rents, scenes with a literary agent, and a sense of desperation that unsuccessful people feel in the dog-eat-dog city.

I have to laud Hollywood for offering a film where the main female character is unhappy and unkind.  If you're looking for a glimpse of life as it truly is, you have the real deal here.

If you want to see a film about a forgery expert that is fun and more profound, go back and view the now classic Catch Me If you Can.  An evening watching Tom Hanks chasing Leo DiCaprio will be far more entertaining and informative.

I have a hunch that with all the positive reviews out there, you may see Can You Ever Forgive Me and disagree with my appraisal of the film.  If so, please write and let me know where I've missed the boat.

Until someone convinces me that I've greatly misinterpreted this film, I must offer a grade of C at best.

The Green Book

Hi Film Fans!

It's the holiday season and the movies beckon!  Let's talk a bit about an excellent film, The Green Book.

What is the Green Book, you ask?  Check out the picture above.

Back in the segregated 40s', southern states published a list of hotels and restaurants for African-Americans only.  Or, to put it differently, people of color traveling to the south could not stay in a hotel or eat at a restaurant of their choice.

Yeah, hard to believe!  This is the land of the free?  What a shameful and disgusting chapter in American history.

Anyway, this is the setting for the film.  We are taken on a painful and daunting voyage to the south, back in the days of "separate but equal," as the southerners used to say.

The plot involves a master pianist, an African-American, who is so famous he has played in the White House.  He purposely books gigs in the South, where he hopes to enlighten the bigoted.

For the trip, he knows he will need protection, so he hires a driver who is a man of character, tough, street-smart, but woefully uneducated and simple.

No more details, but just imagine what will happen!

Acting:  Wow!  Viggo Mortensen is SO fantastic as the driver.  He has proven his mettle in many films.  My favorite, by the way, is a western, Appaloosa, where he plays the serious and quiet lawman opposite Ed Harris.

Viggo is the perfect Italian driver/protector, whose basic sense of right and wrong are beautifully juxtaposed to a system of evil inequity.

Then there's Mahershala Ali.  Known for some great acting in Moonlight, The Hunger Games, and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he nails the role of the distinguished, driven, brilliant pianist. Watch how he evolves from a stick figure to a full-fledged, troubled genius throughout the film.

The friendship that evolves between the two is touching and real.

Just to further pique your curiosity about the film, think of Driving Miss Daisy (with black and white roles reversed) combined with Goodfellas.

Huh?  You'll find out when you see the film!

Bottom line:  a MUST see.

Roma

Every so often a film comes along that sears our minds.  We come away from the viewing recalling poignant, troubling, powerful scenes that we cannot easily forget.

Roma is an arthouse wonder.  Don't expect amazing action scenes or extreme plot twists.  Don't expect to be hit over the head with messages, Hollywood-style.

Expect instead amazing black and white cinematography that pulls you completely into a very dark world.

Expect a shaded, nuanced, measured portrait of the rich and the poor.

As in Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs, there's trouble brewing among the upper crust and the disadvantaged.  In this film, we are concerned for both.

Without giving away the details, the plot basically involves a young, poor helper, pictured above, who works in the service of a well-to-do family. You can see that she has a sweet smile.  She is naive and pure of heart.

The story shows us a family:  We see a mother with four fairly unruly kids, who lives in a nice home with multiple rooms.  In this part of Mexico, where many folks don't live in such luxury, the family enjoys a very nice life.

With the family are two or more caretakers, who cook the meals and tend to the kids.  Cleo, pictured above, is the main protagonist, the nanny and housekeeper who has been with the family for a while.

We come to care about both the comfortable family and working class helper, because the problems they face are so very human.  The mother of four struggles to do her best in a crumbling marriage.  The helper struggles to do her best in a superficial romantic relationship.

Dialog is sparse.  Most of the tension is brilliantly conveyed through silence.  On this note, the New Yorker panned the movie, claiming that the protagonist, Cleo, says so little.  I would have to disagree.  It's Cleo's lack of verbal expression that so brilliantly captures her angst.

What does the title Roma mean?  On the surface, it refers to a very poor district in Mexico City. But I would suggest that the filmmaker also wanted us to think of ancient Rome.  The society was advanced, but beneath the surface lurked a lack of morals that eventually led to its decline.

So it is with this movie.  Check out the driveway in the family's home, always littered with dog excrement.  Check out the water images, that suggest an effort to cleanse the decay that pervades both social classes.  Check out the street riots and wanton death.  Check out the party scene where guests randomly shoot pistols.  There is decadence everywhere.

We feel the pain of the women in the film.  We loathe the behavior of the men.  We're never hit over the head with feminism, however.  We find that life is just that way in this part of the world.

Roma is a masterpiece.  But it requires work.  If you want a very different movie experience, a film  with real messages that are masterfully and subtly conveyed, be sure not to miss this one.

It's a winner!

Mary Poppins Returns

Did you grow up watching the 1964 version of Mary Poppins, either as a kid, parent, or grandparent? I did!  As the proud grandpa of two little ones, I most likely watched the original some twenty or thirty times!

Today I still find myself singing the great classics from the movie:  A Spoonful of Sugar, Let's Go Fly a Kite, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, Chim-Chim-Cheree, and more!

A few more comments on the original.  To me, it was a masterpiece.  Julie Andrews was perfect, and Dick Van Dyke was close, in spite of his strange American/Cockney accent!  The song and dance numbers were exquisite. The cartoons were innovative.  The themes were delightful.  Need I say more?

So, if you agree that the first Mary Poppins was great, you can understand how daunting a task it is to follow perfection.

Yet, the new film comes close, that is, to most viewers.

Emily Blunt is a truly remarkable Mary.  She approaches Julie Andrews:  She has the same impish grin, the same charm, the same magic, the same beauty....in fact, she is a shoo-in for a Best Actress nomination.

Similarly, Lin-Manuel Miranda is top-notch.  How could he be otherwise?  After all, he was the writer and principal actor of Hamilton, one of Broadway's biggest hits ever.

Don't forget about some fun cameos as well:  Dick Van Dyke can still dance.  Meryl Streep is her usual talented self.  Angela Lansbury shows she's still got a lot of spunk.

The dances are beautifully costumed and choreographed.  The songs, laden with positive messages of encouragement, will no doubt become classics some day.  The story held our interest, and the pacing was excellent.  Not a dull moment, in other words.

YET:  Something was clearly lacking.  The plotline, for one thing, was a tad dour.  While in the original, Mr. Banks was a bit grumpy, our current Mr. Banks is downright unlikable.  Worse, the kids stand to lose their home if Mary Poppins does not turn things around.  Disney likes to scare kids, I think, but it's tough to laugh and smile when a family could end up in the streets.

What else was lacking?  Charming characters, I'd say.  There was no Glynis Johns, playing the wacky Mrs. Banks, no Arthur Treacher playing the well-meaning cop, no Ed Wynn drinking tea on the ceiling.  Truth to tell, there was no Julie Andrews carrying the film.

But hey, we can't always turn back the clock.  Many film viewers want new, not old.

Guess I'm a bit too nostalgic to really laud this film.  I will leave that to others, because the production, to them, is no doubt worthy.

Bottom line:  It's a toss-up.  Please see the film and let us know what you think.

Homecoming (TV series)

Hi movie fans!

Have you been looking for a gripping TV series...something really different, and really well done?  Then consider Julia Roberts in Homecoming.

Check out the pics above.  Note how Julia has aged. Yeah, it's a bit of a shocker to compare the two pics.  But hey, we all get older, even movie stars!  Yet, Julia looking older is perfect for this very serious role.

Never the spoiler, I'll try to provide a brief review that suggests why this series is gripping.

The storyline centers around returning vets who suffer PTSD.  Looks like Julia, as Heidi Bergman, is a counselor doing great things for the traumatized soldiers.  She seems to care deeply for their welfare as she helps them cope with feelings of angst after time overseas.

But wait!

There's something nefarious afoot!  Why does Heidi's supervisor hound her to keep better records?  Why do soldiers seem to be getting better so easily?  Why does Heidi sense she's doing something terribly wrong?

Is Julia Roberts effective in her role as the troubled therapist?  She is spot-on!  If you thought she is shallow because of past roles in Mystic Pizza or Pretty Woman, think again!  Julia Roberts demonstrates a depth of character that dazzles!

Don't be surprised at closeups of the actress with no makeup, with a sad, dour look that underscores her ethical dilemma at being involved in a process that does not "feel" right.  Her character, Heidi Bergman, digs deep into your soul.

Then there's Heidi's boss and mentor, the sleezy, bully type played perfectly by Bobby Cannavale.  The actor is best-known for his bad-guy role on Boardwalk Empire.  He is soon to reprise his usual gangster persona with Al Pacino on Martin Scorsese's forthcoming thriller, The Irishman.

In Homecoming, Cannavale has a certain unsettling infamy about him that keeps us glued to the screen.  He is the guy we come to despise.

A final comment:  The photography in this series could well be the most original I've seen.  There are closeups of actors that let you see the very pores of their skin. There are shots from above, and shots from below, and shots in shadows, and simply the most stylized scenes you can imagine.  Watch for the the unique camera work when you enjoy the series.

Bottom line:  If you decide to view this imaginative, crazy-original made-for-TV series, don't plan on doing much else.  We binge-watched it 'til all hours, and then wondered if we should sleep at all rather than watch the rest of the night!  Haha.

Homecoming is a winner.

I, Tonya

Hi movie fans!

Back again with another review!  Just a reminder: I never do spoilers...and I strive to keep my reviews short!

OK, this time the focus is on Tonya Harding.  You may recall the basics: Fantastic skater named Tonya is a wild child...goes to the Olympics...and is involved in breaking her competitor's knee.  Charming!  Haha.

When I heard they made a film about this bizarre event, I flippantly said, "Tonya should have done jail time."  In other words, I had absolutely NO sympathy for her apparent aggression against Nancy Kerrigan.

Enter the film.  In it, I learned for the first time about how miserable Tonya's upbringing was. I can't give details, but suffice it to say that she had a horrendous mother and possibly worse husband!

The result?  I now understand so much more about the knee-breaker.  I actually have empathy for her, which, given my preconception, says a lot about the quality of the film.

So how in the world did Tonya rise out of the cesspool that was her early life to become a world class skating star?

Therein is the fascination of the film!  As we learn about the obstacles Tonya faced, we realize that not every skating champion is born with a silver spoon.  Some, like Tonya, have to fight poverty, parental resistance, and abuse.  Some, with pure guts and determination, emerge from the ruins and become stars.

Let's talk about the acting.

First, Allison Janney.  Oh my, is she good!  She plays Tonya's mother, and let's just say she takes being a bitch to the next level.  She is brilliantly mean, harsh, crazy, and aloof.... a fantastic villainess!
Don't miss her great acting in The Help and Juno too.

Next, Margot Robbie.  She got started as just another pretty actress years ago on the short-lived TV series PanAm.  Afterward, she got better and better roles.  As Tonya, she is perfectly shaded and multi-faceted.  She seems to capture all the torment and passion of the skating star.  Want to see her in an even better role?   Go back and watch The Wolf of Wall Street.

Then there's Paul Walter Hauser.  He's not very well known.  Fact is, this is his big breakout role.  He plays Shawn, a dimwit friend of Tonya's awful husband.  When he explains his role in the Kerrigan assault, he sounds almost Fargo-ish.  We laugh at his stupidity!

Overall opinion:  This is a film NOT to be missed.  It is gripping, entertaining, and informative.  It teaches us so much we did not know about Tonya.  In doing so, the film reminds us that there is another side to so many events that seem clear-cut to us.

Like ballerinas, skaters are a viciously competitive lot.  They often wish ill on their foes...and on occasion, act on those feelings.

Tonya was a victim of a horrid childhood.  She committed a crime.  The film will tell you all about it.

I guarantee you'll no longer despise the infamous skater...and possibly even feel a bit sorry for her.

Suburbicon

Well, Mrs. Cohen’s boys are at it again. Joel and Ethan Cohen have teamed up with George Clooney as director, and a cast starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore, for a strangely dark comedy as only the Cohen brothers can do. I sat down to watch Suburbicon knowing nothing about it. That can be a good thing. Halfway through, I thought, “Hmmm, not liking this. Don’t know if I’ll last.” Three fourths through I thought, “I’m getting into this. Gotta see this through.” By the last frame, I was loving it. The Cohen team managed to make a powerful statement about today’s stupid racism while wrapping it in a 1950’s murder plot ala Fargo. It's getting some pretty brutal reviews, not everyone's cup o' tea, but oh, well. This is a bizarre, deliciously grisly tale that has a bigger message. You’ll try not to smile or even laugh at times, then you will do some thinking. Welcome back, Joel and Ethan; we’ve missed ya!