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!  

The Glass Castle

I intended to write a post about Atomic Blonde, which, by the way, I really liked! More on that later. Instead, I must tell you about an exceptional film I saw this weekend, knowing nothing about it than the cast and synopsis. Hadn't even seen a trailer. Maybe that's a better way, a more pure way. This movie has already passed my personal litmus test - will I be thinking about it for days to come. Yep!

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (who?), and based on auto-biographical best-seller by New York Magazine's Jeannette Walls, it is an exquisitely painful, poignant, stirring story of a young, sophisticated woman who must come to terms with her profoundly dysfunctional, yet enchanting childhood. Powerful themes. Powerful cast. Brie Larson is fast becoming one of my favorite actresses, and Woody Harrelson gives his greatest performance. But keep your eyes on little Ella Anderson who steals every scene she is in. Go see it! And then try to forget it!                    

Baby Driver

Hi again, movie fans!

Today's review is one of my more challenging jobs: I need to convince you to see one of the most original bad guys movies of all time...and do so without giving away anything of substance!  Harder task: How do I really describe the offbeat, one-of-a-kind film?

First, the title:  Baby Driver:  Huh?   Baby is the young star in the sunglasses in the picture above.  He's always wired into rock music.  He's quiet.  He's mysterious.  He's kind...and lives in a very violent world.  We get to know him through flashbacks.  And through his silence.

Baby drives a car like no one can!  You see, he's the getaway driver for the bad dudes who pull bank heists.  When the heists take place, Baby is in the car dialing up his heavy rock, usually a song by Queen, getting ready to do amazing feats with the car.

Enticing?  Hardly!

OK, I'm not a great fan of spinning car movies.  Sure, I was glued to the screen when Gene Hackman chased the druggies in The French Connection, and I will never forget Steve McQueen driving the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt.  But no movie can be based on great chase scenes alone.

The beauty of this film is that it does so much:  It presents bad guys like you've never seen.  Baddest of all: Keven Spacey.  Second and third baddest: Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm.  Poor Jon...will he ever stop being Don Draper in Mad Men?  YES!  He's finally out of that role with this film!  He is downright wicked!

More: The movie presents a very touching and memorable love story.  In the midsts of all the action, the young male protagonist, Baby, falls in love with the beautiful waitress played by Lily James.  The love motif has a true Romeo and Juliet feel.  Absolutely captivating.

Before long, it's the lovers on the run.  Now the film is like Bonnie and Clyde!  What?

Yeah, confusing.  As I noted, this film does so much:  It  does love, crime, action, and even some witty comedy.  It grabs you with plot, characters, music, dialog.

It grabs you and does not let go

Who plays the young dude who lives for his rock music?  Ansel Engort.  Who?  He was apparently the lead in The Fault in our Stars, the film for teens about young folks dealing with serious illnesses.  He's GREAT!

One reason you'll feel sympathy for the young man is that he's actually forced into the role of getaway driver.  And he's so caring toward his elderly, mute foster father.  He's just plain likable!

This film has been getting rave reviews.  Online, it has a 97% approval rating.  Viewers are abuzz about this unique work of art.

RUN out and see it....and watch folks on the RUN!

My rating:  A+    A film that is unlike anything you've seen.  Enjoy!

Wonder Woman

Hi Movie Fans!

It's been a while since I've reviewed a film, so what better time than now?  OK, truth to tell, I've been watching lots of movies at home, particularly past series, including Fargo, which is great and must be discussed at another time.

Wonder Woman!  

Who would've guessed this comics-to-film story would be such a hit?  I have not seen the various iterations of Batman or Batgirl since, well, Michael Keaton knocked the role out of the park many years ago with Kim Basinger at this side.

So what got me to see the supposedly mindless action film?  Just the HYPE!  How often do we go online and see rave reviews, nearly all in the 90 percent approval range, for a comic books caper that is half animation, half acting, and probably all forgettable?  

Forgettable?  Wrong!!!

There is nothing forgettable about Wonder Woman. 

It's a huge, ambitious film, with extraordinary action scenes, beautiful people on screen, and a story that sort of grabs, in a sci-fi way.  A must if you go:  Put aside any prejudice you have about the Batman or Superman or Wonder Woman genre, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy!

What's not to enjoy?  First, the most beautiful actors you might have seen on screen.  Chris Pine seems to be a knockout for the ladies.  Curiously, his only really big roles have been in the Star Trek franchise. He played Captain Kirk in the 2016 version.  He is center screen, finally, in Wonder Woman.  So ladies, enjoy his good looks.

Then there's Gal Gadot,  Oh my, what a knockout!  She reminds me of a young Elizabeth Taylor, or Ava Gardner, or Laren Bacall.  She won Miss Israel in 2004, and she has been on the cover of Cosmo and other major glamor magazines for years.  She dazzles!   Talk about a "wonder"!  Yes, she's wondrously pretty!

OK, so much for the eye candy.  Is there anything else noteworthy about the film?  

Well, sort of.  The plot is bold and daring:  the writers combine the Wonder Woman prequel with a WWI story.  Crazy?  Yes.  But somehow, the story works.  We learn about how Wonder Woman grew up being trained as a warrior, left her idyllic island, joined a world war, and kept her ethics pure in spite of some seriously negative experiences! 

The special effects will blow your mind.  You'll see folks flying, ropes glowing, planes crashing, bullets flying in slo-mo, and so much more!  My prediction: The film will win the Oscar for special effects.  

Is it a masterpiece?  Hard to say.  It offers some deep philosophy to accompany the out-of-the-box story:  What is the true nature of mankind?  Are there gods in charge?  Can  anyone change the violence that is inherent in man?  Can a few brave souls change history?  Are women warriors equal to men?  Hmmmm....

True to my purported movie reviewing form, I have given away little of the plot.  It's for you to discover!  

Should you go?  

YES!  

It's fun, and you'll never think the same way again about "mindless" comic book stories that appear on the big screen. 

AND: You'll find that the movie is so entertaining that it "flies" by!  (Pun intended)